Dr. Jennifer Hartstein was recently featured as a contributor in this article, originally posted on FastCompany, written by Gwen Moran.
Tiger parents. Helicopter parents. Snowplow parents. Bubble-wrap parents. While there are seemingly endless names for parents who get overly involved in their children’s lives, a confluence of the worst tendencies is alleged in the college admission scam that made headlines last week.
It’s easy to direct ire at wealthy people who inherently bestow advantages on their children simply because of their station and resources. Exceptional schools, tutors, and trainers, not to mention food and housing security and supportive households, to name a few, can do wonders for a child’s well-being, academic performance, and other skills and attributes. For some parents, that’s just not enough.
“Parents want the best for their children. This is not a new concept. They want to see their child be the best version of themselves that they can be. Sometimes, though, in order to do this, parents will push any obstacle out of the way to make it happen,” says psychologist Jennifer Hartstein, author of Princess Recovery: A How-To Guide to Raising Strong Empowered Girls Who Can Create Their Own Happily Ever Afters.
