It may take a few years or even decades for the effects of parenting to show. The good news is, not all parts of parenting have to take that much time to tell how well the children turned out.
Instant results are ideal for both parents and children. It immediately demonstrates to the children the fruits of their hard work, encouraging them to continue. Validation through success does not take that long. At the same time, parents are satisfied and are filled with bliss as they witness the triumph of their children.
Father of four Brett Baker shared in his blog post in chicagonow.com that in the process of teaching his children how to blow bubbles, he realized that the effort he put into guiding them through the steps shows the children the value of energy. He makes sure that his kids are doing things right and they practice it. It all starts with the small tasks such as riding a bike, eating their food properly, and brushing their teeth. In the future, when they have to learn a harder skill, they will remember that if they listen to their parents, and put enough effort, they will succeed and will be rewarded eventually.
Additionally, Bret expressed that there isn't a secret to good parenting. All it takes is giving your kids time, support, attention, and mentoring them. These is affirmed by an article in my.vanderbilt.edu, which says that the support that parents show positively affects the confidence and growth of children in many aspects strongly.
Consistency, dedication, and sustained effort were some of Bakers input on being a good parent. Parenting is a challenge because has no easy path out. Parents only have one chance to parent their children, and it is that chance that they try to mold their children into responsible citizens. They try to influence their children by teaching them, but nothing is sure. These are the reason that parenting is considered to be one big 'leap of faith.'
