The Horror of Over-parenting
Photo Credit: Adapted by the Beachcomber
Helicopter Parents - Could they be yours?
Related Content
February 14, 2012 • Zack Wozniak, Staff Reporter
Filed under Opinions, Top Stories
Helicopter Parents (i.e. overprotective parents, or lately, “Tiger Moms” as one may call them). Do we all have them? Do we all think we have them? I don’t know, but high school is the time to take charge of yourself and not be under the control of your parents. Some of us are leaving the house in six months! It only makes sense to be independent. For those of you who don’t know who or what I’m talking about, go to an open house. Or a PTA meeting. See for yourself what this culture of grown adults do with their time. I’ll spoil it for you. They spend 24 hours worrying about their kid’s well-being. Why do they do this? I don’t know, vanity maybe. Maybe they hide under the guise of “just wanting their kids to have the life they themselves never had.” Who cares? They should all go to a leper colony. I don’t have a problem with parents caring about their children’s swell-being, yet when a kid’s life is being invaded and they can’t function beyond their parents, then their relationship needs to be re-evaluated.
I’m almost sure it doesn’t begin this way. It may be a process, something that happens over a long period of time. But I imagine that the opinion varies from kid to kid on the subject of their parents. One kid said, “he does mind his parents caring” but went on to say he’d “like more freedom.” On the other hand another person said “I don’t want my parents in my life. First chance I get, I’m moving out.” Both students wanted to remain anonymous, or else face the wrath of their parents. I am aware that everyone’s relationship with their parents is different. But look where it leads. A kid will at least subconsciously harbor feelings of resentment for their parents, because they feel trapped.
Teachers also have a less-than-enthusiastic view on these people as well. They get crucified every time these people come to an open house, or any school function for that matter. How would you feel if you were under a microscope? It would make their jobs much easier and less hectic if they didn’t have to deal with parents. “We ultimately answer to the parents,” commented a teacher who will remain anonymous. Sometimes some teachers seem like they are just in it for the paycheck. As well,uninvolved parents would mean less money and less interest in the student’s life. There should be a balance between involvement and over-involvement.
The parents do have an argument, though. They are just looking out for their kids, I get it. They want what is in their best interests, and they feel as though they need to know their child’s actions. It is understandable, but sometimes it goes beyond normal behavior. And I can’t even fathom why a self-respecting parent would live vicariously through their child.
Overprotective parents turn their kids into stressed-out messes, unable to function beyond what their parent wants for them. This doesn’t bode well for their future, because what happens when they go to college and beyond? They don’t have their parent there to feed and protect them, to be there to tell them they’re doing something wrong. This is a problem, isn’t it? A kid needs to be a kid, and not worry about their parents desire for them, because we will all be independent soon, and some will be better-equipped than others. We won’t be in the house forever, but some parents act as if we will be. Maybe one day they’ll realize the error of their ways, maybe not. But the kids, teachers, and even other parents resent these people, and with good reason. They don’t have lives.
Loading ...
Comments
Please leave a comment about this article...
and if you want your comment published, you must be civil, courteous, and enter your first and last name. Thank you.