What Is The Role of Mothers, Fathers in the First 19 Years of a Child’s Life?

By Dickson Tumuramye

Parenting is one of life’s greatest adventures, and it begins not at birth, but at conception. From that moment, both mother and father are called into an intentional journey of bonding, nurturing, and guiding their child. The first 18 years of a child’s life are not merely about caregiving; they are a foundation for lifelong learning, emotional resilience, character development, and academic potential. At every stage, both parents play unique and irreplaceable roles in shaping the trajectory of their child’s life.

Mother’s Foundational Role

Traditionally and biologically, mothers tend to take on the primary caregiving role in the early years, often being the first emotional anchor for the child. From breastfeeding and bathing in infancy to helping with homework or talking through emotional struggles in the teen years, mothers offer a continuous thread of nurturing and guidance.

Her early attentiveness, whether noticing a fever, emotional distress, or changes in behavior, lays the groundwork for the child’s physical health and emotional security. But her role evolves. As the child grows, so does the complexity of her influence: from teaching routines and empathy in toddlerhood to helping navigate peer pressure and academic choices in adolescence.

Mothers shape not only comfort and safety, but also habits of learning, curiosity, and character. Through daily interactions, helping solve problems, managing conflict, or celebrating small victories, she reinforces a secure base from which a child can confidently explore the wider world, including the classroom.

Father’s Equally Vital Role

While the mother may be more hands-on in the early stages, the father’s involvement from pregnancy through adolescence is just as essential. Fathers contribute not only emotional and financial support, but also play a direct role in shaping their child’s values, educational attitude, and self-esteem.

Fathers who are actively involved, whether through playing with toddlers, guiding discipline, attending school meetings, or mentoring teens through life decisions, tend to raise children who are more emotionally balanced, socially confident, and academically motivated. Numerous studies confirm that children with engaged fathers perform better in school, display fewer behavioral issues, and have stronger problem-solving abilities.

Fathers also bring structure. Their involvement in setting expectations, enforcing rules with warmth, and modeling integrity and responsibility contributes significantly to the child’s moral and educational formation. Whether helping with science projects, practicing discipline through sports, or discussing life choices, the father becomes a reference point for consistency and strength.

Character and Discipline: A Long-Term Foundation

Many parents assume that character formation begins during the school-going years. But in truth, it starts much earlier, and it continues to be shaped throughout childhood and adolescence. From toddlerhood to teenage years, children are constantly observing how their parents respond to challenges, enforce rules, and handle conflict.

The role of the parent, particularly in education, is not simply to command or punish, but to guide, mentor, and model. Children thrive under consistent, loving boundaries, freedom within structure. In the early years, this might mean gentle correction during tantrums. In teenage years, it means being a steady voice during more complex ethical and social dilemmas.

Discipline should be nurturing, not authoritarian. Fathers, especially, play a critical role in offering strength with gentleness, disciplining with love, and leading by example.

Emotional Connection Throughout the Years

A secure emotional attachment between parent and child remains vital not only in infancy but all the way into adolescence. In the early years, this is often expressed through physical closeness, warm tone, and responsive care. As the child matures, emotional connection takes on new forms: listening without judgment, validating feelings, showing up at school events, or giving guidance when mistakes are made.

Teenagers, while striving for independence, still crave connection and approval. Parents who continue to build emotional trust through these years foster resilience, openness, and moral clarity. A child who knows they are deeply loved and consistently guided is more likely to make wise choices and stay engaged in learning. That is why school visitations by both parents, or taking or picking a child together from school at the start and end of term, are very crucial to enhance this bonding.

Parenting as a Partnership

Effective parenting is not a solo act. It is a shared calling. When mothers and fathers work as a team, supporting one another, respecting each other’s strengths, and sharing responsibility, the child benefits from a stable and enriched environment. Each parent brings a different lens, and together, they provide a fuller picture of life and learning.

The Bible reminds us: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he grows up, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). What parents do during these formative years, especially the first 19, matters greatly. Whether it is reading to a child, helping with assignments, or shaping attitudes toward school and life, the daily acts of guidance and support build the framework for future success.

In Conclusion

Parenting is not a competition; it is a partnership of presence, love, and intentional guidance. From birth to 19, each phase of a child’s development presents unique opportunities and challenges for parents to influence character, learning, and emotional well-being. Fathers should not shy away from bedtime routines, heart-to-heart talks, or school engagements. Mothers should feel supported and empowered in their daily care and long-term teaching.

The writer is the executive director of Hope Regeneration Africa, a parenting coach, marriage counselor, and the founder of the Men of Purpose mentorship program.