overparenting
Smothering with protection
Overparenting is excessive involvement in a child's life—managing, protecting, and intervening to a degree that prevents the child from developing independence or resilience.
The helicopter parent who hovers constantly and the snowplow parent who clears every obstacle exemplify overparenting.
Overparenting can leave kids unprepared for college and adulthood.
Overindulgent, protective treatment
- enmeshmentBoundary-blurring relational pattern
- suffocatingDepriving of air
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- overinvolvedToo deeply entangled
possessive · mollycoddling · pampering · overindulgent · babying · infantilizing · spoon-feeding · hand-holding
Excessive control over details
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- restrictiveImposing narrow boundaries
- strictRigorous, without flexibility
rules · boundaries · surveillance · monitoring · tracking · oversight · regimentation · permissions
Rotary-wing aircraft
- hoveringSuspended without support
- worryTroubled mental state
- fearfulFull of fright
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
apprehensive · vigilant · watchful · obsessive · paranoid · fretful · hypervigilant · catastrophizing
Making something feasible
- codependencyExcessive emotional reliance on another
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- immaturityUndeveloped condition
- relianceState of needing support
insecurity · passivity · clinging · needy · incompetence · unpreparedness · entitlement · fragility
Intrusive interference in others' concerns
- interferingIntruding in others' affairs
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
- nosyIntrusively curious
boundaryless · overstepping · enmeshed · invasive · presumptuous · imposing · checking · interrogating
Supportive care-giving
- upbringingChildhood care and training
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- caregivingAttending to dependents
- child-rearingRaising and nurturing offspring
mothering · fathering · raising · guardianship · custodial · maternity · paternity
coddling
Overindulgent, protective treatment
- enmeshmentBoundary-blurring relational pattern
- suffocatingDepriving of air
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
overinvolved · possessive · mollycoddling · pampering · overindulgent · babying · infantilizing · spoon-feeding · hand-holding · cushioning
micromanaging
Excessive control over details
- domineeringAggressively asserting control
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
- restrictiveImposing narrow boundaries
strict · rules · boundaries · surveillance · monitoring · tracking · oversight · regimentation · permissions · prohibitions
helicopter
Rotary-wing aircraft
nervous · apprehensive · vigilant · watchful · obsessive · paranoid · fretful · hypervigilant · catastrophizing · risk-averse
enabling
Making something feasible
- codependencyExcessive emotional reliance on another
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- immaturityUndeveloped condition
reliance · insecurity · passivity · clinging · needy · incompetence · unpreparedness · entitlement · fragility
meddling
Intrusive interference in others' concerns
- interferingIntruding in others' affairs
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- snoopingSecretly investigating others
nosy · boundaryless · overstepping · enmeshed · invasive · presumptuous · imposing · checking · interrogating · monitoring
nurturing
Supportive care-giving
- upbringingChildhood care and training
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- caregivingAttending to dependents
child-rearing · mothering · fathering · raising · guardianship · custodial · maternity · paternity
- parentingchild, mom, children, kids, childcare
- violationsviolation, infractions, infraction, breach, consent violation
overparentingneglect
Failure to provide care
child neglect · parental neglect · underparenting · abandonment · hands-off parenting
overparentingfree-range parenting
Child-rearing emphasizing independence
permissive parenting · unschooling · letting go · authoritative parenting
parent, parents, overbearing, parenting, parental, parentage, parenthood, parented, overprotective