Are You a Helicopter Parent?
Helicopter Parenting
Are you a helicopter parent? "What Kind of Helicopter Parent Are You?" was the name of an article from St. Joseph’s University reported in Newswise.
Newswise reported "Much attention has been given recently to "helicopter parents" so named because of their tendency to hover overhead of their children."
Cary Anderson, Ed.D., the university’s vice president of student life, humorously and seriously identified three types of "helicopter parents".
Let me tell you about the three types of "helicopter parents".
"The Gunship Helicopter: This type of parent swoops down and fights battles for their young adult. This is typically the helicopter parent that school administrators and employers find the least helpful.
The Traffic Helicopter: This parent provides guidance for their young adult, and helps direct them to make appropriate decisions throughout their lives. The difference between this helicopter and the gunship helicopter is that the traffic helicopter ultimately allows the student to drive their own journey.
The Rescue Helicopter: The function of this kind of parent is to either pull their young adult out of a crisis situation and bring them to safety, or bring supplies to help get them back on their feet."
"Helicopter parenting" was described as an epidemic among baby boomers. I wondered what happens in marriages when one of the spouses is an "helicopter parent"? Is there unnecessary marital stress and conflict created when one parent is a "helicopter parent"? Is "helicopter parenting" one of the causes of midlife crisis?
"Helicopter parenting" can create tremendous problems for the parents as well as for the children, children/adults.
"Helicopter parenting" becomes a very big problem "when parents hinder a young adults ability to learn and become self-sufficient" said Dr. Anderson.
Super Saver from My Wealth Builder showed the terrible consequences caused by "The Rescue Helicopter" on children’s inability to function independently in the financial areas of their lives. He wrote an intriguing post, From Where Does the Money Come?
From a mental fitness perspective, "helicopter parenting" prevents children from growing into healthy, self-sufficient, independent adults.
I went to conclude by comparing "helicopter parenting" with gardening. While "helicopter parenting" helps children have more blooms in their lives, unfortunately these children don’t develop roots to sustain their blooms and create more blooms next year.
Remember, You Live within Environment Created by Your Choices!
Dr. Hal
Life and Mental Fitness Coach
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I am a traffic helicopter. I do identify with the other types of helicopters, but being a traffic copter is so much easier!!! Less stress on me, but I still get to give my kids input, or direction. Then I let them take the controls, and sit back and see what happens. Happy to say they are all doing just fine, and I feel they listen more as they have grown. I am not “nagging” anymore. Just simple advice, and they often comment or reply to what I write to them. Some of the things they talk about make me a bit nervous, but maybe they know more than I do. I must add, I will always be there for them and be as supportive as I can be toward their own prospectives on life, and where they want to go with it. I am their parent and I have the right to share my views. They can take what works for them, and leave the rest. Living in the enviroment I create for myself helps me, and my boys!! I am free to give advice, whether they have asked for it or not…then let go. What great kids they are. Thanks Hal; for teaching me to let go and let God. Sherry A.