Last Updated: March 30, 2026
This article originally appeared in The Tennessean.
First aid kit…check.
Passport…check.
Copy of passport…check.
Backup first aid kit…check.
A summer semester abroad program is something I’d always wanted to do. Meeting new people, learning about another culture, seeing the world— the experience of a lifetime.
But 30 years removed from college, this trip wasn’t about me.
“Dad…I got this…”
International cell phone plan…check. Tile luggage tracker…check. Backup Apple Air Tag…check.
I knew our kid would be fine, and I knew I needed to give him some space. Already independent and responsible, he was ready for this new adventure. But the thought of him being halfway across the world with a group of strangers still weighed on my protective parental soul.
I just couldn’t help myself as I went over my checklist.
I knew our kid would be fine, and I knew I needed to give him some space. Already independent and responsible, he was ready for this new adventure. But the thought of him being halfway across the world with a group of strangers still weighed on my protective parental soul.
I just couldn’t help myself as I went over my checklist.
But this dynamic doesn’t only happen in families. It happens at work as well.
In a work setting, where it’s all adults operating in an often complex environment, the line between hovering and helping gets even trickier. Not offering your help to a colleague when they need it can hurt the business. But offering too much help can be overbearing and hurt morale.
