NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: On Thursday, September 14, ‘The View’ panel discussed whether or not it is reasonable for parents to track their children’s phones.
Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg and Alyssa Farah Griffin all chimed in, but Hostin faced scrutiny for her response.
Hostin, mother of two, has a 21-year-old son Gabriel, and a 17-year-old daughter Paloma. Hostin expressed her parenting concerns and methods on ‘The View’ but received backlash for tracking her son, despite his age.
The internet claims Hostin is more likely to have “control issues” than “worrying issues.”
Whoopi Goldberg asks Sunny Hostin if she's an ‘umbrella parent’
Whoopi Goldberg, the moderator, read out the ‘Hot Topic’ to her co-hosts, “a 28-year-old woman lives at home, and she's asking Reddit if she's wrong for refusing to let her parents put a tracker on her phone?”
This earned a gasp from the audience, and a laugh from the panel before Goldberg continued, “Now, the parents say it's a safety issue for them because she lives with them, and, you know, the older we get, we get nervous."
Further adding, "If you're not back by a certain hour, we're like, 'Look, what the hell.'"
“When we were kids, there were no cell phones, so now we start panicking, but she's really upset, and her father has punished her by not letting her drive his car,” concluded Goldberg.
Sunny Hostin was the first to respond and labeled it an “immature dynamic.”
She said, “It sounds like an immature dynamic. I'm having this dynamic with a 21-year-old and a 17-year-old because my son went away to college."
She continued, “He was like, 'So I'm going to take the -- Find My Phone thing off my phone,' and my response immediately was, "You buying a phone? You got a job? Because the phone I pay for comes with that.”
Hostin clarified that this was because of the “fear.”
Goldberg then asked Hostin if she was an “umbrella parent” to which Hostin responded, “I’m a worrier.” Goldberg clarified, “That’s not what I asked you though.”
When Hostin admitted that she didn’t know what the term was, Goldberg stepped out of her chair to cover Sara Haines in a hug, trying to explain “umbrella parent.”
Hostin responded, “They don't allow me to be that.” Haines then moved on to talk about the 28-year-old in question and suggested that the parents “set a curfew.”
To that, Hostin said, “She hasn't dated in seven years and doesn't go to the gym, but where…where is she? Where is she?”
After that, Alyssa Farah Griffin took over, but the internet remained focused on Hostin!
What is umbrella or helicopter parenting?
"The term “helicopter parenting” refers to a type of parent who‘s always hovering over their child’s every move," as per Cleveland Clinic. Helicopter parenting is also known as umbrella parenting.
You may be helicopter parenting if you constantly monitor your child's choices and actions, are present when they happen, and keep a close eye on everything they do.
While constantly watching your children may seem like a good idea, research, and medical advice suggest that if taken too far, it could hinder their development.
Sunny Hostin faces backlash for 'worrying' about her children
In response to Sunny Hostin talking about her son’s phone on ‘The View’ one person commented, “She’s 28! And Sunny’s son is 21! Even if she’s paying for the phone, she has no right to invade his privacy like that.”
“Sunny seems more likely to have control issues rather than worrying issues. She doesn’t like not knowing who her 21-year-old is with and WHERE he is more than worrying about his safety,” wrote another user.
The viewers continued to slam Hostin as one wrote, “I'm worried about Sunny's future daughter and sons-in-law,” and another said, “Sunny has got problems.”
“It’s so annoying Sunny can always relate to every topic! Every single time it’s like. ME ME ME. Jeez shut up sometimes lllol,” commented one user.
People also pointed out Hostin’s mention of the gym when it came to the woman in question, “What does going to the gym have to do with anything?” and another said, “Sunny said she don't go to the gym did me.”
