This paper explains the three axes of parenthood, as described by Houzel et al. (1999).
First of all, parenthood is defined as not only the state of being a parent but also as the process of becoming one. This refers to the psycho-affective development and the psychological maturation of a person. Houzel et al. (1999) differentiates three axes of parenthood.
The first axe refers to the exercise of parenthood and it consists in defining the role of parents towards their children on a judiciary level. This includes children’s as well as their parents’ rights, and duties. Globally it’s the parents’ duty to ensure the psychosocial well-being of their children by offering them a secure environment which does not endanger their lives. Parents have a certain responsibility in terms of bringing up their children, but it all depends on the socio-cultural context. In France, a parent is held responsible for any event which puts the life of their children in danger. For example, parents who live a five year old unattended at home while they go out, can be sentenced by a judge.
The second axe refers to parents’ personal and psychological experience. This takes into task the process of becoming a parent and the modification of various psycho-affective dimensions. Becoming a parent means putting partially aside the fact that we are the child of our parents and accepting that we are going to be the parent of our own child. This process is called the symbolical permutation. It also means accepting what our own parents failed to provide for us, be it on a material or emotional level. Parents’ experience of parenthood evolves all along their lives, as it moves in lockstep with their own development and their children’s.
The third axe refers to parents’ practice of parenthood. It consists in parents’ role as a caregiver all along the developmentof their children. This is mostly based on their relationship and their parental function in their lives. By ensuring a good quality of care and creating a secure psychosocial environment for their children, parents favour their children’s harmonious development. They are the ones who are supposed to physically and psychologically care for their children.
The three previous axes of parenthood defined by Houzel et al. (1999) consist in a certain form of guideline for professionals who work with parents and children, specially psychologists. They must be explored when working on a problematic in regards to parenthood. The malfunction of one of these axes can be the origin of the given problematic. The three axes provide ideas of what type of support and guidance to propose to the family.
In conclusion, given the different changes in terms of types of families in our society, it is crucial to have well defined characteristics of parenthood in order to be able to offer proper support to families. Professionals, should also bare the importance of temporality in mind when working with the three axes of parenthood defined by Houzel et al. (1999). For instance, parents’ experience of parenthood keeps being enriched all along their lives.
Aubrey PHARLA