The freedom indoors opposed to outdoors struck a note with
me. In the final chapter of Part II, Tapscott talks about how Boomer parents
interact with their Net Generation children. I was obviously able to relate on
a number of points made throughout the chapter but I never contemplated the
reasoning behind these concepts.
Firstly, the idea that I can tolerate my parents, regardless
of my inability to wander unsupervised, is due to my freedom through the
Internet. When outdoor adventure turns into online browsing, I am able to
venture anywhere while also staying in close proximity to my parents. This
capability has provided both my parents and myself with a comfortable living
arrangement and over time, a closer relationship. Although I’ve noticed this
same connecting among my friends, I never thought that helicopter parenting was
common.
As an only child, my parents are naturally protective, which
is understandable considering I’m all they have. To add to the smallness of my
family, my parents have never divorced and the cousins I do have I’m not
allowed to associate with because they’re bad influences. Naturally, this adds
a lot of pressure on my part and more attention than I care for. So when my
parents want to attend the college parent orientation or help me find job
applications and put in a good word, I assume this is only normal for my
family. That is, until I started reading Tapscott’s book and learning about the
increasingly common helicopter parent.
However, what surprises me is the idea that parents are more
protective and almost more controlling than ever before, but with a change in
the family structure and freedom of the internet, the net generation is closer
to them as a result. From personal experience, I admire my parents and
appreciate their help when they offer it. It doesn’t mean I’m lazy or can’t
take care of myself, but it’s rather a win-win situation for everyone. They get
the satisfaction of helping and I receive that help, which saves me time and
gives me further insight on opportunities I may have missed.
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