History Main / ParentsAsPeople

Unlike the all-powerful but undercharacterised ParentExMachina, the reader/viewer knows about {{The Protagonist}}'s parents. They have friends outside the home, hobbies that take them out of the house, and full-time jobs. The audience will also be able to discern what kind of relationship the two have as a couple – whether they're [[HappilyMarried still as starry-eyed over each other as they were when they started dating]], or [[AwfulWeddedLife making each other miserable and on the brink of divorce]]. In any event, they will have their own quirks, character strengths, and character failings.

They'll also be hopeless as parents. Or, if they're GoodParents – and they may be! – sometimes still their lives and personalities will get in the way and cause some level of woe to their offspring.

This couple are not usually nasty – or, if they are, we'll be told all about their FreudianExcuse. They're probably at least sympathetic, if not downright likable. We'd probably like to have them as friends but definitely wouldn't want them as parents. One way to tell which you're dealing with is to see the actions the story takes to humanize the parent. If the parent is actively evil like a WickedStepmother or EvilMatriarch, then that is not this trope. Instead of villainous behavior; the parent will be neglectful, demanding, or ignorant of the damage they are causing, but the story shows that they're doing this unknowingly. Said parent(s) may display a lack of awareness while partaking in activities or backstory that explain their behavior. They may not even be treated as a bad parent by others, but the story makes sure to frame their behavior as selfish or, at the very least, [[ParentalNeglect neglectful]]. Exactly how this is intended to be taken depends on the work. In some versions, the parent may be treated more comedically and may have little active participation in the plot, while more dramatic examples may make this conflict the entire point of the story. Be aware that such a character can still be an {{Antagonist}} without being an outright {{Villain}}.

* We don't see them, but WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic's parents. Abusive, scary, implied to have expected way too much of him and apparently raised him as a girl for a short time, but took him out for a meal when he got an A--and his mum sorted things out when he was getting bullied as a child. That last bit more than likely induced StockholmSyndrome, as he's still living with her and calls her his world.

* Creator/CartoonSaloon:

** ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon'': Stoick the Vast is the renowned leader of his clan, and a famed dragon hunter. His son Hiccup... less so. Stoick is constantly pressuring Hiccup to find a path in the clan and becomes elated when he believes Hiccup is defeating dragons and excelling at training, only to find out Hiccup is ''befriending'' dragons instead. In a fit of rage, Stoick has a harsh argument with Hiccup and disowns him. The following moment when Hiccup can no longer see him is Stoick falling back a step with a look of pain, realizing [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone the gravity of what he has just done]]. Stoick is not the most understanding man, but the narrative in the first film and the subsequent movies shows he absolutely loves Hiccup, but is torn by tradition for his people and his love for Hiccup and his peculiar ways. [[spoiler:In the end, Stoick makes up with Hiccup and saves Hiccup's dragon Toothless so the two may save their people]].

* On the classic kids' album ''Free To Be...You And Me,'' Marlo Thomas and Harry Belafonte have a duet actually ''called'' "Parents Are People". It's about the jobs that various mommies and daddies can have as well as being parents.

** ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'':

* Averted in ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'' with Nagisa Furukawa's parents. Her father Akio has the phases of the tough guy and the BoyfriendBlockingDad, while her mother Sanae has the sensitive and loving personality as TheDitz. They are willing to do everything to protect and help Nagisa whilst trying to maintain a healthy, loving relationship between their own selves. [[spoiler:It was eventually revealed that the two indeed ''followed'' this trope earlier in their lives, as they were constantly busy pursuing their dream careers in acting (Akio) and teaching (Sanae), and little Nagisa was left alone at home constantly. After an incident where Nagisa fell seriously ill while they were working and they [[ParentExMachina just managed to save her before she nearly died]], they find out she was born sickly and have decided to both quit their jobs to pursue the goal of protecting Nagisa instead. This explains the bakery they set up, and why Sanae is [[LethalChef so horrible at baking]] to begin with. Poor Nagisa doesn't know this, and falls into an HeroicBSOD after she finds out, but eventually recovers when [[ParentExMachina her parents tell her directly during an important play she was doing]] that she shouldn't [[ItsAllMyFault blame herself]]. In ''After Story'' they still fit in as they raise Ushio during her early years, after Nagisa's DeathByChildbirth and Tomoya's years-old HeroicBSOD, but [[StepfordSmiler don't allow themselves]] to [[OutlivingOnesOffspring grieve for Nagisa]] so they can do their best for Ushio.]].

** Bob and Helen in ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' love their kids and normally are doting parents to them, but that doesn't stop Bob's desire to return to superheroics from causing issues. In the sequel, Bob's attempt at being a HouseHusband doesn't work out very well and he ends up making Violet's problems worse, but he's genuinely trying to help them. He even admits to Violet that he thinks he's being a bad father.

* ''Webcomic/WayneFamilyAdventures'' shows a lot of the Bat family adults this way, especially Bruce. In this continuity, Bruce (even after literally or metaphorically adopting six children and taking in his young son) still occasionally struggles with balancing his life as a businessman, a superhero, and a father. He always owns up, however, when he messes up (such as when he accidentally missed Cassandra's ballet recital, or how he and Jason still have a bit of a strain in their relationship) and strives to make amends, and he's very good at talking to his kids when they have problems. Talia al Ghul ([[AbusiveParents of all people]]) has one of these moments in the comics, too. Despite putting her son through abusive training for most of his life to make him the ultimate assassin, Talia ''does'' love her son, and makes it clear when she visits him that sending him to live with Bruce was hard for her, but she knew that Bruce could give him a happier, more stable life than she could.

* Averted in ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'' with Nagisa Furukawa's parents. Her father Akio has the phases of the tough guy and an OverprotectiveDad, while her mother Sanae has the sensitive and loving personality as TheDitz. They are willing to do everything to protect and help Nagisa whilst trying to maintain a healthy, loving relationship between their own selves. [[spoiler:It was eventually revealed that the two indeed ''followed'' this trope earlier in their lives, as they were constantly busy pursuing their dream careers in acting (Akio) and teaching (Sanae), and little Nagisa was left alone at home constantly. After an incident where Nagisa fell seriously ill while they were working and they [[ParentExMachina just managed to save her before she nearly died]], they find out she was born sickly and have decided to both quit their jobs to pursue the goal of protecting Nagisa instead. This explains the bakery they set up, and why Sanae is [[LethalChef so horrible at baking]] to begin with. Poor Nagisa doesn't know this, and falls into an HeroicBSOD after she finds out, but eventually recovers when [[ParentExMachina her parents tell her directly during an important play she was doing]] that she shouldn't [[ItsAllMyFault blame herself]]. In ''After Story'' they still fit in as they raise Ushio during her early years, after Nagisa's DeathByChildbirth and Tomoya's years-old HeroicBSOD, but [[StepfordSmiler don't allow themselves]] to [[OutlivingOnesOffspring grieve for Nagisa]] so they can do their best for Ushio.]].

Unlike the all-powerful but undercharacterised ParentExMachina, the reader/viewer knows about {{The Protagonist}}'s parents. They have friends outside the home, hobbies that take them out of the house, and full-time jobs. The audience will also be able to discern what kind of relationship the two have as a couple – whether they're still as starry-eyed over each other as they were when they started dating, or on the brink of divorce. They will have quirks, character strengths, and character failings.

Unlike the all-powerful but undercharacterised ParentExMachina, the reader/viewer knows about {{The Protagonist}}'s parents. They have friends outside the home, hobbies that take them out of the house, and full-time jobs. The audience will also be able to discern what kind of relationship the two have as a couple -- whether they're still as starry-eyed over each other as they were when they started dating, or on the brink of divorce. They will have quirks, character strengths, and character failings.

They'll also be hopeless as parents. Or, if they're GoodParents - and they may be! - sometimes still their lives and personalities will get in the way and cause some level of woe to their offspring.

This couple are not usually nasty -- or, if they are, we'll be told all about their FreudianExcuse. They're probably at least sympathetic, if not downright likable. We'd probably like to have them as friends but definitely wouldn't want them as parents. One way to tell which you're dealing with is to see the actions the story takes to humanize the parent. If the parent is actively evil like a WickedStepmother or EvilMatriarch, then that is not this trope. Instead of villainous behavior; the parent will be neglectful, demanding, or ignorant of the damage they are causing, but the story shows that they're doing this unknowingly. Said parent(s) may display a lack of awareness while partaking in activities or backstory that explain their behavior. They may not even be treated as a bad parent by others, but the story makes sure to frame their behavior as selfish or, at the very least, [[ParentalNeglect neglectful]]. Exactly how this is intended to be taken depends on the work. In some versions, the parent may be treated more comedically and may have little active participation in the plot, while more dramatic examples may make this conflict the entire point of the story. Be aware that such a character can still be an {{Antagonist}} without being an outright {{Villain}}.

* This is how Wrestling/ReyMysterio's feud with his son [[AntagonisticOffspring Dominik Mysterio]] portrayed him as. Rey admits that Dominik's criticisms about him aren't unwarranted and that he wasn't the best father to his children, constantly prioritizing his career over them. However, he points out the reason for his ParentalNeglect was so he could give them a life he could only ever dream of, including fabulous wealth and a privileged name. In the end, despite whatever Dominik may believe or claim, Rey does love him, and it is ''only'' because of that love that he hasn't kicked his son's ass in a match yet. Adding to that, while he was willing to endure Dominik's verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse of him, he drew the line at Dominik flinging that abuse at his mother and sister as well. When Dominik finally crossed that line, Rey had enough and attacked his son, and then accepted his challenge for a match at ''[=WrestleMania=]''.

To compensate, there's usually an alternative {{mentor|s}} who fills in for the absent or ineffective parent. If not, the child will be an adult long before his time as being the OnlySaneMan in a crazy family will force them to take care of themselves. If they're the oldest sibling, they'll probably ''be'' the "[[PromotionToParent alternative parent]]."

They'll also be hopeless as parents.

Unlike ParentExMachina, these parents aren't infallible, and they can't solve all of their kids' problems because they can barely handle their own. Their son or daughter can't blithely assume that "dad will take care of it," because he won't. Or he'll try to and fail spectacularly.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"I hate it when they look at me that way.'']]

This couple are not usually nasty -- or, if they are, we'll be told all about their FreudianExcuse. They're probably at least sympathetic, if not downright likable. We'd probably like to have them as friends but definitely wouldn't want them as parents. One way to tell which you're dealing with is to see the actions the story takes to humanize the parent. If the parent is actively evil like a WickedStepmother or EvilMatriarch, then that is not this trope. Instead of villainous behavior; the parent will be neglectful, demanding, or ignorant of the damage they are causing, but the story shows that they're doing this unknowingly. Said parent(s) may display a lack of awareness while partaking in activities or backstory that explain their behavior. They may not even be treated as a bad parent by others, but the story makes sure to frame their behavior as selfish or, at the very least, [[ParentalNeglect neglectful]]. Exactly how this is intended to be taken depends on the work. In some versions, the parent may be treated more comedically and may have little active participation in the plot, while in more dramatic examples may make this conflict the entire point of the story. Be aware that such a character can still be an {{Antagonist}} without being an outright {{Villain}}.

If you're a protagonist, and your parents are given lots of witty one liners, lots of characterisation and inhabit the CompetenceZone to some degree, expect to suffer ParentalAbandonment as they pursue their hobbies and relationships at your expense. If mom and dad are still together, you'll be a living example of the phrase "the children of lovers are orphans," as the parental units will be too wrapped up in each other to spend much time with you. On the other hand, if they're fighting constantly, they'll be too busy yelling at each other to notice that you haven't eaten in three days.

The "golfing dad" is an old trope, and if dad's the only absent parent the child probably won't suffer too badly (until the plot calls for it). However, if ''mom'' has a hobby that takes her out of the house, works at a demanding job or has a problem that makes her borderline unfit as a parent, parental neglect will almost certainly be a plot point. How it's approached varies from show to show, from the mother realising she'd go mad without her career, to an enormous guilt trip about abandoning her child.

* ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} has a daughter who lives with foster parents. It's probably for the best, since he's been shown to be pretty neglectful and is an objectively terrible role model. However, he's also a PapaWolf who dotes on her when he gets to see her and does sincerely try to be a good father.
* In ''ComicBook/EightBillionGenies'', Ed clearly loves his son Robbie dearly, but is reeling over the loss of his wife June and drinks himself into a stupor while sitting at the bar. It isn't long before Ed spends his wish to bring June back, knowing full well that he won't be able to give Robbie the upbringing he needs without her.

* Recent interpretation of ComicBook/LoisLane's father Sam to be in this light. He's a high ranking military officer, which frequently clashes with his daughter's career as a famous journalist who exposes corruption and dirty deeds of the government. He has hesitation about ComicBook/{{Superman}} - the man his daughter supports and is in love with.
** Lois herself is portrayed as this after she gave birth to Jon. She is loving and wants the best for him, but she still doesn't really know what to do with a child with superpowers on top with balancing her love for her career. In fact, she sometimes gets herself into trouble that Jon has to use his superpower to help her.

** ''Westernanimation/{{Brave}}'': Queen Elinor is very dedicated to her role as queen, running the kingdom of Scotland and following tradition to a fault to ever notice that Merida feels trapped in such a rigid environment that doesn't allow her to do her own choices. Due to this clash of ideas, the two fight and lead to the main plot of the movie.

*** When Miguel's grandmother Elena isn't doting on him, she harshly lectures him for having any love of music, not out of malice but because she is afraid that Miguel would lose sight of his family and abandon them like his great-great-grandfather had.

* Averted in ''VisualNovel/{{Clannad}}'' with Nagisa Furukawa's parents. Her father Akio has the phases of the tough guy and an OverprotectiveDad, while her mother Sanae has the sensitive and loving personality as TheDitz. They are willing to do everything to protect and help Nagisa whilst trying to maintain a healthy, loving relationship between their own selves. [[spoiler:It was eventually revealed that the two indeed ''followed'' this trope earlier in their lives, as they were constantly busy pursuing their dream careers in acting (Akio) and teaching (Sanae) and little Nagisa was left alone at home constantly. After an incident where Nagisa fell seriously ill while they were working and they [[ParentExMachina just managed to save her before she nearly died]], they find out she was born sickly and have decided to both quit their jobs to pursue the goal of protecting Nagisa instead. This explains the bakery they set up, and why Sanae is [[LethalChef so horrible at baking]] to begin with. Poor Nagisa doesn't know this, and falls into an HeroicBSOD after she finds out, but eventually recovers when [[ParentExMachina her parents tell her directly during an important play she was doing]] that she shouldn't [[ItsAllMyFault blame herself]]. In ''After Story'' they still fit in as they raise Ushio during her early years, after Nagisa's DeathByChildbirth and Tomoya's years-old HeroicBSOD, but [[StepfordSmiler don't allow themselves]] to [[OutlivingOnesOffspring grieve for Nagisa]] so they can do their best for Ushio.]].
* ''VisualNovel/DreamDaddy'': Robert never managed to be the most caring and attentive father to his daughter, he also didn't had the best example of a father. He deeply regrets their currently estranged relationship and the end game shows he is desperate to make amends with her in any way he can.
* ''VisualNovel/{{Perseverance}}'': Jack and Natalie are each flawed and fighting their own demons, but despite the strained relationship between them and Jacks' at times thoughtless behaviour, they still care for each other, love their daughter a lot, and are doing the best they can.

* ''Webcomic/TrippingOverYou'': Liam's father Eli is a strict widower who struggles to fill the emotional void left by his wife's death and whose parenting alienates Liam more often than not. Standouts include getting confidential information from Liam's therapist rather than speaking directly and pushing Liam into studying law, a field Liam hates, because he wants Liam to have a secure future. In a rare candid moment, he admits that he had dreamt of Liam joining his law office as a FamilyBusiness. He's also a bit homophobic but makes a deliberate effort to overcome that when Liam comes out about his relationship with Milo.

"I'm gonna do what I got to do.", yeah.''\\

* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', Quintin and Jackie's father is nowhere to be seen, leaving Mrs. Avalon to take care of her two kids alone. She loves, dotes upon, and frets over her children and is paid well enough as a police officer to own a spacious home. But she's continuously exasperated by Quintin's antics and is constantly away due to the nature of her work. This leaves the twins to their own devices much of the time, which Quintin exploits to sneak out of the house repeatedly. This strains Quintin's relationship with her, as he feels he can't open up to her about why he's so interested in Jupiter-Man and she can't wrap her head around his obsession.
-->'''Mrs. Avalon:''' The Lord is testing me... and I'm failing.

** Dad often remarks that he would've preferred to just get a dog. Mom generally keeps her game face on, but even she has her limits. In some fairness, Calvin ''is'' a BrattyHalfPint who would definitely be a handful for most parents in general (while a lot of AlternativeCharacterInterpretation theories abound that Calvin may have [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny ADHD]] or be [[AmbiguousDisorder somewhere on the Autism Spectrum]], two disorders that were way less known back in the strip's running days in the late '80s/early '90s), and even Bill Watterson did later express some regret at the way he depicted them (even though he's also remarked they're doing a lot better than he would've). Of course, a good deal of strips show that they ''do'' love Calvin at the end of the day; he's just hard to deal with at times. In short, they're ordinary people, and Calvin is extraordinary.