Editor’s Note: This is a humor column.
All sources have been given pseudonyms to maintain anonymity.
Modern advances in surveillance technology aren’t just for Big Brother anymore — they’re for parents, too. What began as involved parenting and well-intentioned safety measures has shifted to something much more intense — the advent of the helicopter parent. This term refers to any overly concerned parent who unnecessarily interferes in their child’s life. Symptoms for University parents often include moderate-to-severe location monitoring, chronic presence in Charlottesville and excessive checking of SIS. Now, after years of this behavior’s effect on students, the University is attempting to curb it through a new program called Helicopter Parents Anonymous, or HPA.
“HPA is an opportunity for parents of University students to connect with each other,” Program Director Noah Moore-Trakking said. “It’s a system of mutual support for parents looking to take a step back from their children's lives while, of course, getting to talk about their child for hours at a time.”
Based on addiction treatment programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, HPA is scientifically backed. The University’s best mental health professionals built HPA to provide thoughtful care for struggling parents. U.Va. Health psychologist Dr. Liv N.D. Pendently pioneered the program in response to reports of increased helicopter parenting in recent years, such as tracking with Life360, extensive course planning and over-involvement in students' social affairs.
“The idea for HPA came to me one evening after walking by Trin and seeing multiple parents in line with their kids,” Pendently said. “I’d understand it during Family Weekend, but this was in the middle of February. It was just weird.”
Pendently’s groundbreaking program has drawn attention from the entire University community. Many students have found it a welcome resource in their parents’ times of need.
“My mom called me at least three times a day,” second-year College student Leah V. Mealone said. “She enforced a curfew of 11 p.m. and paid my RA to do a room check for alcohol every night. She even came down from NoVa to do sorority rush with me, claiming she had to assess each house herself. I knew it was time for a change.”
Like Mealone, many other students were forced to take action when their parents’ helicopter activity became too extreme. Thankfully, HPA is now available to support these families.
“My mom called my academic advisor to ask if my C- in linear algebra could be curved up to an A because I have ‘such a bright future,’” third-year Commerce student Oliver Butithastostop said. “I knew I had to do something about her addiction, so we had an intervention, and HPA was there to help her take the next steps.”
Butithastostop enrolled his mother in HPA’s new 12-step program built for helicopter parents to recover and make amends.
“HPA has been such a lifesaver for my family,” Butithastostop said. “My dad has been doing so much better, even though he still struggles. Just last week, he asked to be added to my private story on Snapchat, but his HPA sponsor was there to step in and provide support.”
Although it has not been long, publicity about some parents’ initial success in HPA’s program has inspired others to reflect on their own helicopter parenting tendencies.
“I’ve had a very difficult time letting go of my baby boy,” University parent Pan Opticon said. “After all, he’s just a young, 370-month-old PhD candidate. But when I heard about HPA, I decided it was finally time. I’m starting this week, and I believe that I can change.”
With more traction among parents, HPA has the potential to shift the University in a whole new direction. Although some students will face the daunting task of learning to do their own laundry, many will finally experience the true independence known to come with moving away for college — at least until tuition is due.
Read More
Top 10 facts you probably didn’t know about Thomas Jefferson
By Owen Andrews | 3 days agoThomas Jefferson was a complicated man.
The five people everybody meets in their first year
By Nafeesa Naz | June 27, 2026I’ll guide you through the tempestuous social voyages of first year as I reflect on my experiences as a rising second-year student.
How to craft the perfect U.Va. 2030 Instagram post
By Nikitha Prabhu | June 14, 2026Finding a roommate on Instagram requires creating the perfect introductory post, and I’m here to tell you that you’re probably doing it all wrong.
