Over-hovering

I just got my ass handed to me by a co-worker because I don't understand why parents have to be up their childrens' butts.
What?
Okay. So apparently now, every parent has to go to every practice of every activity their child does. Regardless of age. And if you don't, you don't love your kid and are un-supportive. Seriously? What happened to riding your bike to soccer practice (during daylight hours) and coming home when it's over. Why does everyone have to go to practice? It's not a game. That's another story. But really, I didn't want my parents watching me learn (and not always do well at) sporty things. That's why it's PRACTICE. So you can show off when you have an actual event and not until then. The only parents on the field were the coaches. It was AWFUL if your parent showed up. Horribly embarrassing. And IF you were lucky enough for your parent to drop you off and pick you up, that was it, just part of a busy day.
But to have to leave work early so both parents could sit there and watch (bored out of their minds) to watch a practice - it's ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong. Little little kids (3 - 7 yrs old or so) shouldn't be on their own. These coaches and assistants are screened and fingerprinted for a reason. But to have to attend every waking moment of your 10 year old's is silly. And we wonder why kids are so bad these days. They're not allowed to develop without Mommy and Daddy pandering to every little fart. It's called over-parenting. Hovering. SMOTHERING.