Will You Be a Cool Mom or a Helicopter Mom?

By: Jennifer Post
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Will You Be a Cool Mom or a Helicopter Mom?
Image: Morsa Images / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The term "helicopter mom" originated from child researchers Foster Cline and Jim Fay in 1990. They coined the term to refer to a parent who hovers over a child so much so that it hinders the child's ability to be independent. These parents would attend play dates and constantly be watching over their child to make sure they were sharing, playing fair, not eating anything they shouldn't, not touching anything they shouldn't, etc. The child is always being supervised, and if they do anything out of step, the parent swoops in and controls the situation.

A cool mom, on the other hand, lets her kid eat a bit of dirt knowing it helps build immunity, lets their kid try new things (within reason), doesn't try to control every situation and is just more laid back overall. One version of parenting is not better than the other, and one type of mother doesn't love their child more than the other. It really comes down to personal preference, and a lot of times, the way the mother was raised plays a big part in it. Allowing your kids to get hurt every once in a while will help them deal with pain and be less afraid. However, every mother wants to prevent their child from getting hurt, so the urge to protect at all costs is there. Will you be a cool mom or a helicopter mom? Take this quiz to find out!

Girls Like Your Kind Soul
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Do you like to go out to eat?
Yes! There are so many good places in my town.
Only at places where I know all of the ingredients in the food
Yes, if the place uses local, organic ingredients
Only on special occasions

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Teacher
Compassionate Eye Foundation/Robert Kent/DigitalVision/Getty Images
What is closest to your current job?
Interior designer
Manager
School principle
Teacher

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Drink Coffee
Pexels by Pixabay
Which drink do you prefer?
Coffee
Pressed juice
Wine
Black tea

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Mom & Daughter
Pixabay by Free-Photos
Do you consider children's problems to be legitimate?
To them they are, and that's what matters.
Heavens no. They have no idea what real problems are.
Not many of them, but I listen all the same.
No, but who am I to judge?

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Person Thinking with Cell Phone1
Hero Images / Hero Images / Getty Images
Do you like to work outside of the home?
It keeps me sane.
I don't.
I like a few work-from-home days.
I don't, but I do it for my family's needs.

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Thirtysomething woman
Fancy/Veer/Corbis / Getty Images
How is your gut instinct?
It's strong, and I listen to it.
I think I know more than my gut.
I know it's there, but sometimes I ignore it.
It's been right in the past.

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Playing Outside
Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images
How do you feel about the phrase "kids will be kids"?
It's a phrase for a reason.
I think it's a cop out for bad behavior.
It applies to most situations, but others not so much.
I think it should be outlawed.

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Parents Snuggling Baby
FatCamera / E+ / Getty Images
Do you wish your parents were more strict with you?
Nope
They were strict enough already.
With some things, they could have put their foot down more.
I think they actually could have loosened up a bit.

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21 Morning read
boonchai wedmakawand/Moment/Getty Images
Do you like to read?
When I'm in the mood
Every night!
I do, but not all genres.
I try to force myself to read at least twice a week.

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Friends with Makeup
Annie Engel / Cultura / Getty Images
What kind of friend are you?
Reliable
Distant
Supportive
Clingy

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Couple Cooking
Pixabay by 089photoshootings
Do you like cooking for big groups of people?
If it's a simple meal
I don't mind, but everyone is eating the same thing.
I don't love it, but I know it's necessary sometimes.
I'll do it but I won't be happy about it.

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No Cats
Gpointstudio / Cultura / Getty Images
How do you get your point across to people?
I let them think it was their idea.
I yell at them.
I say calmly, but repetitively.
Every time I have to repeat myself, I get a little bit louder.

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Can You Get a High Score on This Difficult SAT Words Test1
EMS-FORSTER-PRODUCTIONS / DigitalVision / Getty Images
How do you feel when you aren't in control?
I'm just fine not being in control.
I'm never not in control.
I do stress a little, but it always ends up okay.
I get stressed out.

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The Idealistic Mom
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Are you okay with people not thinking the same way as you?
Of course! That's just life.
I prefer the people I hang with to think the same.
Absolutely, unless it's something really crucial.
It's fine, but I don't love it and we just don't talk about those topics.

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Laughing at TV
RapidEye / E+ / Getty Images
How much TV is too much in one day?
5 hours
2 hours
4 hours
3 hours

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Creative Woman
freemixer / E+ / Getty Images
Are you good at expressing yourself?
I try to be!
I tend to keep things inside.
Maybe a little too much
When it's something I feel someone else could benefit from hearing about

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We'll Give You a Job Description, You Give Us the Job Title 3
10'000 Hours/DigitalVision/GettyImages
Do you like to stick to a schedule?
Nah. Life runs on its own schedule.
Down to the minute
I try to have a list of what I want to accomplish each day.
Not a crazy one, but I do like to keep track of things on the hour.

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What Is Your Strongest Mental Ability? 1
Fertnig / E+ / Getty Images
Do you think kids should be included in family decisions?
I think it's a good idea.
Not at all
If the decision impacts them, yes.
Not often, but some situations call for it.

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Gardener mom
Led/Cultura/Getty Images
Are you a good listener?
I am.
To certain people
Most of the time, but sometimes I tune out.
If you're saying something worth hearing

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Ice Cream
WikiCommons
What is your favorite dessert?
Ice cream
Birthday cake because that's the only time dessert is appropriate.
We only eat desserts that I've made.
Fruit

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Kids
[ pixelfit] / [E+] / Getty Images
In your mind, when does a kid become old enough to make decisions for themselves?
16
30
18
21

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kid
Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision/Getty Images
What were you like growing up?
Friendly
Bossy
A tad uptight
The "mom"

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The First-Time Parent Quiz1
daniloAndjus / E+ / Getty Images
What were your parents like when you were growing up?
Basically hippies
Strict
They were chill unless I did something bad.
They erred on the side of strict but didn't really yell at me.

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Helicopter mom
Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Are you a worrier?
Nope
To the max
Depends on the situation
I worry more than I don't, but I wouldn't call myself a "worrier."

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Laptop with Notes
Pixabay by geralt
Do you take physical notes or mental notes?
Mental, and I always forget
I write everything down.
I have a good memory so mental notes work for me.
Mostly written

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Beach Meditate
Pixabay by Ataner007
How do you handle stressful situations?
I think them through and work through them.
I get very stressed about stress.
I freak out at first but then go at it logically.
I just ignore it.

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100% Moral
Nick Dolding / Cultura / Getty Images
Do you do what you can for the environment?
I recycle, use reusable storage containers and bring my own shopping bags to the food store.
The environment will replenish itself.
When I think of it, yes.
I don't think about it much.

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Can We Guess Your Relationship Status Based on Your Taste in Romance Novels?
Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Are you more introvert or extroverted?
Extroverted
Introverted
About 60% extroverted, 40% introverted
40% extroverted and 60% introverted for me

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2000s Kids Should Know These Phrases. Will You?
Alistair Berg/DigitalVision/GettyImages
How many kids do you want?
4
1
2
3

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Harvard
YouTube
How important is it for your kids to go to college?
If they don't want to go, I won't force them.
Not going isn't an option.
It's important, but I understand it doesn't always work that way.
I would like them to very much.

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