The last few decades have witnessed the rise of helicopter moms—mothers who hover over their children—taking an often excessive interest in their development, encouraging their academic and social success, sometimes even calling a college professor to complain about a grade received by their student. Tiger mom has become a household name for mothers who push their children to excel in school. This same phenomenon occurs with stage moms placing young children with modeling agencies and entering them into beauty pageants. So keen is this desire for their children’s success that some parents have gone so far as to bribe college officials to win them entrance to their schools.
With the exception of those who employ bribery, such moms might consider making Mary Pinckney Hardy MacArthur—“Pinky” to her family and friends—the godmother of helicopter parenting.
