Honestly, I don't know if it's a 'things were better in my day' sort of attitude, but it does seem like the helicopter parenting and bulldozer parenting is just everywhere all the time.
It's the attitude that kids can't make mistakes, no matter what, and that any mistakes are a direct reflection on the parents. It's exhausting.
I want my kid to mess up. I want him to fall out of a tree and break his arm. I want him to grow up and drive somewhere three states over with his friends and break down and need me to come get him.
That's part of growing up.
Now for the part that I'm not sure isn't just me being a grumpy old man -
I'm honestly afraid we're raising a generation that doesn't have proper coping skills and won't be able to effectively function in society. My proof is that college students today will remove themselves from opportunities that are too stressful - which includes just needing to call people on the phone. I have seen massively competent, not socially anxious teens turn down amazing opportunities because they had to speak to someone they don't know on the phone.
It's amazing.
It's the attitude that kids can't make mistakes, no matter what, and that any mistakes are a direct reflection on the parents. It's exhausting.
I want my kid to mess up. I want him to fall out of a tree and break his arm. I want him to grow up and drive somewhere three states over with his friends and break down and need me to come get him.
That's part of growing up.
Now for the part that I'm not sure isn't just me being a grumpy old man -
I'm honestly afraid we're raising a generation that doesn't have proper coping skills and won't be able to effectively function in society. My proof is that college students today will remove themselves from opportunities that are too stressful - which includes just needing to call people on the phone. I have seen massively competent, not socially anxious teens turn down amazing opportunities because they had to speak to someone they don't know on the phone.
It's amazing.