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It’s easy to understand why some parents might be overprotective. The world is a dangerous place, something most children have not actually fully internalized. However, there are some that really do take it all too far, “hovering” around their kids too often and way too long.
We’ve gathered some of the most extreme cases of "helicopter parenting” from across the internet. So get comfortable as you scroll through, prepare to really cringe, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts and perhaps personal experiences in the comments below.
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#1
My friend wasn't allowed to use scissors until he was in high school. His parents were insane. You should've seen their reaction when he joined the army.
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#2
I work at a university. We had a parent get worried because he had not contacted her in awhile and wasn't taking her calls. We tracked him down and it turned out he was just ignoring her because she called multiple times a day and was driving him crazy.
#3
When I was a troop commander in the Army I had a kid who came up hot for c**e on a p**s test and then a week later was arrested by the local police department narcotics task force for being an enforcer in a local civilian-military d**g ring.
They charged him and remanded him back to Army custody where I immediately started the paperwork to chapter him out and let the civilian justice system take its course. The guy was 23 I think.
His mom called me several times to tell me that "Chris has never been in any real trouble before and he's such a sweet kid. Anytime anything happened in high school I helped him work it out. I need to come up and talk to you and get this sorted out."
I was dumbfounded. This guy was 23 years old, in the Army, and his *mom* thinks she can come up and "work it out" with me. I was polite for the first call but by the second or third phone call I had had enough.
I told her (again) not to bother coming to the installation, that her son wasn't a sweet kid or else he wouldn't have beaten some guy up for not paying money he owed to a local d**g d****r, and that the whole reason he was in this mess in the first place was because his mom had never let him be accountable for his actions. I told her that he was under my authority now and I had no time or patience for someone who didn't take their obligation to the Army, the country, or their buddies seriously enough to keep themselves out of trouble long enough to make our upcoming deployment to Iraq. When she complained that getting a dishonorable discharge would ruin his life I informed her that fortunately I didn't have the time to waste giving him a dishonorable discharge so he would be okay on that score (other than honorable is what he wound up with) but that the city of Harker Heights and the State of Texas might have more time than I did, so that was where she ought to focus her effort.
She said I was being unfair and called my boss, which was fine by me.
It blew my mind that a woman with a fully grown adult son *in the Army* would think it was appropriate or healthy to call and talk to her son's commander about his multiple counts of misconduct and general failure to be an adult.
But that, of course, is why he failed at being an adult in the first place.
#4
Friends with a girl in elementary school who had parents that wouldn't let her watch PG rated movies at the age of 12. Even with parental guidance! She wasn't allowed to come over to my house because I mentioned my favorite movie at the time to them and it wasn't G rated.
She nearly drowned at the beach a couple years ago getting caught in a riptide. Suffered permanent brain damage from lack of oxygen.
Her parents now have the forever child they always wanted. :/.
#5
My mom tried to get me pulled off of a deployment to Kuwait, including telling me she'd ground me when I got back. I was already 18 and living on my own, so... Not sure what the f*** her plan was there. She also tried to tell my commander I was using hard d***s, so I had to take a series of p**s tests, but that's cool, I perform better with an audience.
#6
I was a charge nurse in a d**g and alcohol rehab and this 19 year old kid was admitted for h****n detox and treatment.
His mom wanted to be there for the entire admission process, which isn't out of the ordinary for families. However, after the kid was admitted and shown to his room, his mom wouldn't leave.
Detox patients would get assessments every 2-4 hours and were asked a series of questions to determine if they would need medication for withdrawal. His mother answered all of his questions for him and at the end of the assessment was like, "He'll take 10mg of valium for his anxiety." All while this kid layed in bed watching TV.
In this particular rehab, visitors, cell phones, and laptops were allowed, so we couldn't tell her to leave until visiting hours were over. That time arrives and you guessed it, she's still there.
As the charge nurse I had the honor of asking her to leave. Mom looked at me legitimately confused and replied, "I have to leave? I was going to stay here with my son. There are two beds in his room so I didn't think it was a problem."
I then explained to this mom that the second bed needed to be kept open for another potential admission, then I was yelled at for not providing her son with a private room and that "this guy" in the admissions department said she could stay throughout her son's detox and treatment.
I told her patients weren't allowed to have overnight guests. She was appalled because she thought that because she was the mother that she fit into some type of loophole or something. After she left, she visited every day and stayed from the beginning of visiting hours to the end. When she wasn't there, her son was on the phone with her.
Needless to say, this kid relapsed immediately after he finished treatment.
tl;dr - enabler mother actually wanted to stay in her adult son's room while he was in rehab.
*Edited typos.
#7
Had a roommate freshman year whose mother called every day and stayed the first whole week of school. Ok.
She also would randomly fly up to stay a week or two (in the same bed) with her daughter, accompanying her to all classes, meals, and social gatherings. The mom was afraid her daughter would not be pre-Med anymore and would do anything to make sure she didn't change majors.
I think what made this an extreme story was the fact that her mom flew in multiple times in one year and called every day all the way from India to the US.
#8
Was in court waiting to see the judge. Another case is going on about this highschool senior hitting a kid with his car on campus.
His mom goes up with him and when the judge started asking questions the mom answered them. The judge politely told her he'd like to hear from the son and she agreed.
The boy started to explain what happened when she immediately cut him off, told him he was telling it wrong. She begins talking again, and the judge visibly annoyed now asks her if she was there.
"No, but I know what happened" she assured him. When the judge told her multiple witnesses claim that's not what happened, she called them liars who were just out to attack her boy.
She continued to argue with everything the judge said. Until he finally had enough of this woman interrupting him and had her removed.
#9
I work in an ER and I get sick and tired of helicopter parents bringing their offspring in for ridiculous reasons. He got a nosebleed a week ago, and again today. She's been having foot pain after PE. etc.
The worst are the parents that bring their over 18 y/o kids into the ER because they want them d**g tested. I love turning to the "legal adult" and asking "do you consent to this?" The parent normally turns BEET red and starts yelling at me about how they are the parent, and they pay the insurance, yada yada blah blah. At which point I remind them that their precious child is now and adult and without their child's express consent I cannot perform any tests on them. I've seen more than my fair share of light bulbs go off over the kids head, and them flat out refuse all lab work. I tell them, "alright, you heard him. I can't do anything." This normally ends in a call to the hospital administrator that will then tell them the same thing.
I am also not allowed to give out any information over the phone, as I cannot verify you are the legal guardian, nor in the room without express permission. It's fun to watch people's veins throb when they can't get their way.
#10
I had a friend in middle/high school who was a Chinese girl, adopted by an old white couple who were SUPER weird and over protective...
Some of the things I remember about her parents:
* Mom volunteered at whatever school we were at, and would sit with us at lunch to make sure her daughter was eating.
* They drove a mini-van and made her sit in a car seat in the very back row until like freshman year of high school.
* Any time someone praised them for raising such a good daughter they would laugh and say "She's not our daughter, she's adopted!".
* They wouldn't let her ride the school bus, join any clubs, or hang out with anyone after school.
* When she got her drivers license, the dad bought light sticks (like air traffic controllers use). Any time she left the house, he would stand in the street with his light sticks and blocked traffic so that people wouldn't hit her as she backed out of the driveway... It was hilarious to watch but she was completely mortified LOL.
#11
Parents of a girl I went to college with didn't want her living in the dorms. So they bought a second house next to the campus so she could live with her mother.
#12
Newly enrolled freshman in college, and the poor kid's mom would come to the school and walk with him through the cafeteria line picking out what she thought he should be eating. She did this for all three meals. Poor guys was so embarrassed.
#13
I was at home one day when my roommate brought his new coworker over to hang out. He was a nice guy, just your average dude. His phone rang as soon as he got there, it was his mom and she said he had to come home immediately. I said I'd give him a ride home, probably took about five minutes to get there. We pulled into his driveway and a few seconds later she pulled in behind us. She was crying. She had gone out looking for him in the five minutes it took us to drive over there.
#14
I had a mother start emailing me 10 minutes after her son left a job interview with me, then start calling for 3 days straight, along with 5 or so emails a day, talking up her son and how perfect he was and this job is a perfect fit and she would make sure he would be here everyday......then she starts in with rules I would have to follow such as he can't stay more then 5 minutes after 6 because she has to make dinner, and since she would be driving him to and from everyday he mustn't be late. Then she starts asking if I could direct deposit his checks in her account so she can help him manage his money etc...... All this was going on without an inkling that I would offer him the job, she was just making these demands for him up front because this job would have to work around her schedule.
.......Needless to say I didn't hire him. He was a good fit too, but not with that baggage.
#15
I wasn't allowed to hang out with girls when I was younger and one day I was at the school park with some of my friends and there were a couple girls there too. My mom called me on the phone to ask who I was hanging out with. I only mentioned my guy friends. Well apparently my mom was spying on me with binoculars (the park was just a few blocks from my house). As soon as she saw the girls, she drove to the park, got out and made a big scene about it in front of everyone, and made me go home. That probably wasn't even the most embarrassing thing she's put me through. There's been countless other situations.
#16
Teacher here: A friend of mine had a mom who came to lunch everyday with her kid from kindergarten to last I checked (I've since left that school) second grade. A little much, but the kicker is, she used to spoon feed him. This child had no issues, was completely capable of feeding himself but she insisted on feeding him so she could monitor what he ate.
#17
Ha, finally an AskReddit thread I have a good answer to.
I am still a teenager, so I'm still putting up with my parents' helicopter habits.
-My parents were furious when they found out I had watched The Hunger Games at a friend's house. Same thing happens whenever I watch a movie rated PG or above and they're not there to fast-forward through the kissing scenes and mild cursing.
-They don't allow me to spend money without telling them first. I once bought a pack of gum without telling them. It wasn't pretty. Long story short, I got my phone taken away for a week after being chewed out for a solid hour.
-My dad has software on my phone that tells him whatever I do on the internet. This includes texting and calling. He'll probably see this, but I don't care.
I'd better stop typing now, they might catch me.
#18
I run a huge Book Rental department for a good sized University. 15k students. It's a beautiful program, 95% of our student's books are covered by one $85 fee.
Anyway, I've seen some crazy stuff with parents. Honestly, there just isn't enough Reddit for me to relay all the stories. My number one however is ...
It's move in day. The worst day of the year. Hundreds upon hundreds of students coming to get their books all at once. Most freshman accompanied by their parents. This one lady marches up to the desk pushing other customers aside and dragging her mortified looking son along by the hand. She then demands that I tell her how she gets her son's books.
I tell her the best way for your son to get his books is to use his class schedule and go find them himself, as he will need to do this every semester moving forward. The Aisles are alphabetical and the courses arranged numerically once your in the right aisle.
She tells me that she doesn't believe her son is capable of doing that. Now at the time I didn't expect to be staying as the manager of the department or employed by the university so with nothing to loose ...
I said "Then your son isn't capable of succeeding in college." And she lost it. Absolutely started flipping out screaming that I called her son stupid. After her rage I said.
"I'm sorry mam ... but you're the one who suggested to me that your son is incapable of using the alphabet and numbers to preform a simple matching task. I was just going off of the information you provided." She stared at me. "In other words, I'm pretty sure you're the one who just called you son stupid when you told me that he is incapable of accomplishing a kindergarten level skill."
She throws another fit and then smashes the schedule into the kid's hand. He looks like he wants to die. She points off toward the shelves and tell him that she will be here if he needs her. Then she turns and glares at me, with a "we'll see." look. I wish her a nice day and go back to my office and continue to observe the chaos of move in day.
Kid found his books in five minutes and tried to sneak out without her noticing. Sadly her hover skill was greater than his sneak. She spotted him headed out the door and ran after him screaming his name.
#19
A mother at a university parent session explained how her son enjoyed reading before bed and would occasionally leave his light on.
Being the considerate mother that she was, she didn't want to call to make sure he'd turned out his lights, since that might wake him.
So she wanted to know if there someone at the university could check on him each night.
#20
Had my students do a short research project on genetic modifications (not focused on food only). 5 questions: what is it, how is it done, potential good, potential bad, your opinion. The parent made their student erase the potential good and write "there is no good reason, have you not seen Jurassic Park: Lost World" and "genetic modifications are the work of Satan." Sad thing is, the student and parents both were against genetic modifications but not for the same reasons. I wish I was in a position to say something but unfortunately I'm not. How dare their student use research and data to come to a conclusion in science and not a fictional movie and religious text.
#21
I had arranged to play golf with a few mates when we all about 18. One guy gets driven to the course by his mum, but rather than just being dropped off, she parked the car and decided to wait with us until it was our turn to tee off the 1st hole. And then she decides that she better stay and walk with us for the entire 4+ hours of golf.
A guy in the next group sees what's going on, and intervenes, saying "Hey lady, non-players are not permitted on the course, so you'd better just go home and let your son play golf with his buddies in peace".
#22
My friend is dating a girl who is required, by her parents, to skype them every night at 9 pm sharp. She is 21 and in her fourth year of college.
#23
Not the most embarrassing thing, but the only one I feel okay sharing:
She would constantly go through my phone and read everything when I wasn't around, and I'd find out when she brought up embarrassing information in front of friends, family, a crush. Once she found my crush on Facebook and messaged him a long-a*s message that I don't even want to know what it said (all I know is that he was super uncomfortable when he asked me if I knew she had contacted him).
As for the worst part about it: I never felt a sense of freedom. I always felt watched. I was never a bad kid, but I felt violated every day and night. I felt like I never had my own sense of self.
#24
Probably an acquaintance of mine. I have posted about it on Reddit before but he is pretty bad, so I'll share it again. This guy "knows" that his son is going to be a great NFL quarterback. The kid turned 10 recently and is a decent player, but his father has him work with different trainers and spend hours each day practicing. He takes vitamins, has a special diet, and isn't allowed to play other sports because his dad wants him to focus completely on football and doesn't want to risk an injury playing another sport that would sideline him for football. He can't have sleepovers or do any normal kid things. I know for a fact that the kid has told his father that he doesn't want to play anymore, but the dad doesn't care. He says that as a parent, he has to do what is best for his kid. My sons play sports too and they don't always want to go to practice, so I understand making them stick with something they signed up for. My kids know that they have to finish out a season, but I am perfectly fine if they don't want to sign up the next season. I just don't understand why someone would continue to sign their kid up for something they clearly do not want to do. It's a situation that I can't see ending well, honestly.
#25
A girl showed up to apply for a job. Her mom asked for the application. I ignored the mom and motioned for the girl to step forward and I asked her some questions. She looked at her Mom hesitantly and her mom told her to answer the questions. It was not a good sign that she didn't know if she could speak with us. She was 19 and this was going to be her first job. We decided to give her a shot. Her first shift it quickly became apparent that she was not going to work out and we let her go. The dad showed up the next day inquiring about why his baby girl couldn't work there. The girl looked so embarrassed, I felt bad for her but you could tell the parents never gave her any freedom to be herself or build up any sort of experience, life experience or work experience.
#26
I was hired to "tutor" a home schooled 11 year old who was adopted from peru. He was home schooled because he was too rambunctious apparently.
His mom had the day off once and observed our lesson as she cooked lunch. He dropped his pencil on the floor, went to the bathroom, and came back. He starts reading from the text book and his mother notices the pencil on the floor. She faces me and says "can you help him pick up his pencil, PLEASE!?"
Was the pencil too heavy for an 11 year old to retrieve from the floor? Is he supposed to go the entire lesson thinking the pencil has miraculously disappeared from the universe and not look for it himself?
It was a perfect example of the fact that if you treat kids like theyre dumb, theyll behave that way.
#27
I work in childcare. Little boy fell over outside and scraped his face. Nothing too serious but his parents brought in a helmet and asked to make sure he wore it at all times while outside.
#28
I had a friend growing up whose mother was very protective. The father not so much, but she was so bad that my parents called her mama hawk. I invited him to my 10th birthday party, which was at a laser tag place. His mom came, which was fine, but then while we were playing laser tag, she stood with him the whole time. Didn't play, just stayed with him. Really? What was she protecting him from?
He turned out surprisingly normal and now lives 1,000+ miles away from her. I'm not sure how she does with that.
#29
My friend decided to take the bus with me one day, and while walking there his dad's car followed, then he parked, bought him a snack at the bagel shop, and then proceeded to follow the bus with his car when my friend and I jumped in. The ride was about 15-20 minutes.
#30
Eventual friend in hs, his mother was there every day, all day. Was a private school, day student. She walked him to class, rehearsal, music lessons, the freaking bathroom. Took the entire year to get her to stop, he ended up hiding from her. This kid was brilliant. Perfect sat scores, accomplished musician, amazing actor. We gave him his first soda, gum etc. Father was an ex priest who screwed the organist. Mother was a ex-nun. Both bats**t crazy. We were all so proud when he went to college 800 miles away. Then it went very bad.
Originally the story was he committed s*****e, which made no sense. Everything was going his way. Had full scholarship, escaped his parents and even more amazing, a beautiful girlfriend (he redefined awkward). His mother kept insisting it was m****r, that the mafia had k**led him, but nobody believed her in the slightest. Fast forward a few years and a few unrelated criminal investigations aaaand yeah it was the Russian mob. Apparently his gf's father took a strong dislike to him when he said something unforgivable (again, he redefined awkward) and had him k**led.
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