“Lawnmower Parents” go to extreme lengths to try to protect their older children from ever experiencing disappoint, failure, or otherwise negative experiences. But our American Mama, Denise Arthur, says this is not good for them. One of the most important skills they will need as adults is the ability to cope through difficulty and disappointment, and these skills are learned as children and young adults when they have to experience disappointment. Parents cannot “short cut” that process.