To Kill a Mockingbird

I have lived under my mom and dad’s roof all of my life and I have come to conclusion that it is hard to be a parent at times. I imagine a lot of thinking comes into play, I’m sure my parents think everyday if they are doing things right. My parents are not people who would be described as the “perfect” parents; they have their flaws of being parents of two children. Everything they say or do makes me think about how I want to be when I have my own family one day. As a little girl I dreamed of having the perfect parents. In To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee does a wonderful job of showing us the picture of a perfect parent. Atticus Finch would be described as a great person and great father for his children Scout and Jem, because Atticus’s wife died when Scout was two years old he is the one who is always there for them.
In all the books I have read, I have never read one about such a well-rounded character. Atticus is respected by everyone in the town of Maycomb, including the poor. He does things to show the town that he is very important. In times of trouble, he is the one that everyone turns to. Atticus sees the best in people. Atticus wants an effective education for his children. Scout goes to school and faces many teachers who are not understanding and very hypocritical. Miss. Caroline’s commitment to the educational techniques is what she learned in college which makes her ineffective to teach young kids. When Scout tells her father about what her days at school were like, he tried to explain her teacher’s side of things before coming up with a compromise to make Scout happier. Atticus always put his self in her or Jem’s shoes. He was willing to view things from the perspectives of others.
Not only is Atticus a great person, but he is a great parent. Atticus Finch sets the bar for all parents. Jem and Scout are just like any two young children, they find it strange that their dad is older than most dads and their dad doesn’t hunt nor fish. Once Atticus says “Before Jem looks at anyone else he looks at me, and I’ve tried to live so I can look squarely back at him” (366) he knows that he has won his children respect. Atticus’s parenting skills overrule everything about him. He practices the empathy and understanding that he preaches to his children. When I think of empathy and Atticus, forgiveness comes to mind. Atticus is someone who never holds anything against his children. There were many instances where Jem and Scout would do something and think about what Atticus would say or do. As Atticus raised his children, he tried to get them to understand not only how they should behave, but why they should behave that way as well as giving Jem and Scout respect by being honest with them. As Atticus said to Calpurnia "When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles 'em." He knew when to punish them and knew when not too, as well as teaching Jem and Scout moral lessons during it all to show them that it is possible to live with conscience without losing hope.
Most parents say “do as I say, not as I do”, but when it comes to Atticus Finch he is the total opposite of this quote. Atticus nurtured Jem and Souts minds, conscience, and individuality. He lets his own daughter be who she wanted to be, even if her Aunt was trying to change her. Scout, thanks to Atticus’s parenting style wears overalls. Reading To Kill a Mockingbird has lead me to think that there are wonderful people in our world doing great things, and if we just stop sometimes and look at all the positive things in life and stop looking at all the things that go wrong.