Types of parents • To trophy or not
"Lawnmower parenting" is a relatively new term used to describe a parenting style that involves parents who go to great lengths to remove all obstacles and challenges from their child's life. It is also known as "snowplow parenting" or "bulldozer parenting."
Parents who exhibit this style of parenting are often described as being overprotective and overly involved in their child's life. They want to ensure that their child never experiences any kind of difficulty or hardship, and therefore, they go to great lengths to remove any obstacles that might come their child's way.
For example, a lawnmower parent might speak to their child's teacher to get them an extension on a project or intervene with their child's sports coach to ensure that their child gets more playing time. They may also hover over their child, micromanage their activities, and shield them from negative feedback or consequences.
While the intention of lawnmower parenting may be to protect their child, it can ultimately have negative consequences. By removing obstacles and challenges from their child's life, parents can prevent their child from developing important skills such as problem-solving, coping mechanisms, and resilience.
Additionally, lawnmower parenting can cause children to feel entitled and expect that things will always be easy for them. This can lead to difficulties in the future when the child is faced with real-world challenges that they are not prepared to handle.
It's important for parents to strike a balance between protecting their child and allowing them to experience challenges and setbacks. Encouraging a child to work through difficulties and failures can build their resilience, self-confidence, and independence.
