Comments on: Are You a Helicopter Parent

By: Chuck Staff

Chuck Staff — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:50:57 +0000

I ‘helicoptered’ until about age 4. Now I’m sort of a helicopter gunship — I’ll attack if they’re endangered, I’ll protect if they are threatened and I’ll airlift them out for R&R if they start to struggle… At 3 – 7 ‘Life is Good’. At 8 – 11 “Life is Tough’. At 12 – 15 ‘Life can be Crap’. Hoovering is good…

By: Kristine Sheehan

Kristine Sheehan — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:54:17 +0000

Uh…I have two toddlers and I’m a helicopter parent in some ways now…and I suspect I’ll be a helicopter parent in other ways when they are older.

It’s interesting to me that I am aware of this crazy behavior because my parents still “rescue” me when I need help… especially in economic days of stress.

I don’t believe this is so aweful as I would “rescue” my children if they were in jeopardy in any way.

I don’t believe in hovering, or doing a childs/teens homework or telling them how to do anything/everything since that would be crazy and not healthy for their growth process, Micro-managing is too tight and helicoptering, I think, is just excessive caring…..is that so awful? I think more parents should be helicopters to some degree.

By: Melodieann Whiteley

Melodieann Whiteley — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:05:27 +0000

I was definitely a helicopter parent. And depending on the situation, I have been all 3 types. The good news is that the right kind of “hovering” is a good thing. My own daughter, who spent years telling me I was too involved in her life, just recently thanked me for being so involved in her life. Why? At 26, she now realizes that I “hovered” because I loved her.

By: Debbie Stevens

Debbie Stevens — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:49:11 +0000

Hmm, well as I was a single parent for my two eldest, I’d have to say I was a ‘mixed bag’, trying to fill the role of both mother AND father often saw me struggle-I’d say I was between the Gunship helicopter traffic and rescue for most parts,and put this down to the conflict we were dealing with back then.

Either way, I was a parent devoted to doing the best that I could, with what I had…my love!

By: Heidi Caswell

Heidi Caswell — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:54:53 +0000

Another traffic helicopter here.

Each of my kids make their own decisions, but it would be crazy not to give advice, pass on information, etc.

My 4 oldest each received full scholoarships ar various schools.

I do no fill out their applications, but will proofread, give suggestions, etc.

By: Pam Archer

Pam Archer — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:49:31 +0000

I’m a traffic helicopter. I tried to instill values into my children. I guided them along the way, stayed abreast of what was going on at school and with their friends and tried to be a good listener. Open lines of communication, even through the teen years, is critical.

My mother was a traffic helicopter. Daddy was a Bomber plane!