A mom just back from five years in England is shocked by how much parental involvement her kids’ school expects. Join the conversation over at Let Grow!Â
first day at school. mother leads a little child school girl in first grade
Why Do Americans Think Their Kids Need So Much Extra Help from Their Moms?
It’s all a shame game. I planned on being a hands off mom, but the community I live in wouldn’t have it. I let my 6 yo daughter walk across the street to the school bus stop alone on a safe, quiet, suburban street. Mind you, I could see her out of my livingroom window. She did this once bc the other mothers told me they weren’t comfortable with her being by herself. They said they were afraid they would be liable if she got hurt during her 5 minute wait. One of the mothers even drew a sidewalk chalk box so the kids could wait safely inside it until the bus arrived. Needless to say I fell in line and hovered dutifully and resentfully for the next 12 years. When said daughter arrived at college she promptly fell apart and hasn’t been able to get herself on track. I feel badly for her but she has to figure life out on her own now. I think this happens a lot more often than what folks admit to. Interestingly there are moms in my bucolic community who have started support groups for parents with kids who haven’t fared well as young adults.