As defined by Wikipedia:
A helicopter parent is a term for a person who pays extremely close attention to his or her child or children, particularly at educational institutions.
Oh, the humanity...I mean, the nerve of some people...expecting to know and control everything their child eats, drinks, learns and watches...hovering over their children, so.
That's what I thought, too - until I had children - and then everything I ever thought I knew about being a good mother sort of, you know, was ripped to shreds on Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil.
Having at least one parent home and available for your kids is good...staying home with them is bad...supporting your children and teaching them to be self-sufficient is good...working outside the home is bad...alpha moms suck...beta moms suck poodle...being a good mom is bad...being a bad mom is good...I mean, wait.
Spring forward, jump back two spaces...which is it?...I forget.
So, I was thinking - a dangerous concept for a professional Dork, I know - how about if we (moms AND dads) STOP with all the name calling and goofy monikers (momikers, they call it) and just accept the fact that - when it comes to raising children - we are ALL a bunch of Dorks!
In my experience, there's always someone ready to prove YOU wrong - and then make up a name for your sorry butt - so, why fight it.
Most likely, it'll probably be one of YOUR...I mean, MY...d'oh...OUR kids are going to think we sucked at it, anyway!
[stepping off of soapbox]
Okay, I admit it.
[pours another cup of coffee]
I am a soccer/mom blogger with helicopter parent tendencies - I drive a 7-passenger car and want to know exactly where my kids are and what they are doing, most of the time - but, the whole reason I started this here blog...in the first place...was to be able to hear myself think...since my kids don't listen to a word I say, anyway!
I'm not perfect and my kids seem to be okay, anyway.
"Um...do you know that Mini-Me's wearing two different cleats?"
[eyes go wide]
"Well, at least THIS TIME she's wearing the right shirt."
Like, a few Saturdays ago, when I mistakenly pulled a green shirt out of the laundry basket (after successfully completing the smell test, of course) and learned that it was actually...um...The Boy's shirt from two years ago!?!?
"Her team's color is green this year, right?"
Her coach nodded his head and thought it was sort of, you know, funny - he's GOT kids, after all - but, ask me a few years ago and I would have probably totally wigged-out!
"Mini-me, stand still so Mommy can take a picture!"
And died of total embarrassment!
"You're going to blog about this, arent' you?!?"
You betcha!
[shrugs shoulders]
Don't worry, she knows - mommy bwogs 'cause it makes her feel better - but, to some people I will always be just another DORK!
So it's okay that Nathan came home from school the other day and I realized his shirt had been on BACKWARDS all day? Like, the logo part was across his back and the tag was sticking up from between his collarbones? And his teachers were probably wondering how his Mother could let him leave the house like that?
It was EARLY! I hadn't had enough COFFEE!
Who am I kidding? I'm just a big DORK. lol
Posted by: Elizabeth | November 07, 2007 at 09:32 AM