DEAR ABBY: My nephew-to-be has just turned 14. He has older parents (his mom was 42 when he was born) and is so socially inept that we fear for his future. His mom is more than a helicopter parent — she still orders his food for him at restaurants. My son is 15 and very … Read more
When Becca and Jordan Itkowitz moved back to La Grange, Illinois, after three years in Denmark with their two sons, Evan, 8, and Max, 10, they experienced culture shock. Soon after moving stateside in 2017, Becca received a call from school that Max had thrown a snowball during recess. “Not at anyone, mind you,” Becca … Read more
If mom’s not happy, nobody is happy. An Atlanta helicopter mom proved that adage was true on Tuesday as she erupted in expletives at an elementary school awards ceremony after her son was snubbed in spite of his scholastic achievements. “His report card says different,” spat the outraged mama bear as the school principal attempted … Read more
Maybe it’s time to move chess club off the schedule. The more structured extracurricular activities a child has, the greater the chance they will exhibit negative behaviors such as having trouble concentrating, getting easily distracted, and fighting with other children, a new study finds. Parents should lighten the activity load by participating in “free playtime” … Read more
When it came to raising their kids, Chad and Laura Mitchell didn’t miss a beat. And when flutist daughter Kahley got ready to fly the family coop in Northern Virginia to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance at Penn State in 2020, the pair realized they’d miss more than just the sweet sounds … Read more
A mom-of-two who ‘sittervises’ her children says that parents have got too involved when it comes to child play. Sittervising is where parents will sit down while supervising their children instead of joining in with the play — and has become a buzz word on social media. Laynah Rose Crawley, 32, says ‘sittervising’ teaches children … Read more
Being a mother is, unequivocally, the hardest job in the known universe. Who raises/ruins us is a luck of the draw — or the umbilical cord — as some are born to saints and others to a slightly more complex, traumatizing model of motherhood. What role do the stars play, and are some signs more … Read more
Helicopter parenting has reached a new level. Employers are going above and beyond to not hire recent college graduates in favor of older workers, a new survey found. The survey uncovered many reasons why older applicants are preferred — including that Gen Z jobseekers are even bringing mom and dad to interviews. In December, Intelligent, … Read more
When Amanda Craig’s 14-year-old son, Owen, started high school in September, she felt just as much angst as her freshman did. “He needed more rides, a little more assistance navigating the high school system, organizing his different classes. The homework is more robust, and his schedule goes later,” Craig, 48 and a Darien, Conn.-based family … Read more
These mama bears aren’t giving up their cubs that easily. Leaving home and heading off to college can be a scary time of transition for some teens — and even more frightening for some of their mothers. That’s why many well-meaning maternal figures are choosing to meddle in their children’s lives from afar, flocking to parent … Read more
She’s got regrrrrets. Amy Chua, the “tiger mom” who grabbed headlines over a decade ago by chronicling her strict parenting style in “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” is expressing remorse for her cruel treatment of her daughters, Sophia and Lulu. This included threatening to burn their toys and calling Sophia “garbage” for not showing … Read more
Boy, oh boy — overbearing “boy moms” are getting a virtual spanking. Smothers, a cheeky label assigned to clingy mothers who overwhelmingly micromanage their kids, are shamelessly cranking up the heat of their heavy-handedness with videos of themselves training their toddler sons to reject mediocrity from their future life partners. Beneath the #BoyMom hashtag, which … Read more
Little Madison is only 4 years old, but this summer won’t be limited to ice cream cones and trips to the beach with grandma. She’s got a resume to build. The goal? Admission into kindergarten at Riverdale’s elite private school Horace Mann for fall 2024. Her mom, Jennifer — a 37-year-old Upper East Sider, who … Read more
To be blunt, this Canadian mom doesn’t really care what you think about her daughter’s name. An Ontario couple who decided to name their daughter Chree were met with disdain from their friends and family who pointed out the name sounds similar to “tree,” a code term for cannabis. Tenille Bain, 33, and her partner, … Read more
Mary Graber, 30, was up in the middle of the night, nursing three-week-old daughter Sloane while scrolling through her Facebook mommy group. She’d joined the group when she was pregnant, in search of helpful advice and reassurance. Instead, she found anxiety and shame. The already nervous new mom was stunned to discover a thread filled … Read more
This unconventional sleeping arrangement would surely be a nightmare for some. A mom is raising eyebrows after admitting she shares a bed with her 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son. Bernie Watkins, 49, says she’s unashamed of her family’s unorthodox habit and believes it’s the reason why she shares such a close bond with her kids, … Read more