American business magnate philanthropist Bill Gates is known to all and so are his anecdotes on the relationship he shared with his parents. Gates was born to William H. Gates Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates in Seattle, Washington on October 28, 1955.
In many interviews and also in his blog, Gates Notes, he has talked exhilaratingly about the bonding he had with his parents.
Gates lost his mother in 1994 to breast cancer. His father William H. Gates Sr. died of Alzheimer’s disease on September 14, 2020.
Lessons from Gates' relationship with his parents would always be relevant in the years to come and every parent should know what it took to raise a child and how a billionaire was raised.
Also Read: “Do Not Focus On Your Children Only”: This And Other Parenting Advices Sudha Murthy Has For Parents
They gave him freedom to do whatever he liked to do
"The thing you do obsessively between the ages of 13 and 18, that's the thing you have the most chance of being world-class at," he said in an interview in 2016. Early age ignites an inextinguishable passion.
Known to have a disruptive attitude in childhood, Bill Gates was taken to a psychologist by his parents. “He has very fixed ideas on some things. The dynamic of the family is that you don’t cross him on those things because it’s a waste of time,” his father wrote in the book “Showing Up For Life.” In 2009 in an interview to the Wall Street Journal, he had said that by age 13, he would spend most of the time away from home, take nights off to enjoy use of technology at the University of Washington.
The outcome of the therapy session was pleasant, says Bill Gates later in an interview and adds that he got over that by 14, which is good because then his parents were very supportive.
As per Britannica, "Gates wrote his first software program at the age of 13. In high school he helped form a group of programmers who computerized their school’s payroll system and founded Traf-O-Data, a company that sold traffic-counting systems to local governments."
A little bit of freedom showed him what he actually wanted to do in life.
Kids are your responsibility, their future is not; their ambition is not. Give them space to nurture their passion, desire and talent.
Encouraged him to pursue things he was not good at
Though Bill Gates is a multi-skilled person, there are certain activities he was particularly not keen on as a child. "Gates was skilled at many things, but his parents also pushed him to do things he wasn’t good at, like swimming, soccer and football. They also encouraged him to take music lessons (Gates tried the trombone, but had very little success, according to his father)," a CNBC report says.
Parents often give up and in an indirect way encourage the child to give up if certain things lead to failure. Contrary to the belief of many parents, repeated attempts at something will never go in vain.
Nothing is god-gifted or divine-induced. Hard Work and labour will help you achieve the unachievable and attain the unattainable.
They helped him in setting his expectations and goals
They never expected him to be a billionaire. They only wanted him to be a good and an educated human being. ″[Mary’s] expectations and mine were very ordinary expectations of people who have kids in college — that they get a degree,” his father had told a journal.
When Bill Gates had decided to drop out of Harvard, his parents had supported him though it was a tough decision to make.
Many parents push their dreams and ambitions on their child. Though it's natural for parents to aspire for their kids, pushing them through the journey unprepared and unaware is nothing less than a fallacy. Undue burden on kids will not only hamper their growth it would also limit their scope of learning about new things. Whatever you learn as parents, may get redundant after certain years. It is very essential to teach the kid about the current age.
FAQs
His father was a prominent lawyer, and his mother served on the board of directors of First Interstate BancSystem and United Way of America. Gates's maternal grandfather was J. W. Maxwell, a national bank president.
What idea do you get about the relationship between the parents and the child? ›
The Parent-Child Relationship is one that nurtures the physical, emotional and social development of the child. It is a unique bond that every child and parent will can enjoy and nurture. This relationship lays the foundation for the child's personality, life choices and overall behaviour.
How did Bill Gates parents treat him? ›
Gates was skilled at many things, but his parents also pushed him to do things he wasn't good at, like swimming, soccer and football. They also encouraged him to take music lessons (Gates tried the trombone, but had very little success, according to his father).
What to tell a child when a parent leaves? ›
Reassure your child that the breakup is not their fault in any way and that both parents still love them. Tell your child, in as much detail as you can, about their new routine: where they will live, who will take them to school and so on.
What are some interesting facts about Bill Gates for kids? ›
He started tinkering with computers early. He wrote software from the age of 13 and helped to computerize his high school's payroll system. Gates entered Harvard University in 1973. He left the university during his junior year, however, to form Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul G.
Did Bill Gates borrow money from his parents? ›
Gates did not start Microsoft with a loan from his parents, it was entirely bootstrapped financially. Paul Allen and Gates had saved up a small amount of money from contract work. Together they provided all of Microsoft's seed capital.
What is the importance of a parent-child relationship? ›
A secure attachment with parents helps promote a child's cognitive, emotional and social development. It also helps kids exhibit positive social behaviors. The healthy involvement of parents in their children's day to day life helps ensure that their kids can perform better socially and academically.
What can you say about the parent-child relationship? ›
Parent/child relationships are important because, ideally, they provide a safe haven for children to explore and develop. They also provide an opportunity for parents to teach and show love through unconditional support, guidance, discipline, and encouragement.
How to describe a parent-child relationship? ›
It means embracing your child's individuality, meeting him where he is at, and cherishing his unique qualities. It also means accepting his limitations and flaws while gently helping him through hurdles.
How much did Bill Gates give to kids? ›
America applauded the Gates when they announced that they would give only $10 million because the $10 million was such a small amount. The wealthy parents were wildly praised by the grateful nation for leaving only such a small amount to their children while they could have left billions each.
Early Life
Known as Trey to his family, Bill was a bright and competitive child who loved math and reading. At age 8, he began reading encyclopedias for fun. But in grade school, he was bored. His parents decided to send him to Lakeside, a private middle and high school.
What did Bill Gates' mom do? ›
Mary Maxwell Gates (1929–1994) was a leader who promoted voluntary service and philanthropy both locally and nationally. A member of the UW Board of Regents from 1975-1993, Mrs.
What if my 13 year old daughter doesn t want to see her father? ›
It's important not to dismiss your child when they don't want to see their other parent. Have a conversation and listen to their reasons to validate what they're feeling. Sometimes, a child wants to feel heard. By listening, you could improve their outlook on shared parenting time.
How a parent leaving affects the child? ›
CHILDREN'S NEEDS
Following their parents' separation, children may regress, display anxiety and depressive symptoms, appear more irritable, demanding and noncompliant, and experience problems in social relationships and school performance (5).
What if my 3 year old doesn't want to see her father? ›
Talk to your child about why they don't want to go
Try to get to the bottom of why your child doesn't want to spend time or stay with your co-parent. Let your child express their feelings to you without judgment. When it's your turn to respond, do so with kindness and understanding.
What jobs did Bill Gates parents have? ›
Bill Gates was the son of wealthy parents, his father was a partner in the law firm Preston Gates & Ellis, his mother was on board of directors for First Interstate BancSystem and the United Way. Bill got a sweetheart deal from IBM, in part due to his mother serving on the United Way board with Jon Opel, chair of IBM.
Was Bill Gates' father a lawyer? ›
William Henry Gates II (November 30, 1925 – September 14, 2020), better known as Bill Gates Sr., was an American attorney, philanthropist, and civic leader.
Did Bill Gates give money to his family? ›
America applauded the Gates when they announced that they would give only $10 million because the $10 million was such a small amount. The wealthy parents were wildly praised by the grateful nation for leaving only such a small amount to their children while they could have left billions each.
