--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father once said about being a parent…" description: "\"My father once said about being a parent that it is the only thing you do that requires a very long period of learning, and at about the time that you ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/michael-spence-17709_father_my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent_2241750.jpg" --- # My father once said about being a parent that it is the… ![“My father once said about being a parent that it is the only thing you do that requires a very long period of learning, and at about the time that you are becoming competent, you don't need the skills anymore. Notwithstanding this modest assessment of their parenting skills, they were wonderful…” quote by Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/michael-spence-17709_father_my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent_2241750.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/michael-spence-17709_father_my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent_2241750.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/michael-spence-17709_father_my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent_2241750.jpg) > “My father once said about being a parent that it is the only thing you do that requires a very long period of learning, and at about the time that you are becoming competent, you don't need the skills anymore. Notwithstanding this modest assessment of their parenting skills, they were wonderful parents.” [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parenting is a lifelong learning process where competence eventually feels effortless, yet the journey remains valuable. **In simple terms:** Parenting takes years to learn, then feels natural. Key Takeaway Embrace the learning curve, cherish the growth. Themes parenting learning growth competence Mood reflective appreciative Type advice personal When to use this quote - new parents - career transitions - midlife reflections Key Concepts developmental psychology skill acquisition humility Questions to Reflect On - How does competence change your perception of effort? - What aspects of parenting remain challenging after mastery? A Different Perspective Even when competent, ongoing effort is needed to maintain quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Parent Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent-thing-1853395/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parenting Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting-skills-492121/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wonderful parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful-parents/) ## Related quotes > [If I could summarize my suggestions to parents over the past twenty-five years it would be: worry less, criticize less, preach less, listen more,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-sophia-kasl/if-i-could-summarize-my-suggestions-to-parents-over-the-past-twenty/) [Charlotte Sophia Kasl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-sophia-kasl/) > [I've had this conversation with friends who have had challenging relationships with one or another parent. The only thing I can say is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-hefner/i-ve-had-this-conversation-with-friends-who-have-had-challenging/) [Christie Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-hefner/) > [If I could give a shout-out to anything in the childhood world, I have to say 'Daniel Tiger.' I want to write a love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/if-i-could-give-a-shout-out-to-anything-in-the-childhood-world-i-have/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [As a parent, the only thing I am absolutely certain of is my own fallibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/as-a-parent-the-only-thing-i-am-absolutely-certain-of-is-my-own/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [“Children are the product of their parents, and crappy or nonexistent parenting skills load down a child with baggage that’s no fault of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-belle/children-are-the-product-of-their-parents-and-crappy-or-nonexistent/) [Kimberly Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-belle/) > [“I do not know many people who think they have succeeded as parents. Those who do tend to cite the markers that indicate (their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-do-not-know-many-people-who-think-they-have-succeeded-as-parents/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I consider parenting skills, those skills that help children: (1) develop clear and important goals; and (2) figure out flexible and persistent ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-carey/i-consider-parenting-skills-those-skills-that-help-children-1-develop/) [Timothy Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-carey/) > [My parenting skills came from two decades of being in the field helping families and having the opportunity to work with hundreds of families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-frost/my-parenting-skills-came-from-two-decades-of-being-in-the-field/) [Jo Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-frost/) > [“for the most part, my peers, like me, have embarked on the eternal compromise that is dealing with a toddler. We are no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-j-buchanan/for-the-most-part-my-peers-like-me-have-embarked-on-the-eternal/) [Andrea J. Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-j-buchanan/) > [“Moms and dads are looking for tips and ideas that have immediate application to their children. Parents have a “top ten” list of problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedd-tripp/moms-and-dads-are-looking-for-tips-and-ideas-that-have-immediate/) [Tedd Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedd-tripp/) > [I would love to have kids one day. In fact, I'm pretty good with them. I grew up with five half-siblings, the youngest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-perry/i-would-love-to-have-kids-one-day-in-fact-i-m-pretty-good-with-them-i/) [Matthew Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-perry/) > [“Your parenting skills are much like bad porn, the kids are watching but they aren't getting much out of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-jasper/your-parenting-skills-are-much-like-bad-porn-the-kids-are-watching/) [Dawn Jasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-jasper/) > [It's interesting as a mom to reflect on your own parenting skills. The core of our beliefs may stay the same, but our perspective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-hadid/it-s-interesting-as-a-mom-to-reflect-on-your-own-parenting-skills-the/) [Yolanda Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-hadid/) > [You may not know it, but I was adopted as a baby by my wonderful parents, Allan and Margaret Atkins of Cumberland Gap, Tenn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-may-not-know-it-but-i-was-adopted-as-a-baby-by-my-wonderful/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [I am a person who grew up with two wonderful parents and a wonderful family and a person who has done well in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-am-a-person-who-grew-up-with-two-wonderful-parents-and-a-wonderful/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by Michael Spence > [My mother was strong-willed, demanding, and very supportive all at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/my-mother-was-strong-willed-demanding-and-very-supportive-all-at-the/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [I picked economics at the end of my undergraduate time because it seemed to be a really nice combination of theory, including mathematical theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/i-picked-economics-at-the-end-of-my-undergraduate-time-because-it/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [There is no question that the recovery from the global recession triggered by the 2008 financial crisis has been unusually lengthy and anemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/there-is-no-question-that-the-recovery-from-the-global-recession/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [During my Ph.D. program, I became interested in the informational structure of markets that turned into the work on signaling, which was the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/during-my-ph-d-program-i-became-interested-in-the-informational/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [In economies with excess productive capacity, targeted investment can yield a double benefit, generating short-run demand and boosting growth and productivity thereafter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/in-economies-with-excess-productive-capacity-targeted-investment-can/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Next to my family, it seems clear to me that the educational institutions and the teachers from whom I had the privilege of learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/next-to-my-family-it-seems-clear-to-me-that-the-educational/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Properly targeted public investment can do much to boost economic performance, generating aggregate demand quickly, fueling productivity growth by improving human capital, encouraging technological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/properly-targeted-public-investment-can-do-much-to-boost-economic/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Globalization is the process by which markets integrate worldwide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/globalization-is-the-process-by-which-markets-integrate-worldwide/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [The research side of academic life is often viewed from the outside as a solo and, at times, lonely activity. In fact, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/the-research-side-of-academic-life-is-often-viewed-from-the-outside/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Digitally enabled supply chains initially increased efficiency and dramatically shortened lead times. Capital was mobile; labor, less so. Economic activity (production, research, design, etc.)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/digitally-enabled-supply-chains-initially-increased-efficiency-and/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [It is a wonderful and unexpected honor to receive the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Receiving this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/it-is-a-wonderful-and-unexpected-honor-to-receive-the-bank-of-sweden/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Although everyone does benefit from lower-priced goods and services, people also care greatly about the chance to be productively employed and the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/although-everyone-does-benefit-from-lower-priced-goods-and-services/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [I was not thinking about infinite multipliers when I was 10. But I did have a father who was a Ph.D. in commerce and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/i-was-not-thinking-about-infinite-multipliers-when-i-was-10-but-i-did/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [Globalization has redefined the competition for employment and incomes in the United States. Tradeoffs will have to be made between the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/globalization-has-redefined-the-competition-for-employment-and/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) > [China's continued growth and rising household income are creating opportunities for lower-income economies in low-cost manufacturing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/china-s-continued-growth-and-rising-household-income-are-creating/) [Michael Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) [Explore all 36 Michael Spence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/) ## More Child quotes > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I'm a weirdo and an only child. That comes together to create one-woman shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-seales/i-m-a-weirdo-and-an-only-child-that-comes-together-to-create-one/) [Amanda Seales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-seales/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [To assist a child we must provide him with an environment which will enable him to develop freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/to-assist-a-child-we-must-provide-him-with-an-environment-which-will/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [if we center our lives on BMWs, RVs, VCRs, PCs and the other acronyms of consumerism, we cannot expect our children to do otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnetta-b-cole/if-we-center-our-lives-on-bmws-rvs-vcrs-pcs-and-the-other-acronyms-of/) [Johnnetta B. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnetta-b-cole/) > [Bring up your children in the way you think other peoples children should go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/bring-up-your-children-in-the-way-you-think-other-peoples-children/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) [Browse all 10,700 Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father once said about being a parent that it is the only thing you do that requires a very long period of learning, and at about the time that you are becoming competent, you don't need the skills anymore. Notwithstanding this modest assessment of their parenting skills, they were wonderful parents.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Spence" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent-that-it-is-the-only-thing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Child" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent-that-it-is-the-only-thing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/michael-spence-17709_father_my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent_2241750.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/michael-spence-17709_father_my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent_2241750.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/michael-spence-17709_father_my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent_2241750.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My father once said about being a parent that it is the only thing you do that requires a very long period…” — Michael Spence", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Spence", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-spence/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My father once said about being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent-that-it-is-the-only-thing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-spence/my-father-once-said-about-being-a-parent-that-it-is-the-only-thing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```