Sunday is Mother’s Day and it’s time for those of us who have sacrificed, loved, cared for and smothered our kids to be honored. Yes. I said smothered. Some mothers have mastered this technique so well that their kids don’t have a clue how to deal with failure, disappointment, and pain.
Do you relate to this type of mother? My daughter does. She says it’s going to be her—right down to making sure her kids are the center of her universe and vice versa. We laugh about it, but her boys might not think it’s so funny.
So in an effort to help all those teens (and mothers) from celebrating another smother day, I’ve compiled my list of tell-tale smothering signs.
You might be a smotherer if . . .
- You incessantly text your teen during school to ask about __________ (you fill in the blank).
- You go on the college visit with them and ask questions about campus security on the walking tour.
- You send ________ (fill in the blank) to admissions officers to butter them up; and call to ask if they received them.
- You show up at school unannounced with __________________ (fill in the blank), embarrassing them in front of their peers.
- You call the coach because your teen didn’t make the team.
- You spend the night in his dorm room for the first week of school.
- You move close to campus so that you can be available.
- You drive hundreds of miles to college to deliver _________________ (fill in the blank) because she called and said she “had to have it”.
- You fill out their college application for them (because they can’t possibly do it on their own).
- You call the mother of the son who broke up with your daughter to ask why he did it.
Are these extreme? For some, yes. But all of these are true stories, based on talking with parents and admissions counselors. Is it hard to believe? Probably not in today’s world of over parenting. If you see yourself in any of these scenarios it might be time to join our support group of smotherers: Hi, my name is Suzanne, and I’m a smotherer!
Happy Mother’s (Smother) Day!
Read Wendy’s post: Embracing your almost adult children on Mother’s Day
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Wednesday’s child may be full of woe but Wednesday’s Parent can substitute action for anxiety. Each Wednesday Wendy and I will provide parent tips to get and keep your student on the college track. It’s never too late or too early to start!
The bonus is on the fourth Wednesday of each month when Wendy and I will host Twitter chat #CampusChat at 9pm ET/6pm PT. We will feature an expert on a topic of interest for parents of the college-bound.
Wednesday’s Parent will give twice the info and double the blog posts on critical parenting issues by clicking on the link at the end of the article from parentingforcollege to pocsmom.com and vice versa.