Is it just ME?

Or are ‘helicopter’ parents ruining kids’ careers?

I WAS at a dinner with the wife of a famous TV sports presenter. She is astonished by how many parents she barely knows at the school gates sidling up to ask if their child could do work experience with her husband.

As his gate-keeper, my friend politely, but firmly, makes it clear that he is much more likely to be impressed by their child if they ask him themselves.

In fact, this wise fellow makes a point of not giving a child a look-in unless they leave their parents out of it.

I was sceptical about the existence of so-called ‘snowflakes’, and still object to the term, but there is no doubt ‘helicopter’ parents — who take an excessive, overprotective interest in their child’s life — exist in swarms and are not doing their offspring any favours.

A study last week suggested overbearing parents harm their children’s emotional wellbeing. Who knew?

The other day, a CEO I know