College senior sparks debate on helicopter parenting after noticing parents walk freshmen to class

The debate over lighthouse or helicopter parenting is not new. While the former shapes children in making their own decisions, the latter also has its own advantages. However, some parents do go overboard in their bid to shower love on their beloved children. In one such scenario, some guardians are facing the heat from McNugget (@sharkiesharkerson) who shared her frustration on TikTok after seeing parents dropping freshmen off to their classes on the first day of college.

In a widely circulating video, the college senior went all out against helicopter parenting. Notably, in this form of caretaking, children's lives rely more on their parents, who micromanage their activities, decisions and experiences. Calling for a wholesome discussion, McNugget starts by saying, “I think we really need to have a conversation about this generation of helicopter parents because what the f***!”

“It's the first day of the semester... Tell me why I'm seeing freshmen with their parents walking them to class,” the senior continued. McNugget, who herself takes merely two classes, expressed shock over parents extending their stay to help children settle on campus. She further recalled not one or two such instances, but at least five different occasions.

This gesture, considered a duty by many parents, baffled the video creator. “It wasn't just one or two children. During my five-minute walk back to my car, I observed five students being accompanied to class by their parents, each carrying their backpacks,” she elaborated. The senior gave a detailed explanation for not liking the caretakers’ move by hinting at her own experiences.

“It baffles me because isn't the point of college to grow up, discover yourself and experience newfound independence? College should also be a time for learning and building a career,” McNugget added. The latter part of the footage showed the content creator not shying away from showing her disappointment toward helicopter parenting. She throws a question at those students: "So why is your mommy here walking you to class?"

According to McNugget, parents are supposed to be gone from the campus once the freshmen move into the dorms. “Tell your mom to take a hike,” she added, concluding her 52-second reel and sparking a discussion on social media. The footage has managed to garner some 57K views since being posted. Among the comments, @ambermercedes12 wrote, “I’m an academic advisor, and the number of adults in their 20s who still have their parents email me is growing exponentially. He’s 22. He can email me on his own, please.” Adding to it, @incognitostef remarked, “I have to send parents away during job interviews.” “Teachers have been saying this for years, but no one is listening,” expressed @blankusername76.

“The way my parents literally only helped me with my FAFSA every year and that was it! Lmao, they were like, ‘Sink or swim, baby,'” said @lindsran. A lighthouse parent, @emilyay0214 shared an anecdote: “My son is in the fifth grade and emails his teachers himself! He had to miss a day last week and took it upon himself to email all of them to get his assignments.”

You can follow McNugget (@sharkiesharkerson) on TikTok for more lifestyle and college educational content.