While Gene Roddenberry imagined a celestial utopia when he created Star Trek, child-rearing proved as difficult in the 23rd century as it is now. Parenting in deep space was no easy task, no matter if you're a member of Starfleet or raising a future one. The cultural differences between humans and aliens presented unique challenges but seemed to prove just as full of parental expectations, as evidenced in Spock and Sarek's relationship, and Worf and Alexander's.
Often parents did the best they could in some of the most dangerous situations possible to raise a child, and their choices ended up creating some of the most dramatic conflicts of the franchise. From several different Star Trek series, these are the parents who boldly go... away from their parental responsibilities.
Dr. Crusher Letting Her Son Have A Bridge Position
There's no denying that Wesley Crusher is a tech genius, but does a teenager really belong on the bridge of Starfleet's flagship, where only the most capable and tested officers have authority? Fans know that Captain Picard only allowed Wesley to get the post out of guilt over the death of the boy's father on an away mission he was in charge of, but Dr. Crusher could have simply told Wesley the responsibilities were too much for a child to handle.
After all, Wesley's misguided actions eventually get a fellow cadet killed, further proving he's not ready for the pressure of the bridge. He's also socially inept around both adults and other teenagers, making his communication style during stressful situations ineffective because he doesn't inspire respect.
Kirk Inspiring Feelings Of Abandonment In His Son
James Kirk preferred the life of a Starfleet captain to that of being a stay-at-home parent. He knew he had a son, David Marcus, whose mother decided it would be best if she raised him alone, but the knowledge didn't seem to make Kirk question what would happen if he ever saw his son again.
When they reconnected, the reunion was heartwarming, and Kirk tried his best to be some semblance of a father figure, but by that point the damage was done. David, wanting so desperately to prove himself to the father that loved space more than him, died by wrestling a Klingon and getting stabbed in the chest.
Worf Sending Alexander To Live With His Grandparents
Alexander Rozhenko may have been mostly Klingon by blood, but didn't take to the Klingon warrior way the same way that his father did, despite Worf's romanticized view of Klingons based on what he read in datapads. Worf did the best he could, but ultimately foisted his son onto his elderly adopted parents on Earth, not long after Alexander had witnessed his mother's death.
Worf was eventually forced to take Alexander back because having a growing Klingon boy live with an elderly couple wasn't the best idea. So, the boy ended up being shuttled around from the Enterprise to DS9 and forced to settle into a new environment with a father who took years to warm up to him.
Worf Not Taking Personal Time To Bond With His Son
Alexander didn't want to live with Worf, and Worf didn't particularly want to raise Alexander, but K'Eyhlar was unexpectedly killed and the pair felt obligated to reach a copacetic relationship. The traumatic circumstances aside, Worf should have taken the time to bond with his son.
Captain Picard permitted Worf to take personal time, and he declined in what would ultimately be the first of many times Worf would put his career first. Those first few weeks would have been crucial for cementing a bond between him and his son, but he lacked the courage to commit to it. This began a cycle of Worf pushing Alexander away.
Sisko Letting His Son Date An Older Woman
Having Commander Sisko as a father would be intimidating for anyone, so it's not surprising that as the son of the most important person on Deep Space 9, Jake tried not to do things that would incur his father's wrath or disappointment.
When Jake started dating Mardah, a Bajoran dabo girl who worked at Quark's bar, it seemed like the sort of thing his father would object to. Sisko nevertheless had her around for dinner, despite the fact that Jake was a teenager and she was 20.
Lwaxana Meddling In Her Daughter's Affairs
Lwaxana Troi may have had a prominent position in galactic politics, but she was still a meddling, nosy mother who crippled her daughter's independence whenever she came into her life. Every time she came aboard the Enterprise, she inserted herself into Deanna's affairs, especially her romantic ones.
After openly flirting with Will Riker, whom she knew her daughter had feelings for, Lwaxana jeopardized Deanna's reputation by flirting with her superior officer, and got Captain Picard involved in a precarious diplomatic situation with the Ferengi because she wouldn't take no for an answer.
Sarek Disapproved Of Spock Joining Starfleet
It was clear to fans of Star Trek: The Original Series that Sarek and Spock had a strained relationship, but it was in Star Trek: Discovery that they get a glimpse of just how rocky the foundation was. Sarek never supported Spock's decision to enroll at Starfleet Academy rather than the Vulcan Expeditionary Force, viewing it ultimately as a rejection of his Vulcan heritage.
To Sarek, Spock would never be "Vulcan" enough, and he kept a barrier up between them. Most parents embrace the decisions of their children if they want to have a strong connection with them in adulthood, but Sarek chose to alienate his son.
Sarek Stunting Michael's Emotional Growth
Michael Burnham had a difficult time getting over the death of her parents. Her emotions were difficult to control as a young child, and Sarek decided the best thing for her to do would be to push them away. Embracing logic was easy for Vulcans, but not as easy for a traumatized human child. After the Vulcan Learning Center was attacked and she nearly died without Sarek's use of his Katra, Michael became even more unstable.
Sarek's advice to promote mental discipline only served to make Michael more conflicted, and in lieu of getting her mental health care, she only became capable of being super-rational or super-emotional. Sarek left the parenting to Captain Georgiou, who spent seven years breaking down Michael's barriers, teaching her sarcasm, humor, and basic human interaction so she could fit in on the USS Discovery.
The O'Briens Abandoning Their Child Rather Than Getting Her Professional Help
When Chief O'Brien and his wife Keiko took their daughter Molly on a picnic, the eight-year-old got separated from them and fell into a portal, which sent her 300 years into the past. They worked to reopen the portal (and they succeeded), except many years had passed inside and the Molly they got back had grown feral.
They decided to raise her anyway, using holosuites on Deep Space 9 to simulate where she was. She was mostly happy, until they stopped the program, prompting her to run away, bite Quark, and stab a bystander. Rather than get her professional help at a special facility, the O'Briens decided the best thing to do was to steal a runabout and bring her back to the planet with nothing but a doll and a bag.
Bashir's Parents Genetically Altering Him
Julian Bashir had a large ego serving as Deep Space Nine's doctor, and was a highly trained medical officer, but in many ways, his gifted abilities had an extra boost. His parents had given him genetic enhancements when he was seven through careful resequencing of his DNA, which put him well ahead of his peers.
Over two months, his IQ numbers jumped five points daily as his entire genetic structure was altered to assist in the incredible growth of his neuronal networks. It wasn't until he was 15 that he realized the truth about his treatments, and felt the only reason his parents could have wanted an enhanced version of their son was because they felt he was defective in some way.