Bowser... Dude's a big jerk. It's true. He's been a big jerk for years upon years, blowing fire up Mario's ass and coming to steal his girl, even going so far as to try to hold Peach up in a sort of shotgun wedding. Yes, when it comes to most of the Mushroom Kingdom, Bowser is a dingusaurus rex. But... what about family? What about Bowser Jr? What about the other Koopalings? Bowser might be a big bad, but is he a pretty stand-up dad? Let's review the evidence here.

Reasons Bowser is a good dad

Bowser looks after his own kid & quite a few that aren't his

Last I checked, Bowser Jr. is canonically Bowser's only child. That means the other Koopalings likely come from relatives. Or possibly they're just wayward koopas he took a shine to. Either way, whenever it comes to Bowser's schemes, you can bet that he brings the Koopalings along with him and gives them all the resources they need to pursue their (and his [he's an established jerk]) goals. I don't think it's ever been officially established that Bowser doesn't have siblings, but regardless, taking in and overseeing that many kids that aren't his own directly is a pretty big juggling act for a single parent.

Put his kids to work and seems to support them fairly

I can hear your argument now. "The Koopalings are just minons to Bowser." Counterpoint: Maybe, but he sure doesn't mind supplying them with a massive amount of resources in order to succeed. Look, maybe real estate prices are stupid cheap in the Mushroom Kingdom, but holy heck have you seen how often Bowser gets those kids entire castles with customizable booby traps and themed decor to go with them? Of course, it might look pretty flimsy when it comes to warding off a Mario, but then again, what doesn't look flimsy against such a terrifying force?

Point is, Bowser doesn't just put his kids to work. He legitimately goes out of his way to try to provide them with the tools they need to succeed. He's not even above spoiling them. Who the heck do you think gave Bowser Jr. the very same-styled Koopa Clown Car Bowser himself enjoys driving around? Sure wasn't that weasily Kamek.

Bowser legit cares about the kind of content his children enjoy

Nintendo Switch was definitely when Nintendo started pull back the curtain on the implied care Bowser has for his kiddos and their well-being. My evidence? Literally the entire Nintendo Switch parental controls presentation from 2017. Look at this guy! There are a few too many parents out there that just give their kids the gaming device or game and let them run wild without concern of what they're getting into. Not Bowser. He's not about to let Bowser Jr. get into some mature content before he feels the kid is ready, and he's not about to let some garbo streamer be a bad influence on his children no matter how popular they are. Bowser probably knows he can't keep Bowser Jr. from the nastier parts of the world forever, but that doesn't stop him from being responsibly involved.

Bowser lets his children explore and make mistakes so they can learn

Bet you're wondering why I didn't drop an image right under that header. Well, this is a pretty recent example of some very good parenting acumen from Bowser which can be found in Paper Mario: The Origami King. So, you know...

SPOILER WARNING!!! BWOMP BWOMP BWOMP!!!

Anyways, The Origami King doesn't just show Bowser being a good dad, but also gets a little deep into his challenges and philosophies. After all, Bowser has been at this whole single parent thing for a very long time. If we count the Koopalings, Mario 3 in 1988 is a start point. Bowser Jr. officially came along in Super Mario Sunshine in 2002. One way or the other, Bowser has had time to learn how to go it alone, and he actually bestows a little trinket of knoledge on Mario and Olivia. "You have to let kids take chances."

It's a telling line. Despite his efforts, Bowser knows he can't keep Jr. safe from everything. He knows Jr. has to make mistakes because it will help him learn and grow. And that's even after taking responsiblity to safeguard them from toxic or inappropriate elements. Bowser cares, but he also understand boundaries. Big props, big guy. Somebody must be chopping onions in here, I'm fine, shut up.

Reasons Bowser might not be a rad dad

Mans can't stop chasing tail

Look, I know it's gotta be a tough juggling act for Bowz. He's got one rambunctious child plus eight more fussing about. But damn dude, you don't have to go creeper about finding some company. Every single main episode of Mario usually features him kidnapping Peach or some other gal. Again, in Odyssey he tried force Peach to marry him. Not cool my dad dude. You might be the fearsome magical king of all Koopas, but that doesn't mean you can skip respecting the ladies. What kind of lessons is Bowser Jr. learning from this? Come on.

Keeps picking a fight with the same guy and getting his kids involved

This is the other side of a that whole "giving his kids jobs and paying them" business. He keeps spending all these resources on fighting Mario. And not just him fighting Mario, but making his kids fight this grown-ass man as well. And they keep losing. And then he regathers himself, rebuilds, and does it again! There's something to be said about being forced into a job because your dad did it, but as a Koopaling or Bowser Jr., getting your butt kicked by the same happy italian man and his bro over and over can't be good for self-esteem.

My Verdict

As few the reasons the are that Bowser might not be a great dad, the couple reasons that are there are pretty dang rough. However, when it comes to his kid or the kids he looks after, Bowser genuinely puts in the work. He cares, but not so much that he's a helicoptor pop. Sure, he might be a fire-breathing, rotten-mood, tyrant bent on beating up a mustachiod plumber and stealing his lady, but the fact that in all of that he still finds time to make or commission castles for his kids, be involved in their lives, and let them explore their own opportunities makes him a pretty responsible Koopa parent. And just occasionally a crummy one when he throws them at Mario like fodder.

What do you think? Did I miss any damning or saving evidence of Bowser's parental prowess? What's your take on this big bad dad?