Are You a Lawnmower Parent?

If helicopter parents hover, lawnmower parents clear the path entirely.

“Instead of just watching over their kids,” says conflict strategist Sarah Blake, “lawnmower parents step in and remove every obstacle.” They make life smoother and safer, but at a cost.

This parenting style, though well-intentioned, prevents children from learning through struggle.

The Cost of Making Life Too Easy

Sarah explains that parents often step too far. “They want to protect their child from being hurt or failing,” she says. “But we have to let them face challenges if we want them to grow.”

When parents clear every obstacle, kids lose vital chances to build resilience and problem-solving skills. “Life is hard,” Sarah says. “It’s in the messy moments that we really learn the most.”

The Real-Life Signs of Lawnmower Parenting

Sarah shares stories from schools where parents show up at camps or job interviews just to make sure things go smoothly. “It’s done with love,” she says, “but it disempowers them from becoming capable adults.”

Some parents even withdraw children from events like swimming carnivals or sports days to spare them discomfort. But as Sarah reminds, “Even cheering from the sidelines is a learning experience.”

Why Resilience Matters More Than Comfort

“We can’t protect our kids from life,” Sarah says. “But we can prepare them for it.”

Resilience helps children handle discomfort, solve problems, and recover from setbacks. Without it, adulthood becomes overwhelming.

“It’s not nice to be uncomfortable,” Sarah admits. “But learning to stay in that discomfort builds real strength.”

Finding the Line Between Support and Interference

There’s no universal rule, Sarah says. Every child and every parent is different.

Her advice: “Listen to your internal dialogue. Ask yourself am I helping, or am I holding them back?”

She recalls letting her son ride to school alone for the first time. “I walked him to the roundabout, then let him go. He came home glowing with pride.”

That’s the goal, small steps toward independence.

Coaching, Not Controlling

So how can parents move away from lawnmower habits?

“Coach instead of fix,” Sarah advises. “Say, ‘This is hard, what might we do here?’ Help them think, don’t just clear the way.”

Start small. Give them limited freedom, celebrate wins, and stay nearby for support.

“Sometimes you’ll need to step in,” she adds. “But be clear about why and only after they’ve tried to solve it first.”

The Long Game of Parenting

Parenting is a long game. Love means letting go, not clearing every obstacle. “We want to raise capable adults,” Sarah says. “That means standing back sometimes, even when it’s uncomfortable.”

Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.

Feature image: Canva