Why do some parents look at immediate needs of their kids while others look at the future?

Stephen T: Why do some parents look at immediate needs of their kids while others look at the future?
My wife is a teacher and tells me all the time that some of her parents think good parenting is only making sure they have shoes on and are fed. Other parents are concerned with the emotional and social development of children, striving for goals, etc. Why do some parents look at immediate needs while others look towards the future? Is there a difference in who will become which type and are certain people bound to parent a certain way?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Mom to Johnny <3
Well, I’d hope that most parents would look at both. I certainly try to.

Answer by Hollie Newell
Mostly people that think about future needs are the ones who don’t really have to worry about current needs as it is certain that they will always have shoes and put food on the table.
The ones that worry about this are the ones that need to make sure that this can happen either because they are struggling or are worried that they cant supply for their children, and when they can can move on to thinking about what the future holds.

Answer by * Princess Aimee’s Mummy is pregnant!*
both are important, not all parents show it and want to tell everyone their future plans for their children or how they raise them , everyone deals with parenting differently theres no right or wrong way as long as the child is provided with what they need and has a good life.

Answer by desmeran
it’s a lot easier to look to the future if you can easily afford taking care of present needs.

Answer by angesaysrawr
There is a lot more going into this than just parenting style.

Some parents can’t focus on anything more than the present. If they’re impoverished, making sure there’s food in the house and clothes on their kids’ backs are much more immediate concerns than if they’ll get into college or make proper moral decisions at age 30. There’s no point in preparing a child for the future if you don’t actually feed and clothe him so he gets to the future. Also, some parents never had that type of role model in their own life–one who’ll realize that today is important, but so is tomorrow.

There is no set way a kid will ‘turn out’ from either style. Ideal parenting would involve aspects of both. A child needs to eat dinner tonight, but he’s also going to need to get through the rest of his life.

Answer by farad469
The ones who look at immediate needs generally think along the lines of “If they have what they need now, success will naturally follow from that”

Parents who look to the future generally think “I want them to succeed, so they need this”

Personally, I agree more with the ‘immediate needs’ camp. If children are given what they need, and independence, than a successful future will naturally follow from there. They don’t need mom at their should 24/7, or to be involved in a dozen different activities before, after, or during school. If they have food, and shelter, and love, and self confidence, as well as independence, great things, or at least happiness, will naturally follow from there.

EDIT: Of course, I had been speaking of different style from the same economic perspective, although others certainly are right about the issue of poverty or wealth.

Answer by College–here I come!
We learn parenting from our parents.

Answer by Bella
If parents are struggling they may only be concerned with basic survival where if they are secure they can think more about the future and what plans they’d like to make.

Answer by anon
Both are equally important. (:

Answer by angiec8420
I don’t know, but I’d look at both, I’d make sure they are feed, but I would also make sure they are working toward their goals…

Answer by kat
Some people are just more concerned about immediate needs and some are more concerned about future needs. I think a lot of it has to do with how you were raised. People tend to do things the same way their parents did it. And income probably plays a part too. It is hard to worry about future needs if you don’t have enough money to pay your electric bill and buy groceries this month.