Thank you, Mme. Lefarge, for expanding my vocabulary in a particularly helpful way. "Helicopter moms," she explains, are Mothers Who Hover, pathologically advocating for their children no matter whether los kiddos are in the wrong or in the right, hypervigilant against any slight or omission (always imaginary) or hint that their offspring is not an impeccably behaved genius and the Fairest (or Most Handsome) One of All. Mme. L's had a bellyful of these women, and so have I. An example:
Back at St. Midas Prep, I tutored a girl--not my student--after school one or two days a week, in my classroom. Once, I let her use my computer to begin an essay (which--need I mention?--she'd had two weeks to work on and was now due the next day). At the end of the session, we copied what she'd written onto a disk, and off she went.
First thing next morning, I was summoned into the august presence of the headmaster, who leaned across his desk and hissed at me, "DID YOU LET [child's name] USE YOUR COMPUTER?"
"Well, yes. It's the only one in the room."
Big Head went on to explain that, after some school function the evening before, he had seen lights in my classroom, so stopped in to see what was up. And had found the Helicopter Mom breaking into my computer. She had persuaded a janitor to let her in. Seems the disk her daughter brought home didn't have anything on it, so Mom was SURE the essay fragment must still be on my computer, and that she was entitled to retrieve it, whop-whop-whop[sound of blades, whirling]. BH shut down my computer, escorted her out of the room, and the next morning, instructed me "NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN!"
See how the Helicopter Mom's pathology became my fault? But who could be expected to predict such heinous behavior? Have I mentioned that St. Midas Prep did not renew my contract, citing (but not specifying) "indiscretions," of which I can only assume this was one?
Oh yes, been there done that.
I like the term! Fits a lot of people I have come into contact with the last few years. I seem to find that most of them fall into the category of older parent with (first) young children!! The latest incident was at a restaurant we often go to where 3 Helicopter Moms with dads sat at a table while 6 children played...in and out the table legs, ring around the rosy, hide and seek and a myriad of other games. All to the delight of their adoring parents and consternation of the rest of the patrons of the restaurant. Unfortunately, it was a night when the owners were off and the hostess and wait staff were all under 25 and had no clue as to how to handle it.......
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