A conversation last night has me stumped....

The 9 yr old wants to play baseball next year ...so he talked to both of his parents and they both said yes he can try out and play if picked.... well it has a registration fee attached ... less than $100 (I think). I asked if mom was supposed to pay 50% of that to? because if so I would write it in the "book" ... (I keep track of expenses related to the children that they are supposed to split) Hubby said he wasn't sure but it wasn't a big deal we would just pay it... Ok. Well then I told him about my conversation with 9 yr old on the way to school.

conversation... mommy said I could play baseball... yes and so did daddy... but it costs about $100.00 so I have to check when the money is due we don't have the extra $100 this week but just let me check to see when its due and we can work it out. Well mommy said she pays daddy support so he can use the support money to pay for baseball I said ... yes but we have other bills too ... then he says well daddy is going to need to buy all my equipment for baseball I said I know its an expensive hobby we will see what we can do. But mommy said she pays support so we can do stuff and daddy has to pay for all of it. I said your "parents" need to discuss this, both "your parents" need to support your hobbies not one or the other.

So I was talking to hubby about it last night ... and he said ... well mommy should have kept her mouth shut I would have paid for it all but since she had to run her mouth she can pay half now. I said well I told him his "parents" had to discuss it and work it out. He then asked....

What is the definition of a parent... I said somone who gives birth? ok that makes her a parent? yes ... he says I don't think giving birth makes you a parent I didn't give birth and I am a parent. true..... Ok so what does it mean "to parent"? he aasks. Well that would be "parent" as an action word? and I don't know the definition of parent as a verb.

I have been trying to find parent as a verb and can't find it .... but I did find this ...

Parental duties

Providing physical security

Providing physical security refers to a safety of a child's body, safety of a child's life.

To provide physical safety: shelter, clothes, nourishment

To protect a child from dangers; physical care

To care for a child's health

Providing physical development

Developing a child physically refers to providing a conditions to a healthy growth of a child.

To provide a child with the means to develop physically

To train the body of a child, to introduce to sport

To develop habits of health

Physical games

Providing intellectual security

Intellectual security refers to the conditions, in which a child's mind can develop. If the child's dignity is safe, that is nobody encroaches upon a child physically or verbally, then he is able to learn.

To provide an atmosphere of peace and justice in family, where no one's dignity is encroached upon.

To provide "no-fear," "no-threat,"no-verbal abuse" environment

Providing intellectual development

Intellectual development means providing opportunity to a child to learn - to learn about laws of nature and moral laws.

Reading, writing, calculating etc.

Intellectual games

Social skills and etiquette

Moral and spiritual development

Ethics and value systems

Norms and contributions to the child's belief and cultural customs

Providing emotional security

To provide emotional security to a child is to help protect and shield the child's fragile psyche. It is to provide a safe loving environment, give a child a sense of being loved, being needed, welcomed.

To give a child a sense of being loved through:

Emotional support, encouragement

Attachment, caressing, hugging, touch, etc.

Providing emotional development

Emotional development refers to giving a child an opportunity to love other people, to care, to help.

Developing in a child an ability to love through:

Showing empathy and compassion to younger and older, weaker and sicker, etc.

Caring for others, helping grandparents, etc.

Other parental duties

Financial support: Money provided as child support by custodial or non-custodial parent(s), or the state

Insurance coverage and payments for education

Anyone have suggestions so I can answer hubby's question. what does it mean "to parent"(verb)?