Parent

A parent, in many species, is a current or former caregiver to offspring. In humans, a parent is an adult who can be biologically related to their children or else be a step- or adoptive parent, and who cares for them particularly when they are young and growing up.

The parent-child relationship can last a lifetime. The duty of a parent is to provide protection, shelter, food, education, care, medical attention when necessary, and perform other tasks and chores to ensure the safety and care and well-being of the child. For example, in Greek mythology, the parent of the hero Aeneas was Anchises, but when time passed, the son carried the lame and aged father out of the burning city of Troy, and the roles were reversed, since the son cared for the father.