As itsmemattchung pointed out, I bet there are cultural differences. Having two children who are now "adults", I would offer thoughts (and I am a strange being for sure).
I was not a helicopter parent, but certainly more protective than my parents. How many scrapes, stitches, and broken things I had, I can not even count. My children, zero. But I feel in a way I was/am much more fearless than my children.
Money, money, money money... money. I do not know your financial position, but it takes a lot of money to raise kids. I would advise to not worry about it in front of them, or make it a topic in front of them (except for learning events like saving, not overspending, etc). However, START SAVING NOW. Bills fall out of nowhere all the time for the kids.
Be nice. Never ever hit them for discipline. I spared the rod, and we have wonderful, thoughtful, kind children. My parents beat the crap out of me. I am not better for it.
Let them figure out what interests them, BUT, encourage them to master something they like. Few kids truly master things, or keep doing them for a long time. I think this is getting lost in society today. Encourage but do not force.
Let them explore in the sandbox of discovery that is life. The news is full of death and destruction, but the odds are low. They want to ride their bikes out, let them. Exploration will teach them their own internal boundaries.
That is probably enough blabbering on my part. You know what I really learned? That I don't know a damn thing about life.
I was not a helicopter parent, but certainly more protective than my parents. How many scrapes, stitches, and broken things I had, I can not even count. My children, zero. But I feel in a way I was/am much more fearless than my children.
Money, money, money money... money. I do not know your financial position, but it takes a lot of money to raise kids. I would advise to not worry about it in front of them, or make it a topic in front of them (except for learning events like saving, not overspending, etc). However, START SAVING NOW. Bills fall out of nowhere all the time for the kids.
Be nice. Never ever hit them for discipline. I spared the rod, and we have wonderful, thoughtful, kind children. My parents beat the crap out of me. I am not better for it.
Let them figure out what interests them, BUT, encourage them to master something they like. Few kids truly master things, or keep doing them for a long time. I think this is getting lost in society today. Encourage but do not force.
Let them explore in the sandbox of discovery that is life. The news is full of death and destruction, but the odds are low. They want to ride their bikes out, let them. Exploration will teach them their own internal boundaries.
That is probably enough blabbering on my part. You know what I really learned? That I don't know a damn thing about life.