Parent

A parent is a person who has given birth to a child or who has assumed, through law and society, responsibility for the child's upbringing and care. Parents are generally divided into mother and father, but parenthood is not limited to biological relationship; there can be adoptive parents, financial parents, and caregiving parents.

The Somali word 'waalid' derives originally from the Arabic 'wālid' (one who gave birth). The regular plural is 'waalidiin'. The term 'stepparent' is sometimes used for a person who has not given birth but carries out a parental role, for example a relative who has raised a child.

Types of Parenthood

Scholars typically distinguish three categories: biological parenthood (genetic connection), legal parenthood (rights and duties conferred by law), and social or caregiving parenthood (the person who raises the child day to day). These three categories may rest with one person or be divided among different households, as in adoption or when relatives raise a child.

Rights and Duties

Most legal systems grant parents authority to make decisions concerning a child's education, health, and residence, while also requiring them to bear costs and provide protection. When marriage is dissolved, courts typically decide which parent the child lives with and how expenses are divided. International law, notably the Convention on the Rights of the Child of the United Nations, emphasizes that decisions concerning children must be guided by the best interests of the child.

Somali Custom

In Somali society, parenthood exists within the structure of the extended family. Grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, and uncles often participate in raising children, especially when one parent is absent or has moved elsewhere for work. Islamic law defines the financial obligations of fathers and the inheritance rights of children, and places particular emphasis on obedience to and care for parents in their old age.