[Kastor]

I'm surprised I haven't seen a thread for this yet (I couldn't find one D;).

Anyway, what's your take, experience, etc. in INFP's as parents?

[Willow5000]

I am an infp parent and I can say it has brought me closer to my sons as they get older. Since learning about MBTI/Keirsey, I have introduced this knowledge to them. One is an infp, the other an estp and both are in their teens. We like to sit around and talk about how we relate to other types. They are very open with me, however I still set boundaries for them and I think letting them know I understand their type has bridged a gap that would maybe start to form at this time in their lives. I had no type of relationship with my father or mother- understanding? closeness? never experienced it with them even when they were living and in their older years.

[Sily]

I had an ENTJ parent paired with an I/ENTJ other parent. But, I'll bet INFP parents would rock! My mom and dad were great but I think INFP would be great!

INFPs are "natural" parents. They accept and enjoy the parental role, seeing it as the natural extension of their value systems. They make use of the parental role for developing and defining their values further, and consider it their task to pass their values on to their children. They take their role quite seriously. Warm, affirming, and flexible, the INFP generally makes a gentle and easy-going parent in many respects.

INFPs do not like conflict situations, and will keep themselves flexible and diverse to promote a positive, conflict-free environment in their home. The INFP is not naturally prone to dole out punishment or discipline, and so is likely to adapt to their mate's disciplinary policy, or to rely on their mates to administer discipline with the children. In the absence of a mating parent, the INFP will need to make a conscious effort of creating a structure for their children to live within.

Although the INFP dislikes punishing others, they hold strong values and will not tolerate the violation of a strongly-held belief. If they feel that their child has truly committed a wrong, the INFP parent will not have a problem administering discipline. They will directly confront the child, stubbornly digging in their heels and demanding recourse.

The INFP parent is likely to value their children as individuals, and to give them room for growth. They will let the children have their own voice and place in the family.

Extremely loving and devoted parents, INFPs will fiercely protect and support their children. If there is an issue involving "taking sides", you can bet the INFP will always be loyal to their children.

INFPs are usually remembered by their children as loving, patient, devoted, and flexible parents.

From: INFP Relationships

[thecaterpillar]

I am an INFP parent. My son is only three (well, he's a month away from 3), but I see a huge difference between myself as a parent and many, many of the mothers around me. I have been extremely attached to my son from the moment he was born. I would do anything for him. I'm very concerned with his self-esteem and want him to learn to love himself (while being humble). I want him to feel that his father and I will always love and accept him and will never, with the rare exception of something like becoming a murderer or rapist, be ashamed of who he turns into or disappointed in who he wants to become. While I will be an authority figure to him, I also want him to always feel that he can come to me anytime with anything - I will never turn my ears off to him or ignore him. Luckily, my husband feels the same way about all of this, so he backs me up 100%. I'm very hands-on with him and try to teach him things all the time, but I don't force it. To me, it's not a competition to have the smartest, most talented child on the block. I allow him room to figure things out for himself and exert his independence.

Now, I'm by no means perfect. I have BPD, so I've been known to have a super-quick temper. I don't hurt him, which is good. He's actually helped me reign that anger in quite a bit because I don't want to scare him with my wild mood swings. I'm not good at schedules...at ALL. He goes to bed whenever and wakes up whenever, but in general it's like bedtime at 10 or 11 and wake up at 8. He eats when he's hungry and he gets a bath when he's dirty or if he simply wants a bubble bath. I'm not that super-mom you tend to see today. But, I'm also not the hippy, earthy, free-spirited mom either, though I'm more like the latter.

The moms I know either think I'm crazy because I love being a mom so much or lazy because I don't adhere to schedules. But, my son is incredibly well-adjusted, very smart, and sweet as the day is long. Luckily, he doesn't seem to have inherited my social skills - he got those from his very approachable and loveable daddy.

[sarah oliver]

i am an enfj girl my boyfriend an infp-we plan on spending our lives together-has anyone ever had an enfj infp parent combo? what was it like?

[Luis Fuego]

my mom is definitely an INFP, and I am pretty sure my father is too. it's taxing.

I don't know if it's separate from the MBTI, but my parents are pretty immature, very sensitive, and ultimately pretty hard to get along with sometimes. The hardest part, and I don't know if it's an INFP thing, is that they refuse to accept me for who I am. They keep thinking I am magically going to start getting tidier, and are just extremely melodramatic. They (especially my mother) don't listen to what I am saying, they don't hear me when I tell them to leave me alone, and they are always on my case. My mother seems to almost live in a fantasy world where the earth revolves around her, and she is a major crybaby when she doesn't get what she wants. There is a lot of denial going on with her in regards to the way she acts. The biggest thing that annoys me, is their love of rules for everyone else, but their disregard for rules regarding themselves. I also don't know if that's an INFP thing. They both tested INFP. Even things I (still) get yelled at for, that they do, to a T, right in front of me like it's no big deal (feeding the dog people food, eating bad food, and eating late at night). I am thinking my dad may not necessarily be INFP, because he definitely judges me a lot, and they both make a lot of inflammatory comments (hopefully without realizing it). I think they are definitely INFP because they are such prudes (when I was 16 my dad didn't want me and my brother to watch "the man show" because he thought it was "adult entertainment"). Weirdos. My INFP parents are weirdos, haha.

[Jazz0101]

My son is three.. I'm a stay at home mom. Its great, I read somewhere that INFPs are natural parents and I have to agree. The only thing that is hard for me maybe that wouldn't be hard for other types is that as they get older and need less sleep that means you get less alone time. You always have this short shadow following you around everywhere you go, im lucky sometimes to get to use the restroom alone, a week ago he woke up around midnight and stood outside while I showered crying..But I think since we are mostly nurturing, patient, gentle type people-good parents.

[Neverontime]

@Luis Fuego your parents don't sound anything like infp