What's Wrong with Being an Overprotective Parent?

Straighforward and vivacious guest blogger TV host Wendy Williams leads the most interesting conversation on proudly being an overprotective parent of her only child, a son who is about to turn nine. On this mom video, Wendy, a best-selling author, radio host and media personality, calls on our own beloved mom bloggers to weigh in whether they allow sleep-overs, group play dates or unsupervised bike rides. Listen to our fresh, out-of-the-box mom stories.

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Showing the Latest of 58 Comments

Bobbie
5 months ago

Ive been called an overprotective mom and I don't see nothing wrong with wanting to know your child is safe in any environment.because even family members can do harm to your child. I love my kids and I wouldn't be able to live with myself If something bad happened to my kids because I wasn't doing the best I can in helping them see dangers all around them and how to deal with all the peer pressure their is out there.I just want my kids to grow up healthy but cautious of their surroundings. I don't think being over protective is a bad thing it just shows your kids that you'll always be there to help them along the way!

abesquared
1 years ago

The comment about not letting her kid walk on grass is germaphobia and is a whole other issue. The comment about Prozac is sadly uneducated. The comment about rednecks is so out of this world judgmental I can't even comprehend it. I made a choice as soon as my kids started moving that I would not live my life or rule theirs out of fear. We have come to believe that anything that could happen WILL happen. The news has convinced us that everyone is a pervert. Did you know men can't sit beside an unaccompanied minor on a plane in Europe anymore? (EEK an unaccompanied minor on a plane?!) Do we really want to teach our children that men are evil? I think you have all gone off the deep end and I don't know how you manage to get out of bed and go out into the big bad world every day. You must be the ones who put your toddlers in helmets and wrap their knees in bubble wrap. Grow up and use your brains. Crime statistics are DOWN since the 70's, it just seems that they are up because of 24 hour world-wide news.

knittygrrl
1 years ago

These moms are totally screwed up..... so, you're "perfect" enough for kids to come to YOUR house, but no one else it good enough to host your precious darlings? I REALLY resent the remark, "I don't know if she's taking Prozac and then driving the car." THAT IS SUCH AN OBNOXIOUS COMMENT. Anyone who knows the first thing about treatment of depression knows that taking Prozac (or Zoloft, or Wellbutrin, or a HOST of other medications) does not impare your driving. Girlfriends, a prescription of Xanax might do you all a lot of good.... My overprotective, judgmental mother had to take Valium before she had some dental work done, and I drove her home after the procedure. THAT ONE AFTERNOON, the afternoon after she had taken a Valium, was the NICEST afternoon I've spent with my mother in my entire life, and I'm almost 40. Don't let your children feel this way. LIGHTEN UP. Let them grow to trust themselves. You'll thank yourself later. Do you really want to have your 20- or 30-something children living at home, and be raising your grandchildren for them? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS! I KNOW SOMEONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO!!!! Overprotective parents!!!!

abesquared
1 years ago

I think overprotective moms need to remember their job: we're not raising children, we're raising adults. Kids can't learn that something will hurt them just by you telling them; they've got to fall off the slide a couple of times. Plus, children gain confidence when they're allowed to do something on their own. What are you telling them when you say they can't do something? They're not good enough? They're not smart enough? I am the complete opposite of an over-protective parent. My kids have been walking the dog around the block since they were 5 & 7 and walking/riding to their friend's houses even younger. You have simply got to let go of the fear that someone or something bad is around every corner. MOST people are good. Do you want to teach your kids that most people are bad? What if you get separated in a store? They're already going to be scared because they can't find Mommy, but if they're looking at the people around them as a bunch of monsters, that will be terrifying. The simple truth is that our children will get bumps and bruises and yes even knock out teeth or break a bone and it will happen whether we're there or not. The comment about not letting her kid walk on grass

momma0f2
1 years ago

We live in a bad time. Just turn on your TV. Kids being abducted, molested killed etc. need I say more really need I. You have reality tv shows called 16 and pregnant, How to catch a predator. Yeah Im an overprotective mom and you know what I should be. I know the area I live in and their isn't one single reason that I shouldn't be. Im overprotective and I'm proud of it. Don't get me wrong, My kids don't get in trouble and are told "because I said so" Things are explained to them " Mommy and Daddy don't KNOW them, that's why you can't go with them, that's why you can't have a piece of candy from them" You have to teach them at some point yeah I have to let them go and learn on their own but their is nothing out their that say's I can't teach them how to recognize danger and things that aren't right before I do that. At every age from birth to adult hood a child needs their parent/s to teach them something and protect them from something so sue me for making sure I can teach them before they have to learn it the hard way. Overprotectiveness does not automatically mean That overcorrectivness or any other sort of descipline comes with it. you sit with your child and explain the reasoning behind the decision.

Lovebeecharmer
1 years ago

Don't come after me with torches and pitchforks but I'm 17 and can provide a different point of view. I was "overprotected" and had "strict" parents and I do realize that it was in their best interest that they did this. But overcorrecting leads to problems. Please don't lead your child into thinking they are worth nothing if not perfect. And use PRODUCTIVE RESTRICTIONS and DISCIPLINE. I would get in trouble and my mom never explained why I don't do this...or why I can't do that...or how to avoid it again...or what to do instead...I learned nothing except how to get away with things more easily. Keeping kids safe is a must, but when they do mess up...give them the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and weak judgements.

Lovebeecharmer
1 years ago

Hmm. Well don't come after me with torches and pitchforks but I am nearly 18 and my mom was extremely overprotective. It got to the point where I lashed out because 1) she never reasoned with me 2) I never learned a lesson 3) She never gave me the opportunity to learn things on my own. I was so sheltered early on and then into my teen years that when faced with situations I could not handle, I fell through the floor and I blamed her. I admit I was a handfull, BUT the one thing that irked me was that she would get mad at me for sleeping by her bedroom door on the floor (at 6 years old) and never asked WHY...she just locked me in my room. I never learned a lesson from punishments. Productive restrictions please. Why do we not touch the hot grill? Because Mom will send you to your room? WRONG! Because Mom doesn't want you getting hurt. Explaining these things will help Mom's avoid conflict and confusion. Or maybe I was just in a weird family structure.

molly.norman
1 years ago

I come from a family of twelve. My parents let us sleep over as young as four (sometimes as young as two). They TRUSTED their friends to let us ride in their cars, and have let kids sleep over with fiends whose parents smoked or had locked up liquor. Sleepovers and play dates went both ways: if I could stay the night with a friend, that friend could stay the night with me. The only thing close I can think of is my mom did not like that one of my friends' parents smoked a lot. I was still able to stay the night, but she worried about me getting sick. That was about as far as "overprotective" as she got in that regard. The only friend I was NOT allowed to stay the night with, it was because her dad was a known drunk and could get mean. Legitimate reason. Even now, my siblings play outside unsupervised. They know to look both ways before crossing the street, and to let my mom know when they are going out and where they will be. And my mom will admit her faults and where she failed. One child has gotten into drugs and trouble with the law. She is an adult now, and my mom does feel some remorse. Does she entirely blame herself? No. This kid made some bad choices, and my mom did all she could to teach her right and wrong, and spent a lot of time and money devoted to getting her help. People need to realize that you CANNOT always protect your children, that they will NOT always grow up the way you want them to, that your kids ARE going to screw up---some more than others---and some things WILL be your fault, but NOT everything. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink" and all. If you cannot trust other parents---your friends---with your children, what is that teaching them? That their own friends are not trustworthy? "But -I- am not like that." How do we know for sure

Kacie
1 years ago

wow, these moms are totally Coo-Coo for coco puffs.

rebecca.cleland
1 years ago

I think you Moms need to get a clue! I raised 3 daughters, and am now GrammaOfFive+1 and one on the way. 2 of my grands live with me, 5 & 4. They play outside in the huge back yard, all by themselves, with no supervision. They are too young to walk to school by themselves alone, but walk with an adult often to school. My kids walked to and from school, and went with friends out of my sight from the time they were 7. As long as they were with at least 1 other trusted friend they could go. I stayed home and prayed. But before they ever set foot out of my sight, they were trained, taught, instructed, praised, disciplined and loved. I spied sometimes, and other times they were not allowed to go somewhere 'cause Momma got a bad feeling. The girls learned to accept that. Momma's PLEASE loosen up. Instead of sittin' on your kids so hard, start to teach them how to handle themselves in unusual situations. I wonder if you so insecure about letting them out of your sight with others because you realize you are not giving your children proper instruction? BTW, back in the day, I was considered an over protective Mom. It is because I always knew where my kids were going, and who the were with, in the days before cell phones. My "story" for how I overprotected my kids was, "They are in my care until they are 18 yrs old. It is my job to raise them so they do not NEED me to Mommy them anymore. I take/took the role of mentor/friend/Mom when they turned 18, and advisor at 21. They still like me, they still "hang out" with me. They have made big mistakes, but I am there to put 'em back together again, or help when needed. I agree to screen their friends parents. I always did, and most parents appreciate the fact that you took the time to get to know them. The ones who did not, were the ones my kids did not spend time with, 'cept at my house. I have more opinions. But I need to be done now.

What's Wrong with Being an Overprotective Parent?

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