My Mom works for student housing at University of North Carolina - Charlotte, and tells me about many of the parents she has to deal with. I guess there is a term "Helicopter Parents", because they have to hover over their children, making sure that they are protected in every way.

She told me about how one student got stressed out and set fire to his dorm room, and when the parents found out, they immediately hired a lawyer to represent their kid (to protect his future). The college was expecting to hold the student financially responsible for his actions, but his parents immediately "lawyered-up".

She says that she frequently gets call from parents, constantly defending their children when they break something or do something wrong. It's never the kid's fault, is the common theme.

I have to wonder.. what happens to these kids when they are cast out into the world, have to get a job and figure things out on their own. Are their parents going to call their boss and complain because their kid is being overworked and underpaid?