We need to get our hands dirty (literally)

Abstract

Attent għax taqa u taqsam rasek!' (Careful, you’ll fall and hit your head!) 'Waħdek se tkun? Ara jaħftek xi ħadd!' (You’re going to be alone? Be careful or someone might kidnap you!) 'Xogħol tal-qamel ikollok jekk ma tmurx l-università.' (You won’t find a good job unless you go to university.) Do these phrases sound familiar to you? A recent global study carried out by US analytics company Gallup and featured on Times of Malta ranks us as the 3rd angriest population in Europe and also the most anxious population in Europe. While there are arguably several reasons for this, one way this anxiety might manifest is through our parents. While helicopter parenting might stem from good intentions, research suggests a correlation between helicopter parenting and children who develop depression and anxiety. It rears up in the drama our parents make if we want to travel, in the conflict we experience if we don’t want to pursue a traditional university education, and in our aversion to all things sports. [excerpt]