For over a decade we’ve been attempting to understand Millennials and their relationships with their helicopter parents.  As a former latchkey kid, maybe I’m jealous of this dynamic; my own parents were fairly absent from a host of major and daily milestones in my development. Now I am a proud and somewhat bitter GenXer who is a bit fed up with Boomer narcissism and Millennial entitlement and having to see members of my generation serve as the managers in the work place caught in the middle of this overindulgence.

The helicopter is still hovering. Take a moment to see where and how.  Ranging from insane to the hilarious, here are some examples:

More parents helping adult children get homes, cars

USA Today 2/2/2012

“They’re seeing their kids struggle,” Welborn says. “And they’re a generation for whom upward mobility has just been an expectation, so they’re realizing they have to sacrifice to make sure their children aren’t on the street.”

He recounted a case in which a retired widowed client nearly depleted her retirement savings to buy her daughter a car. As a result, the mother had to come out of retirement and start working again.

Helicopter Parent Hover In The Workplace

NPR, All Things Considered 2/7/2012 (read article or listen to story).

“Michigan State University surveyed more than 700 employers seeking to hire recent college graduates. Nearly one-third said parents had submitted resumes on their child’s behalf, some without even informing the child. One-quarter reported hearing from parents urging the employer to hire their son or daughter for a position. Four percent of respondents reported that a parent actually showed up for the candidate’s job interview.”

Check out the Sidebar about Books on How to Raise Your Adult Child

SNL “You Can Do Anything” Skit with Daniel Radcliffe that spoofs Millennial high self-esteem

(click link or image to watch video on NBC’s website)

IFC’s Portlandia Helicopter Parents

(click link or image to watch video on hulu)

Millennials and their parents be they Boomer Helicopter or Xer Stealth are our co-purchasing target audience for traditional undergraduate, so learn to understand them all better and have a few laughs along the way.

Read more about our authors.  Jeff is the VP of the Consulting Division and also known as the “Apostle of Authenticity.” He crisscrosses the country speaking at conferences and working with our clients. He’s driven by a mission to inspire higher education executives and admissions offices to overthrow dead culture, embrace their authentic “DNA” and render engaging experiences.