Re: "helicopter parenting"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Odessa Dawn 
"To this I say, WHAT ARE WE DOING?! Do we really want to provide our children with a model of parenting that showcases ourselves as selfless martyrs who live out our dreams through them? In this age of "helicopter parenting,"in which we hover over our children and weigh in on every detail of their lives, is there not something to be said for developing our own joys? Wouldn't our children be thrilled to know that our life satisfaction does not ride altogether on their accomplishments?"
More: The “S” Word
I need (No, you don't need to know - you want to know) to know what do you, native speakers, label those parents who meddle in their children's affairs. In other words, strict parents in some conservative societies, for example. Instead of using/saying "copter parents," (helicopter parents is the term I have heard) what would the commonly used term/expression in English be?
"Hovering" may be an older term for this type of behavior. This may be why "helicopter parents" is used now.
Thank you,
I can't think of any one word, except "hovering", to describe this type of person. They would have to be controlling to a certain extent and would have to be intrusive. From a philosophical perspective I would call them insecure, but that doesn't point to their behavior.
Re: "helicopter parenting"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gillnetter I need (No, you don't need to know - you want to know) to know what do you, native speakers, label those parents who meddle in their children's affairs.
May I ask, what's wrong with saying "I need to know" in this context?
Re: "helicopter parenting"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CarloSsS May I ask, what's wrong with saying "I need to know" in this context?
There's nothing wrong with it. However, as OD has told us in other threads that he has time on his hands and is following up his interest in English, then he probably 'wants' rather than 'needs' to know the answer to this question.
Re: "helicopter parenting"
In a different context (business life) we talk of 'micromanaging' - being an excessively hands-on manager who wants to be in control of every little detail. This use of 'micromanage' has caught on, and is now being used in other contexts - so a child might complain of his parents micromanaging him or her.
The metaphor of the helicopter reminds me of a term that's not at all related. In my early days at DEC - when our managers were in Massachussetts - people used to complain of 'seagull management': 'every six months they fly over, cr@p all over everything, and then fly away again.' ;-)
b
Re: "helicopter parenting"
There is little correlation between a helicopter parent and a strict parent. If you think " hover over our children and weigh in on every detail of their lives" is the same as "strict" you have a very confused understanding of one of those phrases.
