parenthood
Having a family
Parenthood is the state of being a parent—having and raising children.
It encompasses the responsibilities, experiences, and identity that come with the role: The transition to parenthood changed everything.
Parenthood can be biological or adoptive, and the word often appears in discussions of its challenges and rewards: Nothing prepares you for parenthood.
Carrying developing offspring
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- birthComing into the world
- newbornInfant just delivered
- infantVery young child
baby · toddler · preschooler · school-age · teenager · empty nest · maternity · paternity
Connection or fondness
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- closenessState of proximity
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
- connectionA joining or relation
affection · cuddling · storytime · bedtime rituals · skin-to-skin · soothing · comforting · reassurance
One providing daily assistance
- providerOne who furnishes things
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- breadwinnerPrimary household earner
sacrifice · sleepless nights · work-life balance · childcare · supervision · safety · healthcare · nutrition
State of being related
- offspringBiological descendants produced
- childrenYoung human beings
- descendantsThose who come after
- siblingsFellow offspring
household · nuclear family · extended family · relatives · grandparents · stepchildren · blended family · adoption
Notable points of progress
- growthIncrease in size
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- first stepsInitial actions taken
- first wordsInfant's earliest speech
potty training · teething · crawling · walking · talking · reading · adolescence · puberty
Guidance from experienced person
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- coachingGuiding others to improve
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
values · morals · life lessons · encouragement · support · patience · listening · homework help
Lines marking separation
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- timeoutBrief suspension of play
- groundingConnecting to earth
- rulesPrinciples governing behavior
expectations · consistency · firmness · correction · accountability · chores · allowance · positive reinforcement
Inherited cultural legacy
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- family valuesBeliefs prioritizing domestic bonds
- generationalRelating to age groups
passing down · inheritance · family stories · ancestral · family name · generational wealth · keepsakes · family recipes
pregnancy
Carrying developing offspring
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- birthComing into the world
- newbornInfant just delivered
infant · baby · toddler · preschooler · school-age · teenager · empty nest · maternity · paternity · postpartum
attachment
Connection or fondness
- nurturingSupportive care-giving
- closenessState of proximity
- intimacyEmotional closeness between people
connection · affection · cuddling · storytime · bedtime rituals · skin-to-skin · soothing · comforting · reassurance · tenderness
caregiver
One providing daily assistance
- providerOne who furnishes things
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- protectorOne who safeguards others
breadwinner · sacrifice · sleepless nights · work-life balance · childcare · supervision · safety · healthcare · nutrition · financial support
kinship
State of being related
- offspringBiological descendants produced
- childrenYoung human beings
- descendantsThose who come after
siblings · household · nuclear family · extended family · relatives · grandparents · stepchildren · blended family · adoption · foster family
milestones
Notable points of progress
- growthIncrease in size
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- first stepsInitial actions taken
first words · potty training · teething · crawling · walking · talking · reading · adolescence · puberty · independence
mentorship
Guidance from experienced person
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- coachingGuiding others to improve
- adviceGuidance on decisions
wisdom · values · morals · life lessons · encouragement · support · patience · listening · homework help · problem-solving
boundaries
Lines marking separation
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- timeoutBrief suspension of play
- groundingConnecting to earth
rules · expectations · consistency · firmness · correction · accountability · chores · allowance · positive reinforcement · redirection
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- family valuesBeliefs prioritizing domestic bonds
generational · passing down · inheritance · family stories · ancestral · family name · generational wealth · keepsakes · family recipes · oral history
- identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
- family dramafamily bonds, sibling rivalry, family reunion, kinship, family secret
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, son
- social lifefriend, family, group, relationship, community
- experiencesadventure, journey, moment, event, feeling
- biographybirth, death date, autobiography, life story, biography
parenthoodchildhood
Life's earliest phase
daughterhood · infancy · babyhood · adolescence · youth
parenthoodchildlessness
Lacking any offspring
barrenness · bachelorhood · spinsterhood · infertility · single life
- single parenthoodRaising children alone
- Planned ParenthoodReproductive health services nonprofit
- surrogate parenthoodBearing offspring for others
- legal parenthoodRecognized guardian relationship
parent, hood, parenting, parental, parentage, parented, parentless, parentdom, parentlike