A parent is a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

Mother

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A mother is the biological or social female parent of a child or offspring, while the male parent is the father. The maternal bond describes the feelings the mother has for her (or another's) child.

In the case of a mammal such as a human, the mother gestates her child (called first an embryo, then a fetus) in the womb from conception until the fetus is sufficiently well-developed to be born. The mother then goes into labour and gives birth. Once the child is born, the mother produces milk to feed the child.

Father

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A father is traditionally the male parent of a child. Like mothers, fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child. Historically, the biological relationship paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of paternity has been intrinsically problematic and so social rules often determined who would be regarded as a father e.g. the husband of the mother.

Bibliography

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• Mary Jacobus, First things : the maternal imaginary in literature, art, and psychoanalysis, New York ^* : Routlege, 1995
• Adrienne Rich, Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution, Virago Press 1995

One's relationship with their parents

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Someone's relationship with their parents can either be seen by them as good or bad. Some people have a very bad relationship with their parents.

See also

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• Paternal bond
• Sociology of fatherhood
• Non-human fatherhood
• Marriage strike
• Fathers' rights
• List of songs about mothers
• Surrogate mother
• Mother Nature, Mother goddess, Mother (neopaganism), Mother Earth, Great Mother, Gaia (mythology)
• Mary, mother of Jesus

Family | Women | Divorce | Human development | Family | Marriage | Men