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Parenting 101

Earlier I posted a thread and asked which character, who wasn't yet a parent, would make a good parent. We had some interesting answers, to be sure. But what parent, who was a parent, was the best parent featured on TREK(s). And which Parent wasn't a good parent.

Rob
Scorpio
 
I'll duck now, but I think the O'briens were good parents. To be fair, they were the only parents we saw of young children. Capt. Sisko was also a good parent, based on how well Jake grew up, his sense of values, becoming a productive adult, and the devotion Ben earned of Jake. Ben was always accepting of his son, even when he didn't make the career decisions he wanted of Jake.
Bad parent? Worf. To be fair, he tried. And it is hard to be a single parent. But his first instinct is to send the boy off. Worf wasn't too into Alexander's feelings, but was trying to push the Klingon stuff down his throat too much. When Alexander was older, Worf showed some real embarassment for his son, who wasn't a great warrior.
 
Talk about getting things thrown at you? I think SAREK was an awful father, and at best, an average husband. Yeah yeah yeah..they're vulcans..but still. He let his pride get in between he and his son, a rift was never entirely healed, at least it seemed to me. He didn't talk to spock for years SIMPLY because Spock decided to followh his own path...

For guy who is over a hundred years by the time we first meet him in AMOK TIME, I would have expected more. And although it seem as if father/son bury the hatchet at the end of VOYAGE HOME, its clear that by the time we get to Sarek in TNG, some more bad times fractured them again....

Sarek; bad parent.

Rob
 
^^^Good point. Apparently treating your adult children with respect and dignity isn't logical.
 
^^^Good point. Apparently treating your adult children with respect and dignity isn't logical.

SAREK did not treat Spock with dignity or respect 100% of the time. Why do you think Spock left Vulcan in the first place? I believe he left to get away from his father.

In fact, just by watching Babel, even Admanda was well aware of Sarek's harshness towards her own son. She cloaks it with lines like 'it is our way'. But, no matter, Sarek is 100+ years old, at least 70+ years older than spock,and he acts like a man who, at his age, puts his pride above being a good parent....

Rob
 
^^^Good point. Apparently treating your adult children with respect and dignity isn't logical.

SAREK did not treat Spock with dignity or respect 100% of the time. Why do you think Spock left Vulcan in the first place? I believe he left to get away from his father.

In fact, just by watching Babel, even Admanda was well aware of Sarek's harshness towards her own son. She cloaks it with lines like 'it is our way'. But, no matter, Sarek is 100+ years old, at least 70+ years older than spock,and he acts like a man who, at his age, puts his pride above being a good parent....

Rob

Reread his post Rob, he was agreeing with you!
 
Agreed, Sarek is a terrible father - probably the worst parent among otherwise well-intentioned characters.

Garak's father is probably the worst parent over-all.
 
Actually, I think Bashier's father is one of the best intentioned. He wanted so badly to help his son, but screwed up royally. In many ways, that makes him one of the most realistic. God knows I've screwed up with my kids, while trying to do good.
 
I think Sisko was the best parent. He raised a great kid in incredibly tragic circumstances, and in the middle of a war.
 
I'll duck now, but I think the O'briens were good parents. To be fair, they were the only parents we saw of young children. Capt. Sisko was also a good parent, based on how well Jake grew up, his sense of values, becoming a productive adult, and the devotion Ben earned of Jake. Ben was always accepting of his son, even when he didn't make the career decisions he wanted of Jake.
Bad parent? Worf. To be fair, he tried. And it is hard to be a single parent. But his first instinct is to send the boy off. Worf wasn't too into Alexander's feelings, but was trying to push the Klingon stuff down his throat too much. When Alexander was older, Worf showed some real embarassment for his son, who wasn't a great warrior.

Ugh yes, Worf = terrible parent.

Unrelated, but still: Alexander is one of my least favorite characters of alllll time, and definitely one of the most annoying.
 
I did think it a bit odd that Sarek scolded Amanda for playfully teasing Spock about the Selaht, while Sarek couldn't even be bothered to return his greeting upon boarding the ship.
 
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