
Move over snowplough parenting; there’s a new breed of parent in town – the ‘concierge parent’. And, according to the definition, I am one.
This week, principal of St Catherine’s School in Waverley, Julie Townsend, told The Sydney Morning Herald that concierge parents are typically defined as those who “are there at a little desk waiting for any problems” before they “sort them out” for the offspring.
In other words, a concierge parent simply awaits issues, and then promptly responds to them in a calm manner to prevent consequences for their kids. (This is different to a ‘snowplough parent’, in that this type of parent bulldozes any obstacles in their child’s way.)
Mamamia spoke to David Gillespie, author of Teen Brain, a lawyer, and father-of-six, to find out more, who further explained that concierge parenting is “something parents do to remove all negative natural consequences for a child, which is unhelpful as natural consequences are the most effective way anyone can learn anything.”
WATCH: Holly Wainwright explains parental equality. Post continues after.