There’s No One Right Way to Parent (And That’s a Good Thing)
In our newest resource, Wisdom-Based Parenting, we explore how deeply our beliefs shape our parenting—often in ways we don’t even realize. Whether we were taught to think of parenting as a calling, a stewardship, or a series of rules to follow, our theology weaves its way into everything from discipline to bedtime routines.
But theology isn’t the only factor at play.
The truth is, none of us come into parenting as blank slates. We’re carrying more than beliefs—we’re shaped by culture, family dynamics, personal histories, and even the subtle messages we’ve absorbed about what “good parenting” looks like.
Taking time to reflect on why we parent the way we do isn’t just helpful—it’s freeing. It creates space to hold our approaches with open hands and ask: What’s really serving us? What might need to shift?
Parenting Around the World: A Wider Lens
One of the most grounding realizations in parenting is this: what feels “normal” to you might be wildly different elsewhere—and that’s okay. Parenting isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. Take a look at these diverse parenting norms from around the globe:
Scandinavian countries embrace fresh air as essential—even for babies. It’s common to see bundled-up infants napping outdoors, even in winter.
In Italy, many children are introduced to wine at the dinner table as part of normal family meals.
The Yoruba people of West Africa teach their children to adapt food behavior based on the season—responding intentionally to changing availability.
Hunter-gatherer cultures often view structured play as less critical to development than industrialized societies do.
In India, there’s a strong emphasis on honoring traditions and maintaining tight-knit family relationships.
French schools carve out at least 30 minutes for lunch each day, encouraging kids to slow down, socialize, and appreciate mealtime.
In places like Hong Kong, India, and Taiwan, children typically go to bed around 10:00 p.m., while kids in New Zealand and Australia are often tucked in by 7:30 p.m.
What these examples reveal is liberating: There is no universal script for how to raise kids. So much of what we do as parents is shaped by our surroundings—and that doesn’t make it right or wrong. It makes it human.
What Shapes You?
Understanding where your parenting instincts come from can help you parent with more grace, more thoughtfulness, and more curiosity. In Wisdom-Based Parenting, we dive into some of the deeper theological questions that influence how we show up in our families:
How do we understand authority?
What do we believe about original sin?
How do we think about blessing or favor?
These aren’t just abstract ideas. They affect how we interpret our children’s behavior, what we expect from them, and how we respond when they fall short.
A Poetic Reminder from Kahlil Gibran
Sometimes the best parenting wisdom doesn’t come from a how-to guide—but from a poem.
Kahlil Gibran, the Lebanese-American poet and philosopher, once wrote these words in The Prophet. They remain one of the most beautiful reflections on the sacred responsibility—and the holy letting go—of parenting:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.
They come through you, but not from you.
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may house their bodies, but not their souls.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
for even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Parenting, at its best, isn’t about control. It’s about becoming steady enough to launch our kids with confidence—guided by faith, informed by wisdom, and open to the beauty of difference.
Want to explore this more deeply?
Wisdom-Based Parenting is now available—designed to help parents reflect on what shapes their approach and how to grow with greater intention.
