by Matthew Nicholas

Created on: March 01, 2010

Higher academia has recently been subjected to the wrath of helicopter parents.  “Helicopter parents” is the new buzz phrase for parents who just cannot let go of their precious snowflakes; thus, they hover around their children, invading every facet of their children’s lives to the point of absurdity.  In many cases, these helicopter parents fail to see the lack of wisdom in their hovering capacities.  As a matter of fact, they think that they are doing their precious snowflakes some sort of service.  However, such behavior only works to the detriment of their children’s maturation, well-being at school, and life following graduation.

First, let me say that as a resident assistant at a college, these parents prove to be a greater annoyance than anything else for all parties involved.  As an RA, my philosophy has always been very libertarian in nature.  I leave my residents alone so that they will leave me alone, and as a result, everyone is infinitely happier.  If their living conditions are akin to a pig sty, it is not my problem.  They can live in whatever filth they so desire; it is irrelevant to me.

One day, however, someone’s mommy called the residence life office to complain of the disgusting state of the common area (which is the responsibility of the residents to maintain).  I was informed of this by way of email from one of my bosses.  Not only does this make my life more difficult, but it makes everyone’s lives more difficult.  Moreover, it makes the resident look like a child in the eyes of everyone involved.

As such, I called a meeting to nip this parental problem in the bud.  I informed my residents that one of their mothers called the school to complain about the biohazard in which they lived.  I went on to explain that this undermines my philosophy of being a residence assistant, for mommy issues force me to do work, which in turn, forces everyone else to do work.  And if everyone else does not do their work, then documentations and fines necessarily result.  After having this meeting, I never had another helicopter parent problem.

In many instances, this helicopter parenting does not end at college.  There have been stories about parents calling their child’s boss at his new job complaining about something that has happened to the child.  Needless to say, these jobs are never held very long, for the child is fired shortly thereafter.  As an aside, it is necessary to call the recent college graduate with his first job a child, for no adult would ever tolerate his parent calling his boss.

Helicopter parents are a problem.  They do all kinds of harm and no good whatsoever.  The insistence of these people to entangle themselves into the lives of their children befuddles me.

To college freshmen: force your parents to leave you alone.  You must assert your own independence.  Not doing so will work to your detriment.

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