Parents are potentially the most influential individuals in children's lives. The 21st Century parent has to compete, however, with multiple sources of information, both human and nonhuman, (e.g. children's peers, non-familial adults, TV, technology gadgets, Internet) in shaping the minds, values, and beliefs of children. In the absence of a shared purpose, these sources may offer opinions, images, and activities incongruent with the philosophy espoused by the custodial parent(s). In this paper, the author encourages 21st Century parents to create and maintain "parenting communities"--community networks of individuals, not necessarily confined to relatives--to support the parenting process.