Heavenly Helicopter

I’m sure most of you have known well-meaning parents who appear overprotective or hyper-controlling in the life of their children. But did you know there is a name for this style of parenting? The term is “Helicopter parent,” so called because like helicopters, these mothers and fathers hover overhead, overseeing their child’s every move. First mentioned in a book published more than 40 years ago, the term “Helicopter parent” has since gained wider recognition as American college administrators began using it in the new millennium. This happened when school officials noticed that parental practices such as calling children each morning to wake them up for class — or complaining to professors about grades their child had received were occurring with ever-increasing frequency. Even summer camp counselors are experiencing similar parental behavior. (Whatever happened to those “lazy, crazy days of summer”?) -1

Recently, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Helicopter parents continue advocating for their children even at the graduate school level. And, believe it…