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What are parent dreams about?

This symbol is identified by words like parents, dad, father, etc.

Parents in dreams is a frequent dream symbol, occuring in about 21% of dreams. That's about 1 out of every 5 dreams.

What are the major highlights of parent dreams?

Parents is a very interconnected dream symbol. Having parents in a dream substantially changes the nature of the dream.

Parent dreams are very social

Dreams of parents contain more characters than most other dream symbols. While dreams are often about other people and social relationships, dreams of parents are especially related to having lots of characters. Other symbols that are like this include monster, cults, worms, coworkers, crushes, creatures, dolls, actors, general insects, and friendly interactions.

What are the symbols that help define parents?

The symbol of parents in dreams is highly related to mothers, fathers, and family.

How does the dream symbol of parents affect the different aspects of a dream?

Explore different elements related to dreams of parents

Who is in parents dreams?

Overall, dreams with parents are much more related to characters in dreams. Specifically, dreams of parents are much more related to family and more related to romantic partners than dreams in general. They are less related to animals, less related to insects, and less related to different roles.

Animals

less than usual

Insects

less than usual

Different roles

less than usual

Fantastic beings

less than usual

Distant people

less than usual

Close people

the same as usual

Family

much more than usual

Romantic partners

more than usual
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What are the emotions in parents dreams?

Overall, dreams with parents are more related to emotions in dreams. Specifically, dreams of parents are more related to happiness, more related to sadness, and more related to grief and sorrow than dreams in general. They are less related to fun.

Happiness

more than usual

Sadness

more than usual

Grief and sorrow

more than usual

Embarrassment

the same as usual

Confusion

the same as usual

Fear

the same as usual

Pain

the same as usual

Hatred

more than usual

Fun

less than usual

Love

the same as usual
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Who is in parents dreams?

Overall, dreams with parents are aren't really related to places in dreams. Specifically, dreams of parents are much more related to home and more related to transportation than dreams in general. They are less related to work, less related to natural places, and less related to magical places.

Home

much more than usual

Work

less than usual

Human places

the same as usual

Transportation

more than usual

Natural places

less than usual

Magical places

less than usual
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What happens in parents dreams?

Overall, dreams with parents are more related to events in dreams. Specifically, dreams of parents are less related to disasters.

Aggressive interactions

the same as usual

Friendly interactions

the same as usual

Sex

the same as usual

Disasters

less than usual
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How do parents in dreams related to other dream phenomenon?

Overall, dreams with parents are aren't really related to dream events in dreams. Specifically, dreams of parents are more related to nightmares, more related to recurring nightmares, and more related to sleeping than dreams in general. They are less related to lucid dreams.

Lucid dreams

less than usual

Nightmares

more than usual

Recurring dreams

the same as usual

Recurring nightmares

more than usual

Sleep paralysis

the same as usual

Sleeping

more than usual

Waking life

more than usual
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How do parents in dreams related the senses?

Overall, dreams with parents are aren't really related to senses in dreams. Specifically, dreams of parents are less related to smelling.

Hearing

the same as usual

Smelling

less than usual

Taste

the same as usual

Vision

the same as usual

Touch

the same as usual
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How can you make sense of parents in dreams?

Parent dreams are frequent. Among other things parent dreams are very postively interconnected and very social.

Do you think this is true for your dream of parents? How might your dream of parents be different?

All dreams have meaning

You can gain insight from thinking about any dream, no matter how strange. Only you, as the dreamer, have final say on what your dream may or may not mean. Each dream is unique.

Look for the differences

The DreamWell dictionary provides information on how each dream symbol appears in dreams in general. Finding how experience parents in dreams can be a key to understanding its meaning.

Return to the feelings

Our emotions in dreams can help us understand its meaning. Pay attention to how you felt in the dream. Pay attention to how you feel about parents in dreams. See how you feel about parents now, in your waking life.

What are possible meanings for dreams of parents?

The dynamics of your relationship with your parents and what they mean to you open up many possibilities for symbolism. People commonly assume that their parents in their dreams represent their actual parents, when they’re actually characters in a story based on the dreamer’s associations and common associations with parents.

The first clue is in the fact that they appear together in a dream, instead of separately. It’s a clue that the symbolism might be tied to what parents represent: authority, protection, restriction, expectations, guidance. Parents together can symbolize anything they’re in agreement or “of the same mind” about.

Of course, the symbolism depends on your experience and perceptions. If your parents are not protective or restrictive, for example, then they’re unlikely to symbolize protection or restriction—unless they are used to symbolize lack of it, or need for it.

A lot depends on whether your parents are actively part of your life and whether they’ve been on your mind. If yes, you have to consider that their presence in your dream reflects your recent activity or thoughts. The dream is about a recent event in your life and your parents’ involvement.

Otherwise, it’s safe to assume that your parents are in the dream because of what they represent to you.

Things get interesting when your parents act out of character. Discrepancies with reality scream, “This is symbolism!” They’re characters following a script in a story. For example, you dream that your hands-off parents tell you that you absolutely cannot marry your boyfriend. It’s something they’d never actually do, so you look at it as symbolism. Perhaps you’re trying to tell yourself something and the dream uses your parents to deliver the message because you’re more likely to listen.

Your parents are your primary example of parenthood, probably. If you’re a parent, you will draw on your examples to guide you in what to do and what not to do. In which case, your dreams can use parent-characters to tell a story about your own experience as a parent. Again, though, it depends on your experience and perceptions. Maybe your parents are a better example of how not to be a parent.

Stretch the idea further and your parents can be used in your dreams to tell stories about growing into adulthood and beyond. They are your example, and they shape your ideas about the adult you want to be, even long after you’re an adult yourself.

Parents dictate behavior for their children. They set rules and expectations. As a child, how did you respond? Did you behave as expected? Did you follow the rules, or defy them? Did you try your hardest to meet expectations, or not give a care? Did you act like an angel when they were watching, and let the little devil in you come out when their backs were turned?

These patterns that start in childhood can carry into adulthood. For example, if you find yourself defying a supervisor or undermining authority figures, does it remind you of your relationship with your parents? Do you work hard while being watched, and slack off when you think no one is watching?

How do your parents view you at this point in your life—are they, or would they be, proud? Are you living your life in a way that reflects them, the example they set, and what they taught you? Did something come up the day before the dream that reminded you of them? Are you being treated like a child?

These are the questions that can help you understand their role in a dream-story.

Grandparents in your dreams can be surrogate characters for your parents. When grandparents are used as surrogate characters, the dream could be related to your parents as role models. Grandparents act as role models for your parents, so it is an easy association for dreams to make.

Dreaming about parent-characters that are not your parents is a clue that the dream could be about the general symbolism of parents and parenting. Also consider the possibility that the unfamiliar parent-characters can symbolize people in your life who are in some way like parents to you.

See also: Bosses, Children, Childhood homes, Family, Family homes, Fathers, Grandfathers, Grandmothers, Guiding, Mothers, Orphans

This interpretation is from ""The Dream Interpretation Dictionary: Symbols, Signs, and Meanings" and is provided by J.M. DeBord aka "RadOwl". He is the author of several acclaimed books about dreaming, the host of The Dreams That Shape Us podcast, and is a moderator of r/Dreams, one of the largest dream sharing communities on the internet.

Examples of dreams of parents

Read some real dream reports of parent dreams.. These real life dream reports come from the moderated dream sharing communities of Reddit including r/Dreams, r/Nightmares, r/DreamInterpretation, or r/thisdreamihad. Please note that some of these may contain graphic, sexual, or violent images and text. Use the source link for each dream to view and join the discussion of each one.

What does end of the world mean?

Last night I had a dream where there was 2 moons one smaller that got stuck with earth, and the normal one. For some reason the second moon was causing problems so the US Government came up with a plan to get rid of the smaller one, how? by nuking it. They started their plan the next morning (In the dream) and basically blew it to bits but one of them put a few nukes on the REAL one and mountain sized pieces started ripping through the ozone and crashed down and somehow, I survived.
The aftermath was the world becoming swiss cheese and I was the only human left alive.
It was a weird experience and I kind of just blacked out and then appeared under debris. I also became lucid for a little when I guess my parents were waking me up because I heard a voice in the sky saying "Its time to get up" but what felt like 5 seconds I was awake.

Last night I had a dream where there was 2 moons one smaller that got stuck with earth, and the normal one. For some reason the second moon was causing problems...

Source | Show dream

I told someone in my dream it was a dream and this happened? Help

This happened half an hour ago. TW// I kind of get molested in the dream

My dream started and it was in a warm, cozy house with a lit fireplace. There were 2 couches. On one couch was my sister curled up in blankets. On the other was my dad just laying there. My sister and I were just chatting about nothing when something possessed me to tell them it was a dream. I realized it was a dream (I’m not sure how, it just happens sometimes) and I wanted to see her reaction so I just... told her. I said “by the way, this is a dream. I’m dreaming and none of this is real.” Immediately after I said that I started suffocating. It felt like my throat was filling up with sand and I was choking trying to scream for help. I tried to yell for my dad for help. He just walked over to me and said. “I’m not your dad. This is not your family. You weren’t supposed to say that.” Then, he started molesting me. I screamed and suffocated until I woke up. Upon waking I checked the clock and it was exactly 3 am. Now I’m to scared just to get a sip of water. Can anyone explain what happened?

This happened half an hour ago. TW// I kind of get molested in the dream

My dream started and it was in a warm, cozy house with a lit fireplace. There were 2...

Source | Show dream

Weird dream could it be a warning please help interpret it ? Thanks!

So i was in france in some strange place looking similar to a city i lived before remiremont

and a highway toll and i passed the toll so afterwards i go down the city near some sign saying neufchateau i never knew the city not even today

and then a beast man very hairy looking a bit like a werewolf only with the head of a man and very hairy and looks for someone and he didnt see me then my mom comes opens the door of the car and tells me to get in and then i quickly get in and ran and the beast couldnt see me

a bit later on i meet with a wonderful woman and we get into her charriot and her mom accompanied her , and as soon as we arrive somewhere some sorceress or demon did something and made it so 3 weeks pass and the woman thought i left her and then i say to the demon indominus mortis and curse the demon sorceress… and then 3 images appear before me saying no hugging with this one or sex or love , they were stickman images laying in bed with some words written under, and then i am laying in a bed with other man i didnt knew and i did something to a pole like with my hands i made it a hole and put my controller in it and then i made it complete again and the pole was looking like all poles normal and then i see the charriot i was in and behind it is a castle and village or city on fire and then i say to the demon something like never and the dream ends

So i was in france in some strange place looking similar to a city i lived before remiremont

and a highway toll and i passed the toll so afterwards i go down...

Source | Show dream

You ever dream about a place that doesn’t exist but every time you remember, it’s comforting and you miss it?

For example, it’s this weird shopping mall. There’s like food court under the first floor. You go down these steps and it’s basically like a long hall with restaurants on either side. I remember going into one and honestly, I can only really draw it to describe it.

But ya, this is one place where for some reason, felt comfortable.

Or sometimes I dream of an alternate version of my parent’s house. It has more crazier things about it. For example, a river flowing by. Though the river is in a small canyon and there’s trees. Almost forested.

For example, it’s this weird shopping mall. There’s like food court under the first floor. You go down these steps and it’s basically like a long hall with...

Source | Show dream

Had a crush on a girl 32 year ago. Haven't thought about her 32 years. Last night, I had a dream. She was pushing a stroller to a park and complaining to other moms that I didn't help out with...

I had a crush on a girl 32 year ago. I never told her that I had a crush on her.

I haven't thought about her 32 years.

Last night, I had a dream. She was pushing a stroller to a park and complaining to other moms that I didn't help out with changing diapers. I was running around with other people playing football, but I still heard what she said.

Against my better judgement, I looked her up online this morning.

I was beyond shocked and sat in front of my computer motionless for almost half an hour or longer. I felt no air in my lungs and it was as if my body forgot how to breathe...

I found out that she had just passed away 11 days ago. There was an obituary from her family as well. Not really sure why, but I called her phone number from 32 years ago. The number was her moms's house from back then. A man picked up. It turned out to be her brother. He and his family now lives in that house. I told him who I was and he remembered me.

As I started telling him about my dream from last night, he became very quiet and said nothing for several minutes. I thought line had gone dead, but it turned out that he was crying. What he said next shocked me to my core... He said "did you know that she also had a major crush on you back then?" and "a couple weeks before she died, she said she was still in love with you and she really wanted to see you one last time, but we didn't know how to get in contact with you"....

I feel all the energy drained out of me. My entire body feels like it was injected with pure sadness that no words could describe.

I had a crush on a girl 32 year ago. I never told her that I had a crush on her.

I haven't thought about her 32 years.

Last night, I had a dream. She was...

Source | Show dream
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