Parenting is different for everybody.

The words “Parenting is different for everybody”, spoken by LaVar Ball, carry the weight of an ancient truth dressed in modern garb. Though they appear simple, they reveal the eternal mystery of the bond between parent and child. No two lives walk the same path, and no two families breathe the same air of destiny. The soil that nurtures one tree may wither another, and so too do the ways of raising children differ, each shaped by love, hardship, and circumstance. To proclaim that parenting is different for everybody is to acknowledge the infinite diversity of the human journey.

In the days of the ancients, wise men often said that the way of the father is not the way of the mother, nor is the way of the elder the same as that of the younger. The house of Sparta raised children for discipline and war, while the house of Athens raised them for wisdom and discourse. Both paths produced greatness, though by different means. LaVar Ball, a father known for guiding his sons into the realm of professional basketball, echoes this timeless truth. He reminds us that each parent must craft a method suited to their own heart, their children’s temperament, and the destiny that awaits them.

Consider the story of King Philip of Macedon and his son, Alexander. Philip trained Alexander with harsh discipline, believing strength must be tempered like steel in fire. Yet he also gave him Aristotle as a tutor, feeding his mind with philosophy and the stars of distant worlds. It was this balance—iron and wisdom—that prepared Alexander to conquer lands beyond imagination. Had Philip chosen another way, perhaps Alexander would have grown differently, and history itself would have taken another turn. Thus we see that parenting differs, for the same child might flourish under one style but falter under another.

So too, in modern times, LaVar Ball’s declaration was born of his own journey. Where others saw arrogance, he saw fierce love; where some saw control, he saw devotion. He raised his sons with a boldness that fit his own spirit, teaching them resilience, self-belief, and confidence against all odds. Some criticized him, saying he was too loud, too brash. But his sons, molded by his fire, entered the arena of professional sports, each walking with the strength of his father’s belief. The world may not agree with his methods, but they were his methods, shaped by his vision and his children’s needs.

The lesson is clear: there is no single scroll of wisdom that dictates the perfect path for every household. What nourishes one child may poison another; what inspires one son may burden another. The voice of a parent must be attuned like an instrument to the song of their child’s soul. To follow blindly the ways of others is to ignore the sacred uniqueness written in every heart. Thus, the saying “Parenting is different for everybody” becomes not an excuse for chaos, but a call to attentiveness, creativity, and courage.

Let the reader understand: your task is not to mimic, but to discern. Ask not, “What should I do as others have done?” but rather, “What does my child need from me in this moment?” Some may need the gentle rain of patience; others the roaring thunder of discipline. Some may thrive in freedom, while others find their path through structure. The wise parent learns to listen, not only with the ears, but with the heart.

Therefore, take these practical actions: Observe deeply. Speak carefully. Adapt willingly. Love fiercely. Let your parenting be a river, shaping itself around the rocks and valleys of your child’s spirit, not a rigid wall that forces them into unnatural forms. Do not fear if others judge your way, for every household carries its own secret trials. Instead, fear only this—that you failed to know your own child as they truly are.

In the end, LaVar Ball’s words remind us of a truth as ancient as time itself: there is no one way to raise a child, but only the way that love and wisdom together reveal to you. If you walk this path with humility and courage, your children will not be perfect, but they will be deeply and authentically themselves. And that, dear listener, is the truest victory a parent can claim.