Snowflake children

[Breezy_Carol]

I thought that this was a DIS word. I never heard it anywhere else until today. I was listening to talk radio about an incident between a 14 year old boy and a policeman. Peter Schmuck described the boy as a snowflake.

So, is this a common word or is Peter Schmuck a closet DISser?

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I first heard "snowflake" used to describe children when I was in college to become a teacher. (I graduated 4 years ago). A few of my professors used that word a lot and it always bothered me.

 

[kathie859]

Using "Snowflake" to describe a child was unknown to me until the Dis I've adopted the usage into my vocabulary

 

[Scurvy]

I had heard it often before it popped up on the Dis, mostly on other message boards.

ETA - I love the term, but I do find it to be more a statement about the child's parents than the actual child. It's not the child's fault if his parents treat him like a Snowflake.

 

[MiniGirl]

Nope, not a DIS word. The terms helicopter parents or teacups are not either.

 

[punkin]

I thought that this was a DIS word. I never heard it anywhere else until today. I was listening to talk radio about an incident between a 14 year old boy and a policeman. Peter Schmuck described the boy as a snowflake.

So, is this a common word or is Peter Schmuck a closet DISser?

Figures a guy named Schmuck would use the word "snowflake". I hate that word.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Thanks for the replies.

I googled "snowflake children" and only found out about frozen embryos.

 

[binny]

nope Ive heard it used here and there maybe we started it though? LOL

While I dont like the term used towards a child, it completely suits the "My child can do no wrong so YOUR (child, school, group insert target of choice here) must be the problem." attitude from parents that I have seen WAY too many of in the last few years!

 

[DawnM]

I just found out yesterday what it meant and have only heard it on the DIS.

Now, what is a teacup child?

Dawn

 

[binny]

I just found out yesterday what it meant and have only heard it on the DIS.

Now, what is a teacup child?

Dawn

a really small one? The size down from a Toy? Or sorry those are poodles. I have no idea what teacup children are.

 

[golfgal]

I just found out yesterday what it meant and have only heard it on the DIS.

Now, what is a teacup child?

Dawn

Someone posted that on here it is what snowflake is when they grow up-because they have never had to do anything for themselves they are so fragile and can't make decisions and if you look at them wrong they will crack.

 

[jenseib]

I never had heard the term before till a few weeks ago, when someone got nasty with me about a question I asked (and there comment had nothing to do wit hthe topic at hand either). They called my DD a snowflake. I had no clue what it meant, but it sounded derogitory.
And now I see the meaning it makes me even more mad.We live on a dairy farm and my DD helps her dad out. Certainly not a "snowflake". She does alot and does alot for herself! I think if that is what it means (what the previous poster said) it should be banned here. I think it is very inappropriate to call someones child that.

Boy it is making me boil over mad about that thread now...which also got closed because of that poster, BTW.

 

[simba20]

Actually "snowflake" is teamed with the word "speshul." As in parent who think that theri child is the most unique, creative, talented, etc....ever.

So when a parent goes into a school or any other situation rasing a fuss, they are beleiveing that their child is a "speshul snowflake."

 

[goofyernmost]

Well you folks have it over me...I don't know what snowflake is supposed to mean or helicopter or teacup. Can someone enlighten me please so I can better understand some of these posts?

 

[Scurvy]

Well you folks have it over me...I don't know what snowflake is supposed to mean or helicopter or teacup. Can someone enlighten me please so I can better understand some of these posts?

As far as I know, a snowflake is a child whose parents think she is the most perfect, unique, special person in the entire world and more importantly they also think that everyone else should feel the same way about the child. Also, they tend to treat the child like she will melt if everything isn't just perfect for her.

Helicopter parents are always hovering over their children, and don't want the children to have to deal with anything for themselves. They end up calling professors to complain about how their baby is treated at college, or calling their 20 year old daughter's boss to complain about the hours the "child" is expected to work.

Apparently a Teacup is a grown up snowflake who has become fragile from always being protected by her parents.

 

[LisaG520]

First I heard the term snowflake is in the movie Fight Club - Brad Pitt uses it when yelling at the recruits.

 

[MiniGirl]

As far as I know, a snowflake is a child whose parents think she is the most perfect, unique, special person in the entire world and more importantly they also think that everyone else should feel the same way about the child. Also, they tend to treat the child like she will melt if everything isn't just perfect for her.

Helicopter parents are always hovering over their children, and don't want the children to have to deal with anything for themselves. They end up calling professors to complain about how their baby is treated at college, or calling their 20 year old daughter's boss to complain about the hours the "child" is expected to work.

Apparently a Teacup is a grown up snowflake who has become fragile from always being protected by her parents.

Very well put. Snowflake is not so much about the child but about the parent's attitude toward the child. We all love our children and think they are special, but we don't expect rules to be changed to accomodate our children. Also, not all "snowflake" children grow up to be "teacups." I know one parent, in particular, who felt her children were so special and so much prettier, smarter, etc, than all the other children. As her children have gotten older, they have completely kept her out of their lives. The 2 oldest never come home from college and the 2 youngest (one in high school and the other in 5th grade) have asked her to stop going to their schools.

 

[MushyMushy]

First I heard the term snowflake is in the movie Fight Club - Brad Pitt uses it when yelling at the recruits.

That's where I thought it originated. I've heard it in real life a few times, but people don't overuse it to the point it is on the DIS. People on the boards like to hurl it around as an insult.

 

[laurie31]

Actually, I think teacups are the children of helicoptor parents. They have never been allowed to do anything on their own, and once they become adults, they have no clue how. Mommy is still right there, doing it for them. They can be "snowflakes" but they don't have to be. In other words, the helicoptor parent doesn't necessarily treat thir kid as a snowflake, but does do everything for them.

I think of the story (I presume it's a made-up illustration) of the man who witnessed a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. The man sees it struggling to get out and decides to help it, by cutting the chrysalis open. What happens, is that the butterfly is permanently disasbled and never able to fly. It needed the struggle to free itself to make its wings strong enough to support it.

I don't know if this is really true for butterflies, but it makes a great point about parents who never allow their children to experience defeat or disappointment, and so they never learn to handle difficulties in life, and are left too fragile to cope. In other words, they become "teacups."

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

Figures a guy named Schmuck would use the word "snowflake". I hate that word.

omg that's so funny, and I agree with you!