What defines a helicopter parent?

[sageofages]

This is from an email list I run for Phi Mu sisters.....She works for a notable radio station in Houston as the promotions director. I have little doubt of its validity

"I am suppressing a scream at the moment. One of my part-timers quit via e-mail because "his work schedule interfered with his sleeping." He even said that he talked it over with his Mother and she agreed with him that ...with school starting in a few weeks he wouldn't be able to maintain his grades and social life if his "boss" wasn't going to change his schedule from time to time to accommodate his sleep requirements.

This 21 year old adult - sleeps until 1 p.m. every day and has complained to me about my scheduling him to work at 11 a.m. because he's usually out until 3 or 4 a.m. Maybe I'm way too old school, but my parents would have kicked me out of their house if I did that! I didn't have to be up at the crack of dawn mind you, but certainly if I wasn't out of bed by 10 a.m. I had a parent in my room.

First I'm shocked that any parent would support a child in such nonsense and secondly, I'm just shocked that he and his Mother felt it was appropriate to put it in writing for eternity! What has happened to our work ethic? I always thought that I was spoiled, but obviously I was not!"

THAT is what happens when a younger person has a helicopter parent .