The Drone Dad is the new version of the 'Helicopter Dad'. If you don't know what that is, it's the parent who is consistently hovering over their kids to see what they are doing, how they are doing, and why they are doing it. It could be seen as the parent who is a bit overprotective of their child, maybe a bit overcontrolling of their child, or maybe just a caring soul who is simply attentive to their child. (I am totally the last one, however, I might straddle the line of the other 2. Just a teensy weensy itty bitty straddle).

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First of all, don't let anyone tell you how to control your child. We've already established this frame of mind. Some may see it as strict, some may see it as flexible - whatever it is, You do You.

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Here is my take on it. I'm a very attentive father. Whenever I decide to hang out with my kids, I keep involved with them wherever we are. When we go to the park, I don't shoo them away and attend to my phone. I run around, climb around, and squeel around with them. At the mall? Same thing: run around, climb around, and squeel around. I don't just let them go off and meet them somewhere later. My kids are NOT an accessory, they are and important part of me, and I enjoy having them around. So it's just automatic for me to always be in Drone Mode. Where are they walking, where are they jumping, what are they touching, what are they putting their mouth on (eww!). It's the way I navigate the world with them. Here's an example, my daughter noticed that there was a wrapped bubble gum that was out of the larger package. I saw her wonder to herself if she could keep it, then she noticed that I was watching her like a hawk: "If it's open, I guess that means I can have it" she said to me. "Not really Honey, because we are still in the store and we haven't paid for it. But if we were in the Mojave Desert with no one around and the gum was there, YES, it's totally yours." Then she asked me what the Mojave Desert is and I just shut down the conversation. So what could of happened? Maybe she slips the gum into her pocket for later. Maybe she puts it back. By seeing her in the situation, I was able to be part of the moment and offer some insight. As a parent, I live for moments like this when I can provide some explanation to an encountered situation. And that's how I see my version of the Drone Dad - not really a way to keep them outta things, but more to be able to be a part of things that they are learning. 

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The reason I call it a Drone Dad is because Drones are more stealth.  

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For instance, I've discussed with my kids about what I don't want them watching on YouTube. And most of the time, I just let them do their thing on there and hope they follow my rules (and most time I'm cleaning or cooking, so I'm not watching over them). But periodically, I check their browser history to see what they are looking through. Drone Dad. Stealth. They aren't aware that I do that. And when I see that they are looking at things that I prefer they didn't (nothing severely bad, just things that cause them to lose brain cells), I just discuss the rules again as if I'm casually bringing it up - and I don't yell "I have proof that you are not following my rules and if you don't stop I will destroy the tablet with a Tank!"

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Which leads me to: if you're going to be a Drone Dad, you should also set some guidelines for yourself in order to accept life as being uncontrollable and unexpected (this will also reduce your anxiety and blood pressure). Define what is acceptable and unacceptable situations and topics. The most important issue of this is recognizing what is influencing your kids, because as they grow and learn, they become affected by their whole environment, not just what we teach them. Being a Drone Dad shows involvement with your child and this is important to the nurture and guidance of them. If they know that you are frequently there for them, you could use that to help build a strong communicative relationship with them. If your intentions are genuine for them, it will show in all that you do.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

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