Atticus’ Parenting Style: Being A Single Father

I think, being single father is quite challenging as you have to play both the roles of a mother and a father. Starting from the beginning, a dad has to take care of his children, making them ready for schools and etc. But, when this transition is done smoothly, the kids grow up to be understanding and helpful. There are many success stories that tell how a single father has raised his kids remarkably. I want to write about Atticus Finch from the novel ‘To kill a Mockingbird”, who was also single father. Atticus Finch was an elderly and modest man also he was a lawyer. Atticus’s wife died and he alone raised two children: six-year-old Jean Louise and teenager Jim. Despite his age, and maybe because of this, Atticus was a great father, I’d say he was a wise father. He never swore or raised his voice to his son and daughter, he always explained everything intelligently. So what did he teach his children and us? I want to give some examples about it from the novel.

Firstly, he taught to do not rush to judge. When Atticus’ daughter came home upset after her first day at school, her father gave a wise advice. Jean’s teacher Miss Caroline looked at Jean with more than faint distaste when she knew that Jean had already known how to read and she told Jean to tell Atticus not to teach Jean any more, it would interfere with her reading. Jean didn’t like it and thought that Miss Caroline was mistaken. And when Jean told Atticus about this Atticus told Jean: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” And Atticus advised her daughter to put yourself in the place of the teacher: how to work hard with the class when someone refuses to play by your rules. 

Secondly, he taught to believe in your children. One of the most difficult moments of upbringing – to learn to understand when children need your advice, and when they have to make their own conclusions and make an independent decision. Atticus didn’t impose his point of view on children. However, he always honestly answered the questions asked by his son and daughter. In one of the dialogues he explained to his brother: “Jack! When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness’ sake. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion quicker than adults, and evasion simply muddles ’em.” 

In conclusion, I want to say that Atticus was a good person with a unique parenting style. He gave a wise advice when his children did something wrong. Due to it, I think he raised his children in the right way also he was a role model for children.  

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