I can’t even write about this article because my eyes are stuck in disgusted eye-roll position. The Christian Science Monitor published a piece about spy cams (real-time cams) on college campuses that enable hyper moms and dads to keep an eye on their college kiddos.

The colleges view the spy cams as the parents wanting to “monitor an investment.” And they refer to the parents as “helicopter parents.” The rooftop cameras at most schools have been around for years, usually showing off a beautiful view of that particular campus, students walking through the quad between classes, etc. Those cameras are pretty innocuous. It’s the cameras at some schools that give website visitors full control over the cameras so they can zoom in on students and see what little Jimmy is up to that freak me out.

I’m aware that thus far (we hope) the cameras are showing public areas. Fine. I’m a mom, so I get it that mothers miss their kids. But I feel like my daughter’s day at pre-k is her damn day. She has to learn to swim her way through the school day and the social situations and the new experiences so she’ll be able to deal with reality someday when I’m not there. And when won’t I be there? I sure as hell hope I’ll be miles away and not watching her on a website when she’s away at college. I hope I’ll be letting her have her adventure and find her way without the bizarrely creepy feeling that her mom is watching every move she makes. I have the heebie jeebies so badly right now. I really think that parents need to learn to let go. I get it that the world is big and scary and that sometimes people go away and they don’t come back. But watching every move they make is perhaps not the best way to teach your kids to survive or to show them that you respect them and have some degree of confidence that they’ll be okay in the world without you.

Plus, kids aren’t stupid. They probably know damn well where all the cameras are, and I can guarantee they’ll only show you what they want you to see. Kids are smarter than a lot of parents give them credit for (especially the Big Brother ‘rents). Either let go of your kids or embrace the Orwellian lifestyle completely.

Posted by Alexa Harrington
College