--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A child should never even think about…" description: "\"A child should never even think about being a \"good son.\" A parent decides that fate for the child. The parent encourages that. Not the child himself. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/bret-easton-ellis-1028_children_a-child-should-never-even-think-about-be_1359064.jpg" --- # A child should never even think about being a "good son."… ![“A child should never even think about being a "good son." A parent decides that fate for the child. The parent encourages that. Not the child himself. And the "perfect dad"? I shudder at thinking what that may be.” quote by Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/bret-easton-ellis-1028_children_a-child-should-never-even-think-about-be_1359064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/bret-easton-ellis-1028_children_a-child-should-never-even-think-about-be_1359064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10f/bret-easton-ellis-1028_children_a-child-should-never-even-think-about-be_1359064.jpg) > “A child should never even think about being a "good son." A parent decides that fate for the child. The parent encourages that. Not the child himself. And the "perfect dad"? I shudder at thinking what that may be.” [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parental expectations can impose rigid roles, limiting a child's self‑determination and creating pressure to meet idealized standards. **In simple terms:** Parents can force kids into predefined roles. Key Takeaway Encourage children to define their own paths. Themes parenting identity expectations pressure Mood critical empathetic Type psychological philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - personal development - family discussions Key Concepts autonomy self‑definition family dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What expectations have you internalized from parents? - How can you support a child's independent identity? A Different Perspective Idealized roles can cause resentment and loss of authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-parent-753098/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Good Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-son/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parent Decides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent-decides-4645221/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Perfect Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-dad-579779/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Son Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-parent-3847096/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I don't want him to hurt himself. 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