Landing the Helicopter
It wasn't entirely a conscious decision. I might blame some of it on being too overwhelmed to do it or sheer lack of organization. I might credit my working mother, who didn't have time to hover, for teaching me the way. As a parent, I might have had a leg up because as a former educator I saw first hand how paralyzing it could be. They call it Helicopter Parenting and I try, try, try not to do it. I am proud and excited to also say that most parents I know, are right there with me-trying to lend a guiding hand, not drag our kids by the hand.
Oh, I hear stories of people who monitor every move their child makes. I have friends who spin terrible tales of getting calls from parents of the newly graduated kids they have tried to hire. There are dads who call for salary negotiations and mothers who try to rearrange college roommates or call professors to argue a grade. I hear the stories, I just don't know the players and I am eternally grateful.
My peers and I seem to have slid backward in our parenting. We are aiming for a simpler time. We plan less. We play more. There are fewer organized activities and more days building castles in the sand. We expect kids to track their own homework. We expect kids to clear the table and say please and thank you. We want our kids to show respect and wait their turn and learn that fair doesn't always mean exactly the same. We know there are lessons in this greater than just the title Mr. and Mrs and more valuable than equal piles under the tree. This new-old generation of parents is there to nurture, enrich and fight for their kids but they also know when it is time to let kids figure out how to affirm, learn and fight for themselves.
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