On Parenting

You may ask: Dear 20-something girl, how do you plan to write a post on parenting when you yourself have no children?"

Have no fear readers! I do not pretend to be a parenting expert. In fact, children frighten me to some extent and I'm not sure if I have a very strong maternal instinct. In any case, The Lieutenant and I are planning to wait for at least several decades before starting a family.

However even having no children of my own, I have had numerous encounters with other people's children. On a daily basis, even. As I've mentioned before, I work in university housing where (perhaps surprisingly to you) I regularly deal with parents. Specifically the helicopter parents. These well-meaning mothers and fathers are always swooping in to rescue their adult-child from one thing or another. Parents call our office to deal with their child's delinquent payments. They call to inform us that their child is being "bullied" and insist that they be placed with different roommates. They call to complain about the size of their child's room... You get my drift.

Not too long ago, I came across this article from The Atlantic Magazine and thought it was extremely interesting that it addressed almost this exact issue.

"...college deans have reported receiving growing numbers of incoming freshmen they’ve dubbed “teacups” because they’re so fragile that they break down anytime things don’t go their way. “Well-intentioned parents have been metabolizing their anxiety for them their entire childhoods,” Mogel said of these kids, “so they don’t know how to deal with it when they grow up” (Gottlieb)

The articles goes on to explain how in an attempt to make children feel safe and secure, many parents rob their children of the ability to mediate conflict and deal with common disappointment. By attempting to protect them from everything, they ultimately leave them unable to protect themselves.

It's a good read.
For the entire article, click here