first off, all parents are mental...it just comes with the territory. But I actually agree with most of the article. I have to admit to a bit of hovering at the playground, but it's not out of a fear of my child falling down or anything. It's because I'm afraid if I don't have my kids in my sight whenever we leave the house, some maniac will run off with them. My kids are pretty little though...maybe that will get better as they get older, but probably not. I'll just have to learn to let go.

Also, as far as preventing kids from failing, I agree that is not good for them. They need to learn how to handle failure. But you don't want a kid to feel like a failure all the time either. (And this is from someone about to graduate with a teaching degree) Kids need to experience failure, but they also need to succeed. A good parent or teacher will help them find areas they can succeed in, and teach them how to handle it when they don't.