Fighting against over-parenting

      As a parent of a strong willed child, it is not too easy to become what society calls a 'helicopter parent.' A helicopter parent is in essence someone who will not let his of her child go. They are the parents who set such high expectations for their kids that they are setting them up to fail. Or shelter them from anything that might hurt. Times magazine had a great article on it entiled, The Growing Backlash Against Over Parenting. Below is a couple of quotes from the article. With strong willed children you learn to pick your battles, usually due to exhaustion. I say lets remind ourselves to Step Back and Pick Our Battles way before we are exhausted.

"Less is more; hovering is dangerous; 

failure is fruitful. 

You really want your children to succeed? 

Learn when to leave them alone. 

When you lighten up, they'll fly higher. 

We're often the ones who hold them down" 

  "People feel there's somehow a 

secret formula for parenting, 

and if we just read enough books 

and spend enough money 

and drive ourselves hard enough, 

we'll find it, and all will be O.K.

Can you think of anything more sinister, 

since every child is so different,

every family is different? 

Parents need to block out the sound and 

fury from the media and other parents, 

 find that formula that fits your family best."

      This is a long article but I promise it is at least worth a skim!