Parenting is a difficult job, yet it’s one of the most important achievements for any life form. It ensures the species continues, and it provides a chance to pass one’s knowledge and experiences to the next generation. That said, raising a child becomes tougher in the unknown.Star Trek, for instance, comes with its own challenges.
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Children in this sci-fi franchise come across countless new cultures and must travel lightyears away from what they know. Parents who guide them through this process are all the more admirable, andStar Trekhas no shortage of such stalwart guardians.
6Amanda Grayson
Talk about culture shock. Amanda Grayson is a human woman who marries aVulcan: a species specializing in suppressing emotions in favor of logic. Most moms would be lost when raising the resulting child, even if he is the iconic Spock.
Thankfully, Amanda makes it look easy. As the little Vulcan embraces his logical side, she seems to let him develop on his own. This is wise since she’s out of her wheelhouse. On the other hand, he can’t ignore his human side. She then nurtureshis frustration, emotional doubt, and sense of duty toward his teammates. She’s a consistently calming influence, and this often makes her ideal to mediate between him and his Vulcan dad. As a result, Amanda has earned tremendous love from Spock despite himself.
5Rom
This Ferengi is a wuss in most areas. After his brother pushes him around for years, Rom is anxious around unfamiliar people and uncomfortable situations. This makes him a passive figure, unwilling to engage in confrontations. One subject where he won’t bend, though, is his son.
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Rom makes it clear that he’s the final voice when it comes to Nog’s well-being. When Quark tries forcing the kid towardFerengi tradition, Rom stands up to his brother for the first time in his life. That’s obviously a huge milestone, but it doesn’t stop there. Rom wholeheartedly supports Nog on whichever career path he chooses, no matter if it fits with their people’s convention or not. That’s why he couldn’t be prouder when his son joins Starfleet. Such a blessing shouldn’t be taken for granted, especially with the cultural divides prevalent inStar Trek.
4Benjamin Sisko
No one could have prepared Benjamin Sisko for his wife’s deathat the hands of the Borgor for being stationed at a Federation outpost near a post-war planet. Regardless, he sticks it out for his son’s sake. Jake Sisko is confused and displaced; he needs a stable father figure.
Ben retains that role throughoutDeep Space Nine, serving as an active figure in Jake’s path to adulthood. He constantly protects the boy from both physical harm and unhealthy influences. It’s why he initially opposes the kid’s friendship with the mischievous Nog. That said, Ben’s parenting goes beyond a tough disciplinarian.
He also takes an interest in his son’s life and pursuits. Though he wants Jake to join Starfleet, he accepts his eventual choice to become a writer. By extension, he makes himself available as a source of emotional support. He accomplishes all this while managing the station’s affairs and wartime conflicts. In short, he’s a captain and a father whom one can always rely on.
3Miles & Keiko O’Brien
It’s tough to raise a child when both parents work. Miraculously, the O’Briens manage it with Molly and, later, Yoshi. They spend much ofThe Next GenerationandDeep Space Ninebalancing their careers and home lives. They don’t always succeed, but they both put in an honest effort.
Miles and Keiko each try to maintain a presence in their children’s growth. They use whatever free time they have to make up for any shortcomings. The most tragic example comes inDS9. When a time travel accident strands Molly on an uninhabited planet for years–stunting her mental growth and making her a feral time bomb–her parents refuse to give up on her. If anything, they take a more active part in raising her, demonstrating tremendous patience in their efforts to reintegrate her. This proves that nothing is more important to these two than their children. How appropriate that the series finale sees them take cushy jobs on Earth to provide a more peaceful upbringing.
2Beverly Crusher
No one likesWesley Crusher. The child prodigy flaunts his knowledge, pries into adult affairs, and adopts a holier-than-thou demeanor, all with no clue of how his attitude can annoy others. Anyone who puts up with this little irritant deserves a medal, but that’s not the only reason his mom, Beverly, is on the list.
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This is another case of a balanced parent. She nurtures and encourages Wesley’s intelligence despite being unable to answer his questions at times. At the same time, she doesn’t see him as just a prodigy. Concerned for his social development, she wants him to have friends his own age. To accomplish this, she attempts to curb some of his annoying tendencies. Granted, it doesn’t work, but she tries. There’s only so much a parent can do in that respect.
By the same logic, good parents know when to relinquish control. Beverly learns this, and she decides that Wesley is free to make his own decisions. If that means leaving Starfleet, then so be it. As single moms go, she’s better than he deserves.
1Sergey & Helena Rozhenko
Taking in a Klingon child is no laughing matter. But that’s exactly what the Rozhenkos do when they come upon a ship in distress and raisethe orphaned Worfalongside their human son. On the way, they help him deal with his warrior instincts and teach him self-control. However, they don’t limit him outright. Rather, they encourage his aspiration to join Starfleet, believing in a better tomorrow where their family isn’t so unconventional. They’re not done giving, though.
Eventually, Worf fathers his own Klingon son, but the kid soon becomes a problem. His headstrong attitude only grows after his mother dies. Unable to look after the child, Worf sends him to his adoptive parents onEarth. They should be enjoying their retirement, but they sacrifice that for their family. That’s a debt that Worf can’t possibly repay.
