History of Family Involvement As long as I can remember, my family has been involved in many of the decisions I have made. This involvement has ranged from welcomed advice to unsolicited directions. It appears as though this is a common thread among my peers and I, which strongly contrasts the perception of family involvement in my parents’ childhoods. I have many theories as to why this difference might have occurred. My parents grew up in completely different environments, so they may well represent most people, and their family involvement, of that generation. My father is from a suburban town, while my mom grew up in New York City. Both of them describe their childhood as a carefree, simple time in which they both independently organized their activities with friends, managed their schoolwork, and applied to college. This varies greatly from my generation’s childhood in which life was filled with extracurricular activities, rapid technological advances, and constant family involvement.
One reason for this increased involvement may have to do with technology. When kids were late getting home from school, had a change in schedule, or wanted to hang out with friends, they could not call on the cellphone or text their parents. However, now parents and kids are constantly checking in with each other throughout the day, making involvement in school affairs a lot easier. Parents’ accessibility into their child’s lives may have resulted in the creation of the term, "helicopter parents." This term describes parents who analyze every task their child is faced with making. With technology this has become an easy feat. With increased technology has brought increased communication among all family members. Siblings are now able to easily communicate, especially when one is away at college and the others are still home in middle or high school. Activities and hobbies are easily shared, as well as opportunities for asking and receiving academic or social advice. As compared to my parents’ childhood, we are in constant communication with everyone in our family whenever possible. As parents have more involved themselves in their child’s lives, the pressure to perform well and succeed has also increased. While many people are still pursuing the professional paths that have consistently been measures of success, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, there are many more available opportunities for careers. With the numerous opportunities, comes great pressure from parents to make sure these creative career paths still provide success. |