People are jumping to extremes. I don't see this as being even remotely similar to helicopter parents or parents who think their legal name is "Melissa's Mommy/Daddy." Someone's central identity or master status can be that of parent without it being the only thing they have going for themselves. However, it is very difficult to truly have different statuses (job, hobbies, leisure time) if there is no one to help you balance family with other things.
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Originally Posted by Munchkin03
I think there's a difference between this and "helicopter parenting," the latter I clearly detest. Whether we like it or not, when one becomes a parent, some aspect of their identity is wrapped up into being a parent. That doesn't mean that your whole life revolves around your kid--it's just that you can't disassociate it.
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Yes and it isn't just
some aspect of their identity, especially for women. Men are more likely than women to be socialized to believe that being a parent is just one aspect of their identity, and many men can easily go through life with being a parent as something that they mention as an afterthought. It's similar to people who talk about men babysitting their kids ("Oh, my kids are at home with their Daddy for a few hours"). You technically can't babysit your own kids but you can if being a parent is your secondary status in life.
As Miranda of SATC said "I'm a damn good attorney and work hard for this firm. It's being a mommy that I suck at right now."
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