“What is a helicopter parent? My grandmother accused me of ruining my child’s independence by being one, but doesn’t it just mean that I’m protective?”
A helicopter parent is one that overprotects their child. A helicopter parent hovers over their child, making choices for them, and solving their problems. Helicopter parents act from a place of love, but the issue is that when we are too protective, we don’t let our children solve their own problems. We all want to protect our children, but we must remember that the best way to protect them is not to solve their problems for them but to teach them how to solve them. Our children need to fail to learn to cope with negative feelings and become resilient.
So, I guess that your grandmother believes that you are overprotecting your child. Your grandmother is not the only one from that generation who thinks that we are overprotecting our children. After all, the way we raise children these days is very different to the way your grandmother was raised or to the way she raised her own children.
I don’t know if you are indeed overprotecting your child or not. What I do know is that you are clearly trying to do what is best for your child.
Read this article to learn more about helicopter parenting: What Is Helicopter Parenting? Characteristics and Consequences
I wish you and your child all the very best.
Love,
Ana
