DivyaThe word parental responsibility (PR) is no more a generic word rather it’s a legal word. First of all, let’s understand the basic meaning of parental responsibility.
Meaning of PR
Parental responsibility is the responsibility of parents towards their child. But in legal terms, it is all the duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority which by law, parents have in relation to children. This not only included day to day decision but also a long-term decision.
Definition of Parental Responsibility
Legally parental responsibility is defined s3(1) children act 1989 as being:
“ACCORDING TO LAW ALL THE RIGHTS, DUTIES, POWERS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY OF A CHILD IS ON THE PARENT WHO HAS LEGAL RIGHTS ON HIM AND ITS NOT JUST RESPONSIBILITY ALSO HAS ON HIS PROPERTY.”
“BASICALLY, IT FOCUSES ON THE PARENT’S DUTIES TOWARDS THEIR CHILD RATHER THAN THE PARENT’S RIGHTS OVER THEIR CHILD”.
Key Parental Responsibilities
A parent who has parental responsibility can make important decisions necessary in a child’s life including issues relating to:
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Living of a child
The most important decision is that where the child should live. He or she can only live with the legal parent.
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Education
Where a child should go to school and who has the right to receive all the information related to child education like reports and selection of subjects, etc.
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Medical Advice
Health and medical treatment of a child totally depend on parental responsibility. Both the parents do not have the right, the only legal parent can make a decision like where he or she should receive medical treatment and where the child should be vaccinated.
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Religion
It plays a very dominating role in a child’s life. The legal parent has full right to make a child follow any relation of their choices. A child has to follow the instructions of a legal parent.
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Tour
Going abroad, either permanently or on holidays without seeking consents from parental responsibility is an offense. One has to seek permission before leaving from the country. There is a proper law called RELOCATION, HOLIDAYS AND ABDUCTION ON IT.
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Name Change
Last but not least, the parental responsibility can also change the name of a child.
All the above decisions can only be made under parental responsibility until or unless the child does not reach an age where she or he can make a decision of his/her own on this.
Do’s and Dont’s of Parental Responsibility
Do’s
- The mother has all the responsibilities for her child and does not lose it even if divorced. She automatically has PR.
- The married fathers have PR and they can have even if divorced.
Dont’s
- Unmarried fathers do not have PR.
- Stepfather and mother do not have PR.
- Grandparents do not have PR.
How Can Parental Responsibility affect your child?
Parental Responsibility is a very archaic word but here I would like to talk about only parent’s responsibility without attaching the concept of legality to it. Parents are considered as the second God for the child. They nourish their child without expecting anything and are responsible for every act of a child. They should make their child independent. It is the job of a parent to teach children age-appropriate skills in order to allow them to become more independent.
A parent should always consider his or her child as unique. However, the experts from around the globe will advise on many things but parents are the only ones to make decisions for their children.
The parental responsibility can be on mother, father or anyone who legally takes orders but the most important is the happiness of a child. The PR should look after the overall happiness of a child. Especially when they are parenting responsibly, the child might get affected negatively if they set limits or give them a consequence. That’s a part of a parent’s job but not to make decisions based on their own happiness. Always take decisions which can make them happy and then the parent can follow through.
Always remember to teach your child that it’s not about being better rather it’s only about being you in any circumstances. Even if the past days were not good still a child can make his or her life better than it was in the past.
“BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL CHILD, THERE IS A RESPONSIBLE PARENT.”
| Author: Richa AG | Mommy Blogger | SAHM
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Wish you a very Happy and Responsible Parenting!
