Aquarius Parents

When it comes to parenting, as with anything else, Aquarius has an unconventional style that can evolve in many different ways.  Whether it's by raising the family in a commune or just keeping a funky set of traditions alive, Aquarius parents refuse to be included with the norm.  Known for knowing at least a little about anything, Aquarius Mom and Dad are knowledge-hoarders that place a heavy emphasis on learning.  Many Aquarians take pride in their uniqueness and will celebrate the quirks and individuality of their children as well.  Though they're black sheep, Aquarius parents fit in just fine at PTA meetings and softball practice because they're generally friendly people with positive energy.  While they may give their children the freedom to make up their own minds, topics like politics, religion, and current events will not escape domestic discourse.  Game night is a great tradition to have in an Aquarius household, being that they are masters of trivia and spelling games like Scrabble.

Pros:  A child's questions will never go unanswered.  A strong sense of identity is able to develop in the child.

Cons:  The progressive activist spirit in Aquarius may leave the domestic realm neglected at times.  A child that needs structure and routine may be lost with this breezy sign.

Cancer Parents

The parents of the zodiac, Cancers are natural nurturers.  Unless they had parents who opposed the idea, most Cancers were likely to grow up with pets.  A Cancer's connection to an animal is often stronger than any other sign's--probably because animals are viewed as innocent, vulnerable things that need care.  A Cancer can't resist.  As parents, Cancers have a fantastic ability to become psychically connected to their children and know exactly what they need and how they feel.  If she's not careful, Cancer can become overly possessive of her offspring.  Since she is more nostalgic than any other sign and quite sensitive, Cancer Mother is likely to keep the first tooth her son loses until it turns to dust and Cancer Father will keep that drawing his daughter made in his wallet for the rest of his life.

Pros:  Likely to be well-read on parenting and able to put the child's best interest first, will keep good record of childhood (i.e. scrapbooks, journals, etc.), will create a very comfortable home/kingdom for the family

Cons:  This is a moody parent that needs to be left alone when his/her mood swings low.  Also, Cancer parents may have trouble giving their children the freedom to fail, be hurt, or expand far away on their own.

Scorpio Parents

The Scorpio parent is naturally in tune with his or her children.  With the ability to know what people are thinking and feeling without being told, Scorpio parents can anticipate their child's needs and moods effectively.  Scorpio's possessive and protective nature may create a problem when it comes to giving children a sense of freedom and space, though this problem is easily corrected if the parent is able to identify it and commit to changing (Scorpio's commitment is unshakable).  Since Scorps are no strangers to playing mind games, it's no surprise to find one using reverse psychology or some other mental manipulation to direct children.  While Scorpio mom and dad understand a child's need for secrets, dishonesty is not tolerated.  Kids with a Scorpio parent should always let their parents know where they are, when they'll be back, and who they'll be with--and stick to the plan.  Nothing gets past Scorpio mom or dad.  Often black-and-white thinkers (due to an intensity of feeling), Scorpio parents often project their own interests, dreams, and aspirations onto their children.

Pros:  Strong-willed and able to cut through any obstacle, able to be intensely supportive of child's pursuits, unique ability to understand their children.

Cons:  May be invasive to child's privacy, risk of forcing child to share parent's interests, if the Scorpio parent isn't in a stable relationship, risk of drama in personal life interfering with ability to uphold parental responsibility.

Virgo Parents

Virgo parents tend to have orderly, clean homes if possible (Good luck, Virgo, if you've made a partnership with a Gemini or have a Pisces or Aquarius child, for example).  The grocery store isn't visited without a list and chores are scheduled.  When you find a messy Virgo home, you can at least count on Virgo to know the exact order of each mess and where to find anything you could possibly need.  These parents take an active interest in their children and are easy to make proud.  While both parents are worrisome and critical, Virgo Mom takes the cake.  Having children can be extra enlightening to the often cautious, logical, and structured Virgo.

Pros for having a Virgo parent:  Your closets, drawers, and... life will always be organized.  You'll learn at an early age how to make your allowance really last.  You have a live-in math tutor.

Cons for having a Virgo parent:  These parents are often overly critical and discerning to a fault.  Children who don't respond well to structure may feel stifled or confined.  While Virgo parents take great pride in the accomplishments of their offspring, when it comes time for them to leave the nest, letting go is a crippling challenge.

Taurus Parents

The biggest thing that comes to mind when I consider Taurus parents is the idea of structure.  These are the mothers and fathers that provide structure/stability and routine/rules for their kids.  They're also likely to impose epicurean and elitist tastes on their offspring--designer baby clothes, only the best in electronics, and picky-eating is acceptable.  Unfortunately for manipulative signs (Libra, Scorpio) or children under a sign that is strong-willed (Leo, Aries, Taurus, Capricorn), Taurus Mom and Dad won't budge when a decision has been reached.  No extended curfews or exceptions to the household rules.

Pros: Excellent ability to form habits, predictability gives child a sense of security, likely to be a good bread-winner (unless you're a lazy Taurus... which isn't uncommon).

Cons:  Black-and-white thinking, non-intuitive, potential for too many hours put in at work.

Leo Parents

Parenting comes naturally to Leo.  Just as a lion rules the jungle, Leo is comfortable directing in the home.  With high standards for themselves, Leos are able to set the bar high for their children and give lots of direction on how to achieve their goals.  Always prepared, Leo mothers never fail to figure out a solution to any problem.  There isn't anything a Leo dad can't fix.  Leo's are likely to push their children into participating in competitive activities like sports and will surely be the loudest fan in the stands.  Winning is important to Leo, but they are also able to accept loss gracefully.

Pros:  Generous, extravagant, strong-willed, pushes child to excel.

Cons:  Hot-tempered, controlling, risk of unrealistic expectations for child.

Values Learned from Leo Parent:  Independence, efficiency, pride in oneself.

How to Spot Them in a Crowd:  The mom pulling an itinerary for the day out of her large purse full of snacks, band-aids, quarters, and whatever else anyone might need.  The dad forcing everyone to admire  wallet photos of his kids.

The Next Astrotreat Installment: Parents

For my next set of treats, I'm going to give a quick look at each astrological sign in terms of parenting style.  This should be fun for us to see how our own parent-figures measure up.  For those of us with children, we may be enlightened a little about ourselves.  For those of us without,  let's dream a little of our potential.