--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now that I have kids, I'm probably more…" description: "\"Now that I have kids, I'm probably more overprotective than I've ever been. My wife's nickname for me is 'red alert.' I sometimes check just to see if ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/matt-damon-3371_breathing_now-that-i-have-kids-i-m-probably-more-o_94834.jpg" --- # Now that I have kids, I'm probably more overprotective… ![“Now that I have kids, I'm probably more overprotective than I've ever been. My wife's nickname for me is 'red alert.' I sometimes check just to see if the kids are breathing. But I try not to be a helicopter parent.” quote by Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/matt-damon-3371_breathing_now-that-i-have-kids-i-m-probably-more-o_94834.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/matt-damon-3371_breathing_now-that-i-have-kids-i-m-probably-more-o_94834.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f99/matt-damon-3371_breathing_now-that-i-have-kids-i-m-probably-more-o_94834.jpg) > “Now that I have kids, I'm probably more overprotective than I've ever been. My wife's nickname for me is 'red alert.' I sometimes check just to see if the kids are breathing. But I try not to be a helicopter parent.” [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A candid confession of heightened parental vigilance, balanced by an effort to avoid overbearing behavior. **In simple terms:** Parental overprotectiveness Key Takeaway Balancing care and freedom Themes parenthood anxiety boundaries protectiveness growth Mood reflective concerned Type personal anecdote humorous When to use this quote - new parent adjusting to child safety concerns - spousal humor about parenting style - self-monitoring of overreach Key Concepts helicopter parenting self-awareness Practical Applications - parenting workshops - mental health resources for parents Questions to Reflect On - When does caring become controlling? - How can parents maintain vigilance without stifling independence? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Nicknames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nicknames/) [Overprotective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overprotective/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Red alert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-alert/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [I think if you're a 'tiger parent' early on, you don't need to be a 'helicopter parent' in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/i-think-if-you-re-a-tiger-parent-early-on-you-don-t-need-to-be-a/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [In the case of the classic Western helicopter parent, it starts with Baby Einstein and reward charts for toilet training, and it never really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/in-the-case-of-the-classic-western-helicopter-parent-it-starts-with/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Given the news we all read or hear about, it's actually made me a stronger parent - I'm not a 'helicopter parent,' but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-wilkinson/given-the-news-we-all-read-or-hear-about-it-s-actually-made-me-a/) [Kendra Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-wilkinson/) > [I haven't been really guilty of being an uber helicopter parent; I took the baby monitors out when they were three months old because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemarie-dewitt/i-haven-t-been-really-guilty-of-being-an-uber-helicopter-parent-i/) [Rosemarie DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemarie-dewitt/) > [“Myra was less a helicopter parent than a helicopter gunship parent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heide-goody/myra-was-less-a-helicopter-parent-than-a-helicopter-gunship-parent/) [Heide Goody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heide-goody/) > [“Both kinds of parenting, finally, are forms of overidentification. The helicopter parent turns the child into an instrument of her will. The overindulgent parent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-deresiewicz/both-kinds-of-parenting-finally-are-forms-of-overidentification-the/) [William Deresiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-deresiewicz/) > [We are on red alert when it comes to how we are perceiving ourselves as a species. There's no desire to be an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/we-are-on-red-alert-when-it-comes-to-how-we-are-perceiving-ourselves/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [If we mammals don't get something to eat every day or two, our temperature drops, all our signs fall off, and we begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/if-we-mammals-don-t-get-something-to-eat-every-day-or-two-our/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [“Step up to red alert." Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb." - Rimmer & Kryten, "Red Dwarf”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-grant-grant-naylor/step-up-to-red-alert-sir-are-you-absolutely-sure-it-does-mean/) Rob Grant; Grant Naylor > [Notes are tricky in an audition, because I find, more often than not, my instinct is right. If they have a preconceived notion about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-reddick/notes-are-tricky-in-an-audition-because-i-find-more-often-than-not-my-2/) [Lance Reddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-reddick/) > [“Ren, that was very beautiful.” His eyes turned to my face. He smiled and reached a hand up to touch my cheek. My pulse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/ren-that-was-very-beautiful-his-eyes-turned-to-my-face-he-smiled-and/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [Red Alert' is a gripping cold war bomber-command procedural. But read now, you can see 'Dr Strangelove' - the film which took the book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/red-alert-is-a-gripping-cold-war-bomber-command-procedural-but-read/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I'm stoned focus for the Zombie Apocalypse or any unexpected red alert because I'm condfident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/i-m-stoned-focus-for-the-zombie-apocalypse-or-any-unexpected-red/) C-DASH > [I hyperventilate opening a box of chocolates. I'm the most nervous guy in the world, a frightened little man on red alert from when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-hyperventilate-opening-a-box-of-chocolates-i-m-the-most-nervous-guy/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [“Panic bells, it's red alert There's something here From somewhere else The war machine springs to life Opens up one eager eye Focusing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nena/panic-bells-it-s-red-alert-there-s-something-here-from-somewhere-else/) Nena ## More by Matt Damon > [I'm actively trying to get away from the over-exposure that happened eight years ago. The only thing a celebrity can do in one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-m-actively-trying-to-get-away-from-the-over-exposure-that-happened/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [ \[Americans\] can't understand that the water in our toilet is cleaner than 880 million have access to. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/americans-can-t-understand-that-the-water-in-our-toilet-is-cleaner/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [As for poker, I've stayed away from that, even though when I was in Vegas for Ocean's Eleven, I would get accosted by these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/as-for-poker-i-ve-stayed-away-from-that-even-though-when-i-was-in/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [I didn't grow up with great privilege, nor did I grow up wanting for anything. I was a middle-class kid and, relative to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-didn-t-grow-up-with-great-privilege-nor-did-i-grow-up-wanting-for/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [I think it's something that the citizenry needs to be vigilant about - participating in democracy, and that includes issues like what's going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-think-it-s-something-that-the-citizenry-needs-to-be-vigilant-about/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [We're here for such a short time. When your great-great-grandkids study history, don't you want them to be proud that you were part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/we-re-here-for-such-a-short-time-when-your-great-great-grandkids/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [If you're just an actor you're reactive. You're saying, "Well, I hope Hollywood gives me a role, or gives me a chance at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/if-you-re-just-an-actor-you-re-reactive-you-re-saying-well-i-hope/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [Clint Eastwood expects you to know what you're doing. He's going to take two giant steps back and let you do it. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/clint-eastwood-expects-you-to-know-what-you-re-doing-he-s-going-to/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [As actors, we react to the material that's out there, and I probably just react more strongly to things that I feel will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/as-actors-we-react-to-the-material-that-s-out-there-and-i-probably/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [The only sci-fi movie that I've ever been offered that, had circumstances been different, I would have definitely done, was 'Avatar.' And I literally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/the-only-sci-fi-movie-that-i-ve-ever-been-offered-that-had/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [And you know, we were talking about American identity, and where we've come from and where we are and where we're headed. We knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/and-you-know-we-were-talking-about-american-identity-and-where-we-ve/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [He's famous for being obsessive about details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/he-s-famous-for-being-obsessive-about-details/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [Generally, the bigger the budget, the less interesting the characters become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/generally-the-bigger-the-budget-the-less-interesting-the-characters/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [Listen, here's the thing. If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/listen-here-s-the-thing-if-you-can-t-spot-the-sucker-in-the-first/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [ I need to know if she \[Sarah Palin\] thinks dinosaurs were here four thousand years ago... because she's going to have the nuclear code. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/i-need-to-know-if-she-sarah-palin-thinks-dinosaurs-were-here-four/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) [Explore all 132 Matt Damon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) Marcel Williams > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/) [Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/) > [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now that I have kids, I'm probably more overprotective than I've ever been. My wife's nickname for me is 'red alert.' I sometimes check just to see if the kids are breathing. 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