Photo by Hugh Kretschmer for TIME
I recently came across an article entitled, The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting at time.com. It struck a chord as I've been thinking a lot about how to balance my protective instincts with my rational understanding that kids need to learn the most important lessons on their own.
The article, written by Nancy Gibbs, points out some of the most rediculous examples of "helicopter parenting" and exposes them for what they are - the actions of a generation of parents who are letting their fears rule their actions when it comes to making decisions that affect their kids.
This kind of irrational fear is the same force that is behind so many of the decisions that people make every day. Pick up any magazine or turn on the tv and you'll find all kinds of advice about how to further separate yourself from the natural world and a healthy life balance and rhythm, all in the name of self-improvement. It's a crazy world, full of people who aren't really thinking for themselves and I don't want to be a part of that.
I've thought about this a lot myself, I mean. Obviously I don't have kids but when I consider whether I would want them or not and what kind of parent I would be, I always ask myself, "would I be able to let them make mistakes?" I think often parents are so afraid (for good obvious reasons) of their child being sad or being hurt that they over-protect and then the child never learns that those emotions are just a necessary part of life. It worries me. But you and Jodi are kind of my model for cool, hip parents so I think you're doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote of confidence, Linds! The hardest part is navigating it all with other people watching, judging and sometimes even commenting. If only we could all just live and let live...
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