I am not a parent. Nor do I profess to have any insight into what I think is probably one of the hardest jobs on the planet. Despite this, I found this article in Time to be really interesting. Since, as I stated, I don’t have kids, it was really some of the trends in older “children” that were the most shocking to me. This statement about made me fall out of my chair:
Employers like Ernst & Young were creating "parent packs" for recruits to give Mom and Dad, since they were involved in negotiating salary and benefits.
Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
Several years ago, I heard some anecdotal evidence from friends who work in admissions offices at universities that parents were taking it to a new level. Phase one seemed to be mom/dad calling the university to check on the status of an application. I remember being in high school and being told by guidance counselors that any contact with the university should be handled by me, or else schools would think I wasn’t a responsible/capable young adult. Sure we consulted with our parents on what to say, questions to ask, advice etc. But that was really the time when you became your own spokesperson. But ok, kids these days…they are busy, you know? Maybe they just couldn’t get around to it. I'll let them have that one. Phase two wasn’t so much an escalation as it was rocket ship to space: parents calling professors directly to ask about projects and grades! Holy Hell! My parents were more likely to call the Pope than they were one of my professors! That blew my mind. But this?! Being involved in salary negotiations? This. … I mean. …. I don’t. … I mean. …
Nope. I’m at a loss for words.
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3 comments:
There comes the time when you have to kick them off the nest. How confident and independent the "child" has become is important in selecting the time. Still, college?
i saw the same article and had to read that part about "parent packs" twice.
Right up there with the baseball dad that wanted me to give him his son's schedule so he could call the profs. Um, if your SON won't give you the schedule, then I won't either.
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