Overparenting

If you hold the umbrella for too long, you will never be able to face the heat.

The birth of a child not only brings happiness but also marks a new beginning. It brings hopes and aspirations. As the child grows up, the concern of his/her parents grows along with it. It may happen so that parents prevent their children from exploring new possibilities to protect them from child trafficking, drug abuse, and other elements. This is where the issue of over-parenting arises.

Overparenting is a term used to describe the overprotective nature of parents and their determination to see their children succeed in life regardless of the potentially unpleasant steps, they take to do so. It has become a mainstream issue of the twenty-first century though it has been around for a long time.

Adolescence is the peak time for every person’s life. It is during this phase, parents become anxious about their children as they not only grow physically but also psychologically start searching for answers to various questions. Certain behavioral issues upsets parents and they feel like they are losing their children. To prevent any such issues, parents improvise strict affect management, parental monitoring, parental digital limit setting, psychological control, and risk aversion. However, from the children’s point of view, they find it unwelcoming and annoying. Seeking privacy, they develop the habit of keeping secrets and become dishonest. Research analysts have concluded that overparenting can make their children introverts. Later, they become victims of a bully, child abuse, and try to run away or whimper over problems instead of solving them.

The twenty-first century abounds with opportunities that parents are not aware of. Old methods should be discarded if we need to build the future. The parent-child foundation needs a strong understanding that over-parenting can make their child an introvert. Often, parents need to change their strategies of approaching their children and respect their space and privacy. If the child is doing something inappropriate and it comes to the parent’s notice, the proper discussion should be carried out to talk their child out of the wrongdoings instead of scolding and limiting their freedom.

Another aspect of over parenting is providing direct assistance to their children. No parent would like to see their son suffering. But if we condolence over their struggle, they might find it difficult to fend for themselves later in life. Proper exposure to challenges should be practice. Parents should encourage their children to take part in community services, sports, and reading. As a matter of fact, parents should also join their kids at such activates. It is a notable fact that parents are a child’s first teachers. This invariably makes the role of parents very crucial and essential.

Another factor which is responsible for over parenting is fear. The amount of criticism a person receives from society for not being able to stand in life makes parents anxious. This results in pressurizing their children to score appreciable grades in school and colleges. Another issue is drug abuse. With more hundreds of cases of drug dealings and usage among high school students add up to the concern of parents. To prevent such obnoxious acts, parents try to curb their child’s friend circle and restrict their freedom. Often, on the advice of grandparents, they take the necessary steps to monitor their activities.

When a child comes to this world, he/she brings along with him a purpose and space. As the child grows up, he/she develops ideologies and their own principles. Parents should think about this fact before invading their space. The majority of suicidal cases have been reported as a result of over parenting. No parent owes the life of their child. The technologically advancing world heralds several reforms and it is the responsibility of parents to adopt these reforms and go along with them.

The situation becomes worst when it’s a girl child or transgender. In the case of a girl child, parents invariably become suspicious and judgmental. Her dreams and desire become a mere part of their plan while their suggestion and advice become the prime protocols of the child. Every child has a role to play and it is as important as the trust, prestige, and responsibilities of parents. The objective is to bring the best in children and not crumble their dreams and aspirations. Transgender children deserve equal rights. Their parents should be proud of them and not shameful. The worst aspect of over parenting is ignorance. Ignorant of the problems and conditions those children have to go through. If children are the blessing of God, then isn’t serving children rightly is the service to God itself?

To prevent over parenting, a parenting education center has been set up to preach knowledge regarding the methodology of child bringing and children psychology. It should be the interest of every parent to know their child to nurture them rightly.