© Shutterstock

What is it? -

Helicopter parenting is when parents take excessive interest in their child's life and are overprotective. There are pros and cons to it, but most children are oblivious because they have never known anything different.

© Shutterstock

Homework -

Think back to your school days. Did your parents ever help you out with projects or even do your homework for you? Helicopter parents feel such a need to help their child that sometimes they completely take over.

© Shutterstock

Empty nest -

A helicopter parent will really feel loss when their child leaves home. They will probably contact you and tell you they have "empty nest syndrome."

© Shutterstock

Leaving -

If either one of, or both of, your parents are helicopter inclined, they definitely would have cried when you moved out.

© Shutterstock

Future -

They are extremely anxious about your future, especially the far future after they have gone. Therefore they try and create your future for you by organizing your school life and future career. It can be stifling, but also useful.

© Shutterstock

Being sick -

Even though you're an adult and know that a common cold won't kill you, you call your parents straight away for comfort. This is definitely a sign they raised you helicopter style.

© Shutterstock

Advice -

Even if you are way beyond your childhood years, you still immediately call your parents for emotional support and adult life advice. Making children overly reliant on parents is a hallmark of helicopter parenting.

© Shutterstock

Home -

A sign that you were raised by extremely attentive parents is when you still refer to home as your parents' house, even if you have your own place (and perhaps even your own family...).

© Shutterstock

Holidays -

Helicopter parents want their due, and so they always expect their children back for the holidays, no matter what age.

© Shutterstock

Obsession -

If you were helicoptered as a child, and perhaps still as an adult, you may often wonder if your parents have a life outside inquiring about your own.

© Shutterstock

Hobbies -

They are so inside your own life that you have to convince them to get hobbies or travel to lessen the spotlight they shine on you.

© Shutterstock

Interrogation -

When you meet up with your parents, they ask you so many questions about your life that you just end up talking about yourself the whole time. They love it!

© Shutterstock

Lies -

If your parents dote on you this much, lying to them feels extra horrible. However, telling little lies may be the only way to rebel against them as a kid and adult.

© Shutterstock

Resentment -

The terrible truth is that no one loves you as your parents do. Having helicopter parents may make you resent them because you grow up thinking the world will think as much of you as they do, but it doesn't.

© Shutterstock

Me, myself, and I -

It is easy to forget that it's only your parents who are willing to listen to an hour-long monologue about yourself. Children of helicopter parents may find themselves rambling on to friends about their own problems and then realize that they shouldn't because it's self-absorbed.

© Shutterstock

Secretly satisfied -

You know that at the end of the day, your parents will listen to your menial conversation for hours, just because they are so obsessed. Deep down, you love this about them.

© Shutterstock

Friends -

In order to further know about you and your life, they will befriend your friends and get their numbers.

© Shutterstock

Where are you? -

If, as an adult, you decide to fall off the radar for a few days, you better let your helicopter parents know. If you don't, a flurry of calls will follow, and much distress.

© Shutterstock

Where are you? -

If you still don't reply to them, then they call all your friends to see if they know where you are and why you are not replying, even if you're just lying in for the morning.

© Shutterstock

Owing something -

Despite your desire for independence, when your parents give so much attention to you, it feels like you owe them something. Their favorite currency is information about your life.

© Shutterstock

Money -

A clear indication of a helicopter parent is that they still sort out your finances and get an alert when you are in overdraft...

© Shutterstock

Money -

If they are the highest caliber of obsessed parents, then they will go through your bank statements and question you about suspicious transactions.

© Shutterstock

Phone contract -

If you are on their phone contract until a ripe old age, you have helicopter parents!

© Shutterstock

Names -

Many helicopter-parented children are likely to still call their parents mommy and daddy instead of the more mature mom and dad.

© Shutterstock

Huh? -

You don't understand it when your friends do not call their parents as much as you do, or why they find it strange. You can't quite tell if you feel sorry for them, or jealous of their relative freedom.

© Shutterstock

Protective -

As your parents have gone above and beyond for you, children of helicopter parents feel very protective of their old folks, even if they are overbearing.

© Shutterstock

You know I know -

Helicopter parents are very in tune with their children's emotions and often know things without being told. Their intuition is on point!

© Shutterstock

Chauffeur -

A helicopter parent will drive you everywhere so they can spend time with you in the car, and talk. Even if you need picking up from a party at four in the morning, they'll be there.

© Shutterstock

Cabs -

Whether you are a kid or an adult, if they can't drive you, they think you should get cabs everywhere. The big bad world is not safe for their little one.

Sources: (Thought Catalogue)

See also: Bizarre parenting tips from the 19th century

© Shutterstock