In the New York Times Magazine this past Sunday, it was this article that caught my eye. It is all about how the era of "overparenting" could be over. Well, thank heavens! The author, Lisa Belkin, makes numerous valid points and uses terms like helicopter moms, smother mothering, child-centered parenting, and even Get-them-into-Harvard-or-bust-parenting. (Hey, we all are guilty of getting caught up in the pressure and competition of today's society in some way or another.) She then contrasts this with a new era that may be coming, where parents are chilling more and backing off so that everyone will be happier and better adjusted. She paints a picture where Mom and Dad are sipping martinis while their well-trained toddler sits on the floor whipping up another batch for them. This article made me laugh and I realized how I encompass different characteristics from each parenting philosophy. In the end we all want our children to be happy and successful, but everyone measures success differently. Everyone has a unique parenting style. We all feel pressure to be the best parents we can be. The more I think about this topic, I keep going back to what is most important to me... I just want to enjoy my girls and allow them to enjoy their childhood because it goes way too fast.
1 comment:
The term "helicopter moms" made me laugh. Never heard it before but I totally know what they are talking about. I think we're all guilty of that sometimes... especially with our first borns. And especially at playdates where you take your eye off for one second and someone gets hurt or meltsdown and you have no idea what happened. I try to strike a balance, but I'll never be as laid-back or relaxed as I'd like... it's just not me. I'm constantly reminding myself not to sweat the details, not to worry about the time, and to just enjoy the moment we're in... b/c it passes all too quickly.
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