Snowflake children

[Mrs. Darcy]

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.

I know what you mean and I agree with you. I don't understand why the word is used in such a mean way. I was probably a snowflake child, going by the definition and I turned out just fine. It seems like people like making up new words to criticize others. But anyway, even though I've heard it before the DIS, I don't hear it anywhere near as much as on here.

 

[NHdisneylover]

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

That is what I was thinking--it has been around at least since that book came out (mid 90s maybe).

"You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everyone else, and we are all part of the same compost pile". ~Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club, Chapter 17

 

[goofyernmost]

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.

I bet that there is way more to that story and for some morbid reason I would like to know what it is.

 

[SaraJayne]

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.

And most people that hate the term have snowflakes.

I personally love it.

 

[jenseib]

And most people that hate the term have snowflakes.

I personally love it.

I don't think that is true at all. I think it's an offensive term, now that I know what it means. I think people who throw it around probably have a labeled term that can be used about them....but that word is *'d out here on dis.!

 

[jamimb]

And most people that hate the term have snowflakes.

I personally love it.

I like the word too! I agree with you the people who hate it probably do so because they have snowflake children themselves. I do agree with some others that say it refers more to the parent's behavior than the child itself. We have several snowflake children in my class this year. For activity every week we have PE, music, computer, and library. We had a parent call the school and say her snowflake didn't like computer class and she asked if her child could do something else while the rest of the class went to the computer lab. UM NO!!!! People who act like this are NOT doing their children any favors! There are things in life we all hate and have to learn to endure. Sorry rant over! Carry on

 

[mjkacmom]

And most people that hate the term have snowflakes.

I personally love it.

I love the word, too. Fortunately, with 5, there is no chance I can raise a snowflake.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I've only heard it on the DIS, thank goodness. I wouldn't want to hear it coming out of a friend of family member's mouth. I hate the term.

 

[jamimb]

I love the word, too. Fortunately, with 5, there is no chance I can raise a snowflake.

 

[Liberty Belle]

And most people that hate the term have snowflakes.

I personally love it.

No, no snowflakes here. I just don't like most snide and derisive words, especially when they describe children.

 

[golfgal]

No, no snowflakes here. I just don't like most snide and derisive words, especially when they describe children.

Irony?

 

[Liberty Belle]

Irony?

Why do you say that? Seriously, have I said something rude or mean about a child on here? If so, please point it out so I can clarify or apologize.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I agree that most people who don't like the term, find that it hits a little too close to home.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I agree that most people who don't like the term, find that it hits a little too close to home.

Nope. Honestly not true in my case, anyway. See above.

 

[golfgal]

Why do you say that? Seriously, have I said something rude or mean about a child on here? If so, please point it out so I can clarify or apologize.

The irony is that we are talking about the term "snowflake" and how it refers to "special" children yet you don't like that the term is used with children. It's a lot nicer then calling kids brats I think.

 

[dogluva]

I have six so no snowflakes here either. Altought pretty sure they would love to be a snowflake just for one day!

 

[NMAmy]

I think if most parents are honest, we've all had that moment where we've rushed to do something for our child that they should be doing themselves or believed the best of the child when they really didn't deserve it. Whereas many of us can realize what we're doing and step back and change our behavior to better help the child to become an independent individual, helicopter parents have absolutely no idea that their behavior is over the top. In fact, they'll often boast that other parents just don't love their kids as much as they do.

I hear the terms snowflake and helicopter just about every day. At a college, you can see what happens to snowflakes once they become an "adult." Mommy is still calling to make every experience perfect for their special adult child and to fight battles that the adult child should be fighting themselves. It makes one wonder how these children will function when something inevitably happens to Mommy and they have to face the big scary world on their own.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

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.

In other words my SIL and BIL who are both grown adults living at home probably forever because my inlaws have babied them to where they are now so incapacitated they can't even make simple decisions.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I think if most parents are honest, we've all had that moment where we've rushed to do something for our child that they should be doing themselves or believed the best of the child when they really didn't deserve it. Whereas many of us can realize what we're doing and step back and change our behavior to better help the child to become an independent individual, helicopter parents have absolutely no idea that their behavior is over the top. In fact, they'll often boast that other parents just don't love their kids as much as they do.

I hear the terms snowflake and helicopter just about every day. At a college, you can see what happens to snowflakes once they become an "adult." Mommy is still calling to make every experience perfect for their special adult child and to fight battles that the adult child should be fighting themselves. It makes one wonder how these children will function when something inevitably happens to Mommy and they have to face the big scary world on their own.

oh great. And THANK YOU Amy for putting THAT image into my head : A bunch of 50 y/o's thinking they should get paid just because they showed up for work.

 

[lilybrooke14]

Most of us think our kids are the cutest, smartest, greatest because they are to us. There's not other kid just like mine. You want the best for them, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. The key issue is when you expect others to care as much as you do about your special snowflake. They don't.

If you're at a character meal, and you keep letting your kid go to other people's tables and hug Tigger over and over because he's just so cute and Tigger is his favorite character (even though it's not his turn) he's a snowflake.