3.1. MEET THE PARENTS

First, some background on the much-maligned helicopter parents. They are so named because they hover like helicopters near their children, ready to swoop in at a moment's notice to help resolve problems big and small. Particularly militant helicopter parents have been dubbed Black Hawks. Those who keep their distance and just offer guidance and direction are labeled traffic-control helicopter parents.

Hovering parents aren't just an American phenomenon. In Sweden, for instance, overprotective parenting is called "curling," a reference to the sport of curling. In curling, players sweep the ice with brooms to remove obstacles and make the heavy stones speed toward the target area. Likewise, curling parents rush ahead of their ...

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