A column in today's Dallas Morning News, Parents, Park Your Helicopters," caught my eye. I have always enjoyed reading Steve Blow's thoughts. Today was great example.
Steve reflected on a visit with a friend who is an educator. The person used the term Helicopter parents, a reference to those who feel an intense need to be overly protective of their children. Such individual feel a need to swoop in anytime their child is in trouble and intervene on their behalf. Being concerned about your child is one thing, having the desire to step in everytime they are in trouble is another. The later is just not healthy.
During a workshop I was doing on Sunday, one dad shared an experience from his work. He is in a position where he is involved in interviewing recent college graduates who are applying for jobs. He noted that it is not uncommon to have a parent accompany them on the interview. That is being a "Helicoptor Parent!"
I truly believe that we raise our kids to let them go. Our goal is for them to be successful, self supporting adults. The best way to do that is to set them free to set their own goals and make their own decisions. It means transitioning to the role of consultant, rather than manager as our children develop.
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