Do You "Baby" Your Child?

When 27-year-old Pamela left overseas, she felt crippled.

She's unable to run a washer and dryer, iron her clothes, cook simple foods, or reconcile her budget. Back home, she never learned to do chores around the house or other basic practical stuffs.

Her Mom did all for her and she got used to it.

"Infantilize" is a psychological term which means what you may be thinking now. In less technical terms, it refers to a parent's act to "baby" his or her child even past an appropriate age.

Parents, mostly mothers, who overprotect their children have been found to produce fearful, dysfunctional kids.

As Dr. Sylvia Rimm, author of "Smart Parenting: How to Parent so Children Will Learn," wrote of the power wielded by children who are too dependent as a result of overprotection. She writes:

"Because they are kind and caring and the children's symptoms of power (tears and requests for pity) are very persuasive, parents ... continue to protect them, unintentionally stealing from them their opportunities to cope with challenge."

Of course, parents often mean well. They certainly don't intend to harm their children.

But despite good intentions, their "infantilizing" paralyzes the children. It robs them of the joys of struggle and achievement.

Struggle is psychologically and emotionally good. Resistance, delaying of gratification, and challenges are good.

When our children don't have to struggle or experience obstacles, they don't grow up. A child crippled with such will find life cruel and depressing.

It's not our children's fault!

They were not brought into the world to raise Mom and Dad! We parents influenced them first. We made the family rules while they're growing up.

We may say our "infantilized" children didn't do anything wrong. We did.

Next step?

We parents begin with courage, honor, determination. Resolute spirit. Bountiful wisdom and faith to take corrective action before it's too late.

Let our children learn to tie their own shoes. Don't bail them out every time.

Are your kids (still) running the show?

Are they truly growing up or regressing?