Dear Parents,

We, the Central Times Editorial Board, want to respectfully reach out to you and acknowledge that we do not have your experience, but we wish to ask you for one simple request: let us fail.

Defined as “a style of parents who are over focused on their children” by Carolyn Daitch, Ph.D, helicopter parenting is an epidemic that affects almost everyone. On our staff, about a third of us said that, between both of our parents, we could call our parents “helicopter” or “tiger” parents from time to time. Our understanding of this topic comes from personal experience which is why we are writing to you, parents everywhere, asking you earnestly to let us live.

We want to begin by telling you that we understand why you can be overprotective. You tell us how you grew up, wandering the neighborhoods from dawn until dusk. Your parents had no idea where you were! Now, as adults, you reflect upon your childhood with shock and a “I can’t believe we were allowed to that!”

Your parents gave you too much freedom and you want to watch us, we get that. But now you have gone too far. You must let us fail! You can’t shield us from every danger in the world! We know you want to and your desire is justified. We appreciate your love and care.

However—and we’re going to be frank—we need to learn how to live. We know it is nerve-wracking to let us go. But this brings us to one of the lessons you’ve always taught us: taking risks is good. Stepping out of your comfort zone is okay. It is beneficial. So please step out of your comfort zone and give us some freedom.

Every parent at Central has a child within four years or less of going to college. When we get to college, we need to know how to function. We can’t have you doing our laundry or emailing our professors when a grade is put in incorrectly. We would rather be aware of how to do these things before we go to college.

You are raising adults, not children, as one of our editorial board member’s parents say. We cannot be dependent on you forever.

This is why we ask you: please let us go out. Please make us fight our own battles. Please let us get our own grades. Let us succeed. Let us fail. But most of all, please let us live.

And you know what? Nineteen out of nineteen members of our Editorial Board agree that if you give us some space, we will all be more likely to come to you when something is wrong in our lives. We will not be afraid of your judgment or your wrath. We will have a better relationship with you. You will be happier and so will we. So please, give us a shot.

Sincerely,

The Central Times Editorial Board