A lot of parents today grew up during the Hogwarts Generation. We devoured each new book as it came out, waited desperately for the next one and cried along with the rest of the world when beloved characters died. We sorted ourselves into Hogwarts houses long before Pottermore was a thing, and we have stayed true to our beloved hoggy warty Hogwarts for years, if not decades.
Now that we’re having kids of our own and waiting for them to get their first Hogwarts letter, how have those Hogwarts houses affected our parenting styles?
Gryffindor
Gryffindor is where the brave dwell, and while your adventuring days are over — at least for a while, in today’s world, trying to raise a kid is probably one of the bravest things you can do. How does your daring, nerve and chivalry affect you as a parent?
Well, first of all, you’re resilient. While you were out adventuring, chances are you got knocked down more than once. You didn’t just stay down — you got back up, beat whatever knocked you down and made your way home bearing all your bumps and bruises with pride. While your kids aren’t knocking you down — yet, anyway — it takes a certain amount of resilience just to hear “mommy” or “daddy” for the 3,000th time in the last hour without totally losing your mind. After a while, it takes on the same tone as a Mandrake’s scream, and you’ve lost your earmuffs. If that’s not nerve, we don’t know what is.
Your chivalry may not include saving damsels in distress and pulling out chairs anymore, but that doesn’t mean it has left you — it has just been transferred to your kids. No one messes with your little house elves. You’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they’re safe and happy, whether that means fighting the monster under their bed — so, that’s where that book went! — or helping them deal with the neighborhood bully, even if it puts you in the Hospital Wing.
While your kids might get on your nerves sometimes, they’re still your pride, and that Gryffindor lion shines through no matter what.
Hufflepuff
Hufflepuffs are fiercely loyal to anyone they care about. Just because your house mascot is the badger doesn’t mean you are afraid to step up and fight if necessary. You’re not the kind of person who gets mad if someone messes with them, but if someone is messing with your kids — watch out!
You’re also the kind of parent who will always make sure everyone is fed, whether it’s a full five-course meal or just some snacks around the kitchen table. And you’re definitely the type to make fun food crafts with your kids – like chocolate cherry mice, rice krispie monsters, or maybe even some homemade butterbeer. All the kids want to come to your house after school because you always have the best snacks. It’s appropriate, considering your Common Room’s proximity to the Hogwarts kitchens — and if you figure out a way to make your doorbell douse unwelcome visitors in vinegar, please let us know!
According to their motto, Hufflepuffs are also “unafraid of toil,” and it shows. If there’s a fundraiser to be manned, a field trip to be chaperoned or an injured stuffed animal to be sewn up, you’re right there with all the tools needed to fix the problem, and you won’t stop until the job is done. You may be the best house for parenting, if we’re being honest.
Ravenclaw
The wisest of all the Hogwarts houses, Ravenclaw is the home of intelligence, creativity and wit. This can be the perfect combination for a parent — or it can be an utter nightmare. It’s easy for you to get frustrated if your kids don’t understand something the first time. We know — we can relate. You don’t let that interfere with your parenting, though.
Your kids are probably always the top of the class when it comes to things like creative writing and science projects. Ravenclaw parents are the most likely to raise Ravenclaw children. It’s science. Or something. Your house is full of creativity, inspiration and conversations that might perplex outsiders but make perfect sense to you. Anytime a new project is proposed, you dive into it head first, possibly with more enthusiasm than your kids.
While you might not need to answer a riddle to get through your front door, Ravenclaw parents challenge their kids in ways they might not otherwise experience, and this is a great way to help prepare them for the real world.
Slytherin
Let’s be honest here — Slytherins have a bad reputation. The snake is their house mascot after all, but that doesn’t mean they’re slimy. Side note: Snakes aren’t actually slimy.
Slytherin parents embody all the best aspects of their house — ambition, resourcefulness, leadership and cunning. They’re the parents you see at the head of the PTA or coaching the local little league team — passing on all those positive Slytherin traits to every willing mind, no matter what house they eventually end up getting sorted into. Your Common Room might be in the dungeon, but you’re heading to the top no matter what.
Slytherin parents are also the ones you need to have around when you run into a roadblock. One of the perks of being a Slytherin is that you will do just about anything to get your way — or your kids’ way, in this case. You will argue, fight, connive or manipulate to make sure your kids are safe, happy and healthy. This comes in handy when arguing with teachers who just won’t listen, other parents who are demanding that things are done their way and even with your kids who are probably just as stubborn as you are.
Learning how to outwit your own kids is an interesting challenge, and it’s one you’ll have to face as a Slytherin parent, whether or not they end up sorting into Slytherin themselves.
How does your Hogwarts house affect your parenting style? Has it changed as your kids have gotten older? What houses do you think your kids are going to sort into when they come of age? No matter what house they end up in, the Harry Potter Universe is an amazing place to spend time, and being able to share that with the new generation is worth more than all the Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Pasties on the Hogwarts Express.
Author bio: Jennifer is a tea-drinking, yoga loving, distance running, nutrition nut, writer, and journalist. She’s a proud mama and wife and she loves making new friends! You can find her on her blog – Mindfulness Mama!
PS – Now that you know how your Hogwarts house affects your parenting, you can get ready for an epic family trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Be sure to check out these secret selfie spots at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when you go!
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