How did we get to this helicopter parent thing?

MarieB

MarieB

New Member
im just going by the posts and not the link which I haven't read yet

I was just discussing this with someone this week

Some of this no doubt has to do with fear from the state, hence the Baltimore couple. Some of it is also aboit where you live. We don't all live in Mayberry
 
RareBreed

RareBreed

Throwing the deuces
I have been accused of raising my kids "old school" and I wear it like a badge of honor. My 5th grader brought home a slip from school saying parents can now download an app that lets them monitor their kids behavior instantly while in school. I guess for parents that have a hard time waiting until the kids get home and they can see the kid's behavior chart in black and white (which parents have to sign each day).
 
SG_Player1974

SG_Player1974

New Member
3 words....

Child Protective Services!

They are like the IRS. They can go about their tasks un-policed and ruin just about anyone they deem necessary!
 
bulldog

bulldog

New Member
Baby steps. Our grandparents probably asked the same question about us. Them living on a farm (in a lot of cases) or working some other job that was very demanding and looking at us having, what they considered to be an easy go of it.

I shake my head as I walk my dog in our hood and see parents waiting at the end of their driveway (which is maybe 50 yards from the front door) for their kids to get off the bus so they can walk them home. Teenagers, whose parents drive them to the school bus a block away and sit with them in the car and wait for the bus...on a perfectly clear, nice-weather day.

With one exception, during this last round of snow I did not see any kids outside playing, sledding, etc. in my neighborhood. Now, to be fair, there were tons of kids on the hill at Little Flower School who were sledding.

Note: I could not open the link so I could be way off base on the original discussion. :)
 
DEEKAYPEE8569

DEEKAYPEE8569

Well-Known Member
bulldog said:
Baby steps. Our grandparents probably asked the same question about us. Them living on a farm (in a lot of cases) or working some other job that was very demanding and looking at us having, what they considered to be an easy go of it.

I shake my head as I walk my dog in our hood and see parents waiting at the end of their driveway (which is maybe 50 yards from the front door) for their kids to get off the bus so they can walk them home. Teenagers, whose parents drive them to the school bus a block away and sit with them in the car and wait for the bus...on a perfectly clear, nice-weather day.

With one exception, during this last round of snow I did not see any kids outside playing, sledding, etc. in my neighborhood. Now, to be fair, there were tons of kids on the hill at Little Flower School who were sledding.

Note: I could not open the link so I could be way off base on the original discussion. :)
Click to expand...

These teenagers.....are they "good kids" who would neeeever think of ditching school? There might be a reason their parents drive them to school and/or sit with them in the car. :shrug:
 
MMDad

MMDad

Lem Putt
Instant access to the news. People perceive that it's more dangerous out there because we hear about everything that happens immediately. 40 years ago we only heard local news or the stuff that was big enough to make it into the national news. Now we hear about a school bus crash in Atlanta and they don't even have the crash cleared before people are panicking and refusing to let their kids ever ride a bus.

People hear about a kid abducted in Florida and they panic. They not only want to protect their own kids, but they want laws to force everyone to over-react. If the legislature doesn't knee jerk to pass the laws their political opponents use it against them (He opposed 'Ellie Mae's Law'! He hates children!) so they go ahead and pass the laws.

Most people don't really understand statistics like crime rates and accident rates so they don't pay attention to it. They perceive that they hear about more crime now, therefore we are less safe than we were.
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
MMDad said:
Instant access to the news. People perceive that it's more dangerous out there because we hear about everything that happens immediately.
Click to expand...

I think this is a big part of it, plus the news people make such a big deal out of an isolated incident. Yeah, it's shocking and tragic when some kid shoots up his high school, but what about the other 19,499 high schools that didn't get shot up? Or the 74million kids who weren't abducted by a stranger?

Or it could be that we have dishwashers, washers and dryers, microwaves, etc, so Mom has nothing better to do than cling to her children like a parasite.

It could also be that Mommy works full time and feels guilty, so she overcompensates by hovering.
 
pebbles

pebbles

Member
I remember pretty much everything in that link....Jarts were awesome!

I agree technology & instant access to everything is hurting our society.
 
libertytyranny

libertytyranny

Dream Stealer
I think this is accurate. People just look at me like I have two heads when I try to explain to them that the simple act of them driving their kid to school is about 100x more dangerous than if they left them alone in the middle of a crowded shopping mall for two hours. Or heaven forbid let them walk home alone from the bus stop. They will trot out news stories, with specific names of children that were pounded into their head...but never for a second consider that is one instance in MILLIONS.
 
Christy

Christy

b*tch rocket
vraiblonde said:
So how is it that today's kids are so coddled and smothered? What caused/started that trend?
Click to expand...

I know exactly why, it's because it has become a huge competition amongst adults to be "the best parent". If you let your child off its leash it may do something stupid, or possibly dangerous, which in turn would allow other parents vying for the coveted position of "best parent" to look down their noses at you. JMHO. :shrug:
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Christy said:
I know exactly why, it's because it has become a huge competition amongst adults to be "the best parent". If you let your child off its leash it may do something stupid, or possibly dangerous, which in turn would allow other parents vying for the coveted position of "best parent" to look down their noses at you. JMHO. :shrug:
Click to expand...

I'll definitely go for that explanation. :yay:
 
Monello

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
Parents overcompensating/overcorrecting. Trying to minimize the things in their childhood that caused them angst, so they throw a protective, parental blanket over the kids. Some would argue this is progress.
 
happyazz

happyazz

Skiing in the clouds
Christy said:
I know exactly why, it's because it has become a huge competition amongst adults to be "the best parent". If you let your child off its leash it may do something stupid, or possibly dangerous, which in turn would allow other parents vying for the coveted position of "best parent" to look down their noses at you. JMHO. :shrug:
Click to expand...

Just what I am thinking. A secret game played by today's parents, extra points awarded to one's who turn in others for self perceived infractions. Smothering children is never a good thing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top