• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Skip to Main content
  • A
  • A
  • A
  • Login
  • Register

Disabled Parenting Project

An online community by and for parents and prospective parents with disabilities

The Disabled Parenting Project is part of the:

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • The Team
    • FAQs
  • Directory
    • Submit a Listing
  • Library
    • Submit a Resource
    • Resources
    • Disabled Parents in the News
    • Podcasts
  • Community
    • Blog
    • DPP Blogger Guidelines
    • Twitter Chats
    • Interviews of Parents with Disabilities
    • How to Videos and Photos
  • Marketplace
    • Product Reviews
    • Adaptive Parenting Products
    • Buy, Sell & Trade
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Blog / Disabled Parenting / The “Real” Reason I’m A Helicopter Mom

The “Real” Reason I’m A Helicopter Mom

March 22, 2016 by Holly Bonner 2 Comments

Image of mother and her two daughters sitting on a blanket in the grass.

Helicopter mom. If you’re a millenial parent, then surely you’ve heard term. Those of us bestowed with this less than charming title are given it because we tend to “hover” over our children in public, swooping in to rescue them at the first sign of danger.

Venture over to any public playground and you will see a clear division between two types of mothers – the “heli’s” – those who helicopter, and the “non-heli’s” – those who don’t.

I am a “heli”, a self-proclaimed helicopter mom.

I am my children’s shadow. You will never catch me warming a bench when I take my daughters to the park. You will never see me looking at my cell phone as they play on the swings. I stand at attention, practically on top of my girls, nervously wondering if I made the right decision to allow them to climb a ladder to reach the top of the slide.

Other moms sit in judgement of me. I can hear them at the park. “Why don’t you just let them play by themselves?” “C’mon, she’s a big girl, she can do it.” “Are you a pilot, because you sure do like to fly that helicopter?”

They have no idea why I “need” to be right next to my daughters – because they don’t know my blindness only allows me to see about 10 to 15 feet in front of me.

These judgmental parents have no clue what it took for me to pack two toddlers up in a double stroller and cross a major intersection just to get to that park. They have no idea how badly I would love to let my kids run loose on the playground with only minimal supervision. These parents don’t know how much I would enjoy sitting on a park bench, soaking up the spring breeze and maybe having a chance to sip coffee.

That, however, is not in the cards when you’re a legally blind mother.

With vision in only one eye, I need to make sure that my kids are close enough that I can “see” where they are at all times. I need to carefully tread through the playground, making sure I don’t step on another child or trip over a lingering toy. I am my daughters mother and it’s my responsibity (not yours) to ensure they are safe when they play.

At times, my disability forces me to helicopter parent and I am okay with that.

I know I do my absolute best to provide my children with a well-rounded childhood. Having me for a mother can pose some logistical difficulties, but their safety, especially at this rambunctious toddler stage, is my top priority. There are countless ways I promote socialization and independence beyond the playground and I highly doubt having their mother stand beside them on a see-saw will create a need for a therapeutic intervention in the future.

As my daughters mature and become more cognizant of my blindness; we will discover ways to have experiences together where I may not have to be quite so on top of them. For now, being a helicopter mom in certain instances suits me just fine.

The next time you sit in judgement of another parent on that park bench, ask yourself “could there be another reason this mom is staying so close to their child?”

Look at me. See me. I carry a white cane. I pull my double stroller behind me. My daughters wear bells on their shoes for me to hear them. I don’t think you need to be Matlock to figure out I’m not your typical mother.

And if you find yourself still unable to get past your curiosity with regards to my helicopter parenting, how about you get off that comfy park bench and come on over and talk to me? Take the time to hear the reason for my parenting choices.

This helicopter mother loves her children just as much as that playground benchwarmer. I’m not asking you to adopt my parenting style; I’m just asking you to respectfully understand my disability plays a role in “how” I parent to ensure my children’s physical well-being.

 

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • LinkedIn
  • Print
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Skype

Filed Under: Disabled Parenting Tagged With: adapting, blind mom, disabled mom, helicopter parenting, playground

Avatar

About Holly Bonner

Holly Bonner is a Staten Island based psychotherapist and Director of Education & Outreach for IlluminArt Productions. A wife and mother of two daughters, Holly became legally blind in 2012 after battling breast cancer. She navigates motherhood relying on help from modern technology, a white cane, and her sixth sense provided by eyes in the back of her head! Her website, blindmotherhood.com, chronicles her adventures in parenting and provides useful information for all mommies. Holly lives by the mantra that even without vision, you should never lose sight of life, love and laughter.

Follow Holly:
Website – http://www.blindmotherhood.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/blindmotherhood
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/blindmotherhood
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/blindmotherhood
Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/blindmotherhood

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarJenelle Landgraf says

    March 24, 2016 at 1:19 am

    Holly, I LOVE this post! I can completely relate to this with my 2 little ones. Sometimes I just call a spade a spade, and look right at the other parents and say with a laugh, “Yes I know I am a hovering mother!” Last week, I had a terrible moment when I lost sight of my 2 year old as I was chatting with my 1st grader about her day. He ran into the street and luckily all the moms picking up their kids after school were driving slow and stopped long enough for me to reach him. Toddlers can move so fast! I love this website and look forward to exploring all the resources.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. The "Real" Reason I'm A Helicopter Mom | Blind Motherhood says:
    March 23, 2016 at 11:42 am

    […] Out My Guest Post For the Disabled Parenting […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • I Fried an Egg
  • As the ADA Turns 30, It’s Time to Give It Wheels
  • The ADA, Parenthood, and Empowerment
  • Growing up with the ADA
  • Missing my Daughter: Reflections from a Disabled Dad During the Coronavirus

Tags

ableism accessibility ADA adapting adult child advocacy amputee baby babywearing blind blind mom breastfeeding carrie ann lucas children Contest cooking daughter disability disabled child disabled dad disabled mom family friends help holiday holidays home household infant life muscular dystrophy personal care attendant play playground potty training reflections school school age child shopping society son thanks toddler wheelchair working mom

Footer

Additional Links

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Medical and Legal Disclaimer

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

© 2021 · Disabled Parenting Project ·

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.