7 Great Quotes for Parents

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

Anyone who knows me, knows I love inspirational quotes. It’s possible that my dog has a larger attention span than I, and as such there’s something about these bite sized bits of wisdom that I am better able to assimilate. In the same manner that Twitter forces one to be more concise and get to the point in fewer words, these quote achieve something similar.

Daddy Daughter Holding HandsSo, I’ve decided to share just a few today that I particularly like or find moving or inspiring. In my post 6 Ways to be a Better Dad I shared some of my thoughts on how one can improve as a parent. This next quote reflects my feeling that becoming a father has been the single most significant event in my life, making me want to, need to be a better man. How has becoming a parent affected you?

The guys who fear becoming fathers don’t understand that fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man. The end product of child raising is not the child but the parent. ~Frank Pittman

There’s nothing like that moment after a baby is born when they send you home from the hospital and it sinks in that YOU are responsible for this tiny helpless little being. Do you remember that feeling? It sure gave me pause. My wife and I attended classes at the hospital and bought numerous books about caring for a baby beforehand, but as this next quote implies, when you take that little bundle home with you… you are really truly on your own.

In spite of the six thousand manuals on child raising in the bookstores, child raising is still a dark continent and no one really knows anything. You just need a lot of love and luck – and, of course, courage. ~Bill Cosby

In another of my blogs on the subject of being a dad, I wrote that it was important to have fun with your kids and let them see you have fun with your spouse. This next quote tugs at my heart string more than just a little, because I realize it’s not fully correct. As a parent there is a window of time where we are our child’s favorite toy… and God help those who realize too late their misplaced priorities caused them to miss it.

You will always be your child’s favorite toy. ~Vicki Lansky

And while I’m tearing up (yes, real men cry… well dads do at least) when I read the next quote I found it to be a very apt metaphor. We need to balance our desire to protect and cling to our children with their need for freedom and confidence in themselves. I’ll tell you what, though… I’m sticking damn close in case she needs to grab on to me for support, and I’m not talking about bicycles.

The hardest part of raising a child is teaching them to ride bicycles. A shaky child on a bicycle for the first time needs both support and freedom. The realization that this is what the child will always need can hit hard. ~Sloan Wilson

If you haven’t read the posts I linked to earlier in this one, please do. They are some I’m most proud of. As I said in the first, I’m far from a perfect dad. I write posts like this to remind myself of what I need to focus on to become just a bit better. And as I said in the second, let’s not forget to have fun during the process. On that note, let me leave you with just one more important quote.

Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected. ~Red Buttons

Do YOU have a favorite quote?

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18 comments

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  1. I love that I am both my kids’ favorite play toy…so great to be able to watch them learn new things every day!

    WM

    1. Yeah, it’s great isn’t it? I dread the day that changes. I’m the newest follower on your blog, btw. Have a super weekend!

  2. I love inspirational quotes too and you found some good ones. I just finished reading Familyhood by Paul Riser and his earlier one, Parenthood, is really funny too. Taken from a man’s perspective, they are fun reads. You might like them.

    Happy Anniversary, too! Stopping in from Shannons Mom Loop Follow! 🙂

    1. Hi, Kim. I’ve read Familyhood, but I read it before we had our daughter. I’ll need to go back and read it again. Bet I appreciate it even more now. 🙂 Hey, I LOVE the Autumn design of your blog! And you had me at “pumpkin” on your latest post, “Great Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies!.”

  3. You will always be your child’s favorite toy. ~Vicki Lansky
    That’s my favorite! The kids love, LOVE, to climb all over their Daddy when he comes home. LOL.

    stopping by from Mom Loop – Happy Anniversary, by the way!

    1. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my brother and I climbing all over my dad. That’s great your hubby is so involved. And thank you for the Anniversary wishes! I’m truly a blessed man to have such a wonderful wife and daughter!

  4. I love these quotes! Thanks for sharing them.
    Btw, Happy Anniversary!

    1. Hi. I just left a comment on your blog. As I’m posting quotes today, may I share one from your blog?

      I can’t help but to think that in the same manner that my husband so patiently awaits for our daughter to come around, so does God await on each soul to turn to him.

    • Karen @ Goofy Can Cook on at
    • Reply

    Loved this. I don’t have kids yet, but I can only imagine that feeling when you take them home and realize they are 100% yours. I only watch my nephews 26 hours a week but MAN they’re tiring. I commend all parents everywhere for their patience.

    1. Hi, Karen. If you watch your nephews 26 hours a week, then you probably know better than most new parents what it takes. Of course those first months with a newborn are quite exhausting and often a bit scary. I took a couple of months unpaid leave to help out during that time. If/when the time comes you do have a baby, definitely accept any help family and friends offer.

  5. Wow! I didn’t realize you’re Shannon’s husband! Very cool … Happy Anniversary!!!!

    I’m an inspirational quote junkie myself (even have a quote of the day through http://www.facebook.com/RaisingFigureSkaters). One of my very favorites is the quote at the top of your post: “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” ~Elizabeth Stone That’s still true even though both my kids are adults already!

    1. Hi, Deb. It’s funny, there are a number of people that read both our blogs and/or follow us both on Twitter that don’t realize Shannon & I are married. She’s awesome, though I’m biased. Did you read her blog about her experience in NYC on 9-11? Oh, and per your comment, yes, that’s one of my favorite quotes… and you’re right, it doesn’t end when they leave home.

  6. I love that these made me think! Happy Anniversary!

    1. You are always so sweet for stopping by, D. Thank you. And thanks for the anniversary wishes, if you saw Shannon’s photos on Twitter you’ll know we had a great date night out!

  7. I love Cosby’s quote characterizing child rearing as a dark continent. Dark and scary. But definitely worth taking the journey. 😉

    Nice blog you have here, Michael. 🙂

    1. Hi, Janyne.

      Thank you so much! Yes, I do love Bill Cosby’s parenting quotes. Hope you’re week’s gotten off to a great start?

      ~Michael (aka: Daddy)

  8. I love these great thoughts!

    Parenting is not for wimps. Not sure where the quote is from, but it’s so true.

    And I can totally relate to being the toy. But we’re also a jungle gym. Apparently 😀

    Thanks for sharing!

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Grady. Parenting definitely is not for wimps. 🙂 Yeah, I ‘m both jungle gym and trampoline. LOL!

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