Can you define an "unfit parent"?

Question

I'm interested in finding out what people think this term means. Examples are okay....

Answer 1

An unfit parent is one who is mentally or emotionally not capable of caring for / rearing children to a minimum standard. My minimum standard is, to be a fit parent:
provides as much nutrition, shelter, and medical care as is economically feasible;
takes reasonable precautions to protect children from violence and accidents (or at least intends to - ignorance is an excuse);
is available and capable of responding to child's cries of distress and is willing to respond to child's distress, often enough that child does not suffer consequences of neglect (lack of socialization, malnutrition, injury);
is capable of controlling his/her urges to assault the child verbally or physically

Basically, as long as you consider your childrens' health, safety, and well-being to be an overriding priority, and you're mentally sound and can control your actions, you don't deserve to have the state take your child from you -- even in cases of mild neglect or abuse. I'm assuming that a fit parent will respond well to intervention and not need to be declared "unfit." That's a BIG word because you're talking taking people's kids away from them. People, in my opinion, have at least some right to be jerks to their own family - where would you draw the line, if they didn't? Could you be an unfit daughter?

Answer 2

I feel an unfit parent does drugs and doesn't care for the child, forgets to pick up the child all the time, a parent who leaves the chold only a night any amount of time (under 12)

Answer 3

I feel an unfit parent is someone who will leave their kids home alone, or go out and just dump their kids off on any one weather they are fit or not, someone who will do drugs alcohol and mistreat their kids, someone who puts their needs first, doesn't care where their kids are and don't be active in their life, someone who won't set a curfew and you see kids out side at all hours in the night. Kids who don't know where their parents are when they wake up in the middle of the night. Someone who thinks drugs or men are more important, someone who doesn't give their kids a bath, or shows them love and attention, someone who won't make their kids mind no matter what they do, someone who brings many men in front of their children, someone who ignores them, or won't play with them and acts as if they are a bother with to them, someone who will take their kids to day care and dump them just to get rid of them and they are not even working.........to me the list can go on and on. But to say the least if you don't want a child to take care of and to love don't have them, cause kids are full time jobs not just when you want them around.

Answer 4

Okay, I'll tell you a real story to help you.
My sister had got a boyfriend and he wasn't that nice to the kids. If they so much as coughed or sneezed, he would beat them lots , but on the backside so no one would see. Once , the eldest called the police to tell them what went on, and the boyfriend,(Riley) told the police it was a prank so they wouldn't believe her next time.
And what did my sister do,? She stood and watched her own kids being beat, and she didn't help them, she egged Riley on.

Answer 5

A mother that gambles all day doesn't want to do any chores/take care of her own 2 year old. Doesn't care if the child is at home alone, never attends any graduation, birthday parties, & even until now, when the child is 25 the mother still rejects this child.

Answer 6

An unfit parent is someone who puts their own wants and needs ahead of their children's wants and needs.

Answer 7

parents who drink, gamble, or smoke too much. Drinking's OK from time to time, but no more then 4 a week. A parent who depends on other people for money because both of them don't work, or parents who fight too much.

Answer 8

probably someone who pays no attention to their child. someone who never cooks a decent meal and doesnt care if the child eats healthy or eats at all for that matter. someone who doesnt bath their child and lets them go dirty and smelly. someone who's not involved with their education and doesnt care if homeworks done or not. basically, someone who doesnt care for their child.
thats my idea anyway....

Answer 9

a parent that doesnt do alot with their kids and jus cares about themself

Answer 10

Someone who ignores their kids. They put themselves ahead of them.