Parenting as an Acculturation Process: The Case of a Group of Indonesian Families

Understanding role of the mothers in delivering their functions within families is an important factor to the formulation of profile of their children. Three main roles of mothers studied included parenting, learning at home and communicating, emphasizing to parenting only. The research was conducted to 13 mothers and children who are in their first grade of elementary school using in-depth interview and observation techniques. The research found that all informants are housewives, with level education of elementary school, and in their late thirties. The research confirm all of the children in the study are interacting with their mothers. The informats utilize trial-error strategy, and does not have sufficient comprehension in playing their roles. In this study, parenting function is conducted through verbal actions such as giving advices, prohibition, and forcing the children. However, there is also mothers who involve the children without forces, thus bringing awareness of the child to help the mother. Informants are not too actively involve in learning at home and communicating with school is limited to taking the child to school. Children experience psychic issues because of their environment, and academic achievement are below average. These indicated the need of performing competency enhancement for the mothers to help them in delivering their roles.