Helicopter Parents

I hear alot these days about "helicopter parents". These are parents that college admissions personnel say hover too closely,get too involved,stay too close. I surely don't want to be called that when my two pack their bags,load up the Jeep and head to new where abouts unknown at this time. But I do wonder..Who does the college call if he is very sick in the infirmary.Who do the police call when he has had the accident we have feared he would someday have.Who do they call when he is ask to make the big speech because he is an outstanding student.Who gets the call.Me and his dad. The two people who pay the bills,cheer him on,encourage him when he feels at a loss and push him on when he wants to give up. We get the call.Be it noon or midnight,we are the ones expected to show up,pick up the pieces or bring the camera for the picture of a lifetime.We are the ones.We have been hovering over this"project" for eighteen years.As he broke his nose, his scapula,two fingers,and his hand along with two concussions playing football,we have stood by with our hearts in our hands.As we bounced back and forth,fearing our backs would go out as he learned how to drive,and laughed until tears came late at night in our bed,flipping a coin to see who would drive with him the next day,we were there.I could go on but you get the point.When the time comes,you'll need to just give us some time.Its hard to stop hovering when you have done it for eighteen years...