Family Relationships In Ron Howard's 'Parenthood'

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Ron Howard’s 1998 dramatic comedy, Parenthood, explores various parental and interfamily relationships within a family dynamic. This feel-good comedic film explores four parenting styles portrayed by four suburban families over the course of a single summer. Frank and Marilyn Buckman’s children, Gil, Helen, Susan Huffner, and Larry, all exhibit different parenting styles and strategies despise their own father’s neglectful unemotional parenting tactics. Due to the neglect, he experienced during his own childhood, Frank Buckman was unable to relate emotionally to his own children and therefore was a neglectful parent. Frank’s parenting style played an important role in shaping the way his own kids parented their own children. Parenthood’s portal …show more content…
George Holdan defines authoritative as “do not bark commands and expect immediate compliance but rather control their children with reasoning and warmth. They also encourage the development of autonomy in their children. They are able to balance responsiveness with demandingness” (Holdan, 2015). Gil is the eldest child of the Buckman family and wanted to active and involved father as opposed to his own father. Gil’s relationship with his father was not successful and therefore Gil wanted to be there for his own kids. However, Gil realized that being a parent of three children is not always easy especially when one of the children has behavioral issues. Gil and Karen are loving and devoted parents to Kevin, Taylor, Justin, and their newborn baby …show more content…
They allow their children to learn and explore the world on their own and let them make their own decisions. Karen would assist the children with daily activities but she would not punish or reprimand her children when they did something wrong. Gil and Karen 's parenting tactics were so successful that in the end Gil 's father, Frank, asked for parenting advice. Within the movie, I did not see an example of poor parenting on Gil and Karen 's part. Throughout the movie their eldest son would act out and cause problems and his parent would respond accordingly with love and affection. My recommendation for the Buckman family is to continue to foster an environment that encourages open communication and conflict

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