What defines a helicopter parent?

[srmom]

I found this on the collegeboard website (surfing for the next SAT test date for junior son - last go round THANK GOD).

Thought y'all might find it interesting. I took the quiz and got "Stay the Course" meaning that I had a "healthy degree" of involvement. Some of the questions were illuminating, such as, "Do you meet with the guidance counselor without your child?" I don't even know who the guidance counselor is



http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/...dy/155044.html

[navane]

Originally Posted by srmom

I found this on the collegeboard website (surfing for the next SAT test date for junior son - last go round THANK GOD).

Thought y'all might find it interesting. I took the quiz and got "Stay the Course" meaning that I had a "healthy degree" of involvement. Some of the questions were illuminating, such as, "Do you meet with the guidance counselor without your child?" I don't even know who the guidance counselor is

I don't have kids, but, I took the quiz based on what I would do if I did. I'm a university administrator and my result told me that I needed to "Get More Involved."

.....Kelly

[AOII Angel]

LOL...I took the quiz for my mom who was overly protective as a parent. It said, "Get more involved." ha ha. This for the woman who would only let us choose one of five majors because the others weren't practical! I think we turned out just right.

[Munchkin03]

I answered it as my parents--and they scored a great big "Get More Involved."

I think my dad would have been a helicopter parent if my mom had let him. He's pretty protective and asks a lot of questions--but sometimes it's a good thing. One of my older sisters was diagnosed with pretty advanced cancer late last year--within a week, he had flown to where she was. I think if my mom was involved, she would have made him wait it out a minute.

[ree-Xi]

A few months ago, someone I know posted a very public diatribe (on Facebook) about some "mean girls" who were teasing her 14-year old daughter. Her daughter was on a bus riding to an "away" sports event, and a few of the other girls were making fun of her. Her daughter's friend, who had been sitting next to her, got up from her seat and sat with the "mean girls". Her daughter started to cry on bus and sat by herself on the way home.

The mother tells the story, and finished with "THESE GIRLS BETTER WATCH THEIR BACKS!! They have pissed off a mama bear!!! I HATE GIRLS LIKE THAT!!"

Now, I don't have tolerance for bullying, and I hate to see any kid ostracized and made fun of, but really? Do you think that this is going to help your kid?

To make matters worse, more then ten other people commented in similar fashion "Nobody better bother -----", "I'll come and teach those kids a lesson", and "what are their dads' names? I happen to know a guy that would be happy to pay their dads a little visit!!!

FWAP! FWAP! indeed!

[33girl]

OMG. Speaking of Facebook. This isn't "helicoptering" per se, but it just makes my skin crawl. Parents posting REALLY embarassing or unflattering pics of their kids. I don't mean prom pics that the kids will be saying in 20 years "why the hell did I wear that?" For example, one of my HS friends posted pictures of her daughter laying in her bed at the hospital while she was ill!! Needless to say she looked like hell. Some other parents have posted similar things. Don't they realize these will be on the internet for all time? I mean, I would be MORTIFIED if my mother even took such a picture, let alone showed it to 300 of her closest friends.

This makes me think that the parents have a problem separating themselves - like they just think of the child as an extension of themself, not as an individual person.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

OMG. Speaking of Facebook. This isn't "helicoptering" per se, but it just makes my skin crawl. Parents posting REALLY embarassing or unflattering pics of their kids. I don't mean prom pics that the kids will be saying in 20 years "why the hell did I wear that?" For example, one of my HS friends posted pictures of her daughter laying in her bed at the hospital while she was ill!! Needless to say she looked like hell. Some other parents have posted similar things. Don't they realize these will be on the internet for all time? I mean, I would be MORTIFIED if my mother even took such a picture, let alone showed it to 300 of her closest friends.

This makes me think that the parents have a problem separating themselves - like they just think of the child as an extension of themself, not as an individual person.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[BAckbOwlsgIrl]

Yes, I know that this thread is bashing heli-moms.

<STANDS UP>
I LOVE MY HELI-MOM.
She drove the miles down with me to college and stayed with me during RUSH. Being ill, she gave me a break and made sure that I was rested.
When I found out at the last minute about international travel, ironically, I was ill, she typed my application after I wrote my essay. My Dad proof read too.

Yes, she can and is OVERBEARING. She is pushy. She thinks that she knows everything.
And yes, I agree with her to shut her up.
BUT I HEART MY HELI-MOM.
She has never called my boss.
In my first job, she made a gourmet chowder for Christmas potluck that I passed off as my own. I got on the bosses good side.

And yes, sometimes, I let her do heli-things because it makes her feel better. There are times, when I have put her in her place or laugh at her. Laughter and humor make things better. "Yes, Mom, I could do that job as well as prime minister and solve world hunger" or simply, "Sounds great Mom, why don't you do it?"

Underneath it all, I realized that my heli-mom and others, although stubborn and pushy, REALLY just have the biggest hearts of all and are probably the most loving creatures on earth. She means well. She wants the best for me.

WERE IT NOT FOR MY HELI-MOM, I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM TODAY.

<STEPS DOWN>

Please don't throw anything or color my holier than thou.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

A few months ago, someone I know posted a very public diatribe (on Facebook) about some "mean girls" who were teasing her 14-year old daughter. Her daughter was on a bus riding to an "away" sports event, and a few of the other girls were making fun of her. Her daughter's friend, who had been sitting next to her, got up from her seat and sat with the "mean girls". Her daughter started to cry on bus and sat by herself on the way home.

The mother tells the story, and finished with "THESE GIRLS BETTER WATCH THEIR BACKS!! They have pissed off a mama bear!!! I HATE GIRLS LIKE THAT!!"

Now, I don't have tolerance for bullying, and I hate to see any kid ostracized and made fun of, but really? Do you think that this is going to help your kid?

To make matters worse, more then ten other people commented in similar fashion "Nobody better bother -----", "I'll come and teach those kids a lesson", and "what are their dads' names? I happen to know a guy that would be happy to pay their dads a little visit!!!

FWAP! FWAP! indeed!

This sounds like a Lifetime Movie in the making.. based on a true story. Very scary.

[Splash]

I answered yes to almost all of them as a "what I would do as a parent". It told me to re-evaluate my role. As soon, as I put no for contacting teachers, etc. but kept all else the same, it said I was good. Most of these things are not bad, if the child is involved too. Help is not helicoptering. Doing it for you, is.