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Parenting is an ever-changing state. It’s not only the opinions around breastfeeding and birthing that have changed recently, but the way we talk too. Here we take a look at a few terms parents in the know from around the world are using.
Snowplough parents
Not that we have much experience of the snow-removing apparatus in SA, but local parents also seem to be taking up this trend of creating an obstacle-free world for their children. By clearing the path ahead of them, these parents ensure that nothing challenges their offspring’s happiness by also dodging the challenges and obstacles that create responsible adults (we might add).
Helicopter parents
Another popular term for modern-day moms, by hovering over their children’s lives, helicopter parents take care of every minute detail. They micromanage every move their mites make, from scripted playdates to chock-a-block extramurals for tots. These parents are also (aptly) referred to as “smothers”. Helicopter parents are also always present, or hovering.
Kidult
Somewhere between the confusing lines of teenager and adult, the kidult has a few more years to mess around and avoid having to get a real job before settling down to life’s responsibilities. Neither a kid nor an adult, or possibly both kid and adult – what can go wrong, right?
Boomerang kids
If you’ve ever played with a boomerang, you’ll know how hard it is to get rid of it. Coined to describe children who return home after university, the term boomerang kids describes those, unable or unwilling to fend for themselves, who return to the place they’re thrown from. The term is now used to describe any able-bodied adult still living with his parents. Let’s hope this trend dies before our little ones are all grown up!
