Death by hovering?

The bizarre news of a mother accused of stabbing her daughter’s college roommate again raises the question: How do you strike a balance between being there for your children and teaching them independence? How do you avoid becoming a “helicopter parent”?

“I think the affliction of ‘helicopter parenting’ is an extreme and isn’t something most of us need to actively avoid. As my kids are getting older, I have allowed them small amounts of independence depending on their ages.

“At this point, they still tell me about problems with friends or school. So, I use that to ask questions and help them think of ways they can deal with these issues on their own. I think that helps foster their independence and critical thinking skills. This isn’t something I’ve ‘made’ myself do … it is just a natural thing for me.”

– Posted by Stephanie

“I think that asking parents how they avoid becoming a ‘helicopter parent’ – as the term has been described here – is like asking them how they avoid being mentally unstable.

“Let’s say that normal, reasonably well-adjusted parents fall somewhere on a scale of 1-10 as to how much they hover over their children. A different scale is required for parents who complain about papers they wrote for their children or who move into their children’s dorm rooms. (And people who stab other people to death aren’t on a comparative scale at all.)”

– Posted by Laurie Rogers

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One more camp

Look for information on Camp Reed, which was accidentally omitted from the April 16 Summer Camp Guide, on page B3.