parents
Mothers and fathers
Parents are a person's mother and father, the two people whose genetic material combined to produce them.
The term extends to anyone who raises a child, regardless of biological connection: adoptive parents, foster parents, stepparents.
Parent also functions as a verb meaning to raise children: Parenting is harder than it looks.
In compounds, parent often indicates origin or source: a parent company owns subsidiaries, and a parent directory contains subfolders.
Those from whom one descends
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
forebears · progenitors · family tree · roots · descent · pedigree · patriarchs · matriarchs
Those entrusted with care
- protectorsThose who guard others
- guardiansThose who protect others
- caretakersThose who maintain property
- godparentsBaptismal sponsors for children
legal guardians · conservators · trustees · advocates · mentors · chaperones · supervisors · custody
Attending to dependents
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- bondingForming close connections
- loveIntense fond attachment
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
patience · comfort · encouragement · protection · guidance · attachment · empathy · nourishment
Principles governing behavior
- boundariesLines marking separation
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- groundingConnecting to earth
timeout · authority · structure · expectations · correction · responsibility · curfew · chores
Preparatory supply or clause
- financialRelating to money
- tuitionPayment for instruction
- college fundSavings for higher education
- allowanceFixed periodic payment
inheritance · housing · meals · clothing · healthcare · emotional support · backing · stability
Awaiting a predicted outcome
- pregnancyCarrying developing offspring
- newbornInfant just delivered
- infantVery young child
- toddlerChild learning to walk
adolescent · teenager · empty nest · motherhood · fatherhood · maternity · paternity
mother
Female parent
children · siblings · household · relatives · family · kin · offspring · sons · daughters · stepparents
ancestors
Those from whom one descends
bloodline · forebears · progenitors · family tree · roots · descent · pedigree · patriarchs · matriarchs · predecessors
custodians
Those entrusted with care
- protectorsThose who guard others
- guardiansThose who protect others
- caretakersThose who maintain property
godparents · legal guardians · conservators · trustees · advocates · mentors · chaperones · supervisors · custody · wardship
caregiving
Attending to dependents
tenderness · patience · comfort · encouragement · protection · guidance · attachment · empathy · nourishment · security
rules
Principles governing behavior
- boundariesLines marking separation
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
grounding · timeout · authority · structure · expectations · correction · responsibility · curfew · chores · accountability
provision
Preparatory supply or clause
- financialRelating to money
- tuitionPayment for instruction
- college fundSavings for higher education
allowance · inheritance · housing · meals · clothing · healthcare · emotional support · backing · stability · assistance
expecting
Awaiting a predicted outcome
toddler · adolescent · teenager · empty nest · motherhood · fatherhood · maternity · paternity
- familymother, father, siblings, son, brother
- family lifebirth, kinship, childbirth, pregnancy, new baby
- family membersmother, father, sister, brother, son
- family termsnuclear family, mothers, extended family, fathers, son
- peoplepeople, persons, person, individuals, humans
- relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
- single parentUnpartnered mother or father
- foster parentsAdults raising others' children
- parental controlsSettings limiting child access
- helicopter parentsExcessively protective caregivers
- parental guidanceAdvisory for young viewers
- parent-teacher organizationSchool-family liaison group
parent, parenting, parental, grandparent, parentage, parental alienation, parenthood, grandparents, parented