Helicopter Moms Grounded in Houston by Stanford University Dean’s Hilarious Talk

Thought Provoking and Ultra Timely Remarks Leave an Impression

By Shelby Hodge // Mar 14, 2019

Photography Daniel Ortiz

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Winnie Simmons Phillips, Julie Lythcott-Haims, Whitney Anderson Walsh at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Jennifer Hanson, Liz Mann, Lane Bowden and Mary Kay Bowden at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Katie Arnoldy, Holly Radom, Kristy Bradshaw at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Kate Stouffer, Francis Sharpe, Hunter Bell, Liz Anders at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Viviana Denechaud, Jennifer Hanson at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Neekie Kashani, Megan Vondra, Lauren Biggs, Rishma Mohamed at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Catherine Renaudin, Jolie Campbell at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Dolley Frearson, Lisa Prati at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Stacy Johnson, Ting Bresnahan at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Julie Thomas and Holly Radom at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Sara Kelly, Gail Adler and Madeline Kelly at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Annie Criner Eifler, Susie Criner at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Sarah Kennedy and Carlie Yoo at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Milessa Lowrie and Dolley Frearson at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Julie Thomas, Emma Anselmi, Laura Nachtigall at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Elle Anderson and Abby Walker at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Nic & Winnie Phillips at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Catherine Renaudin, Amanda Morrow and Margot Athon at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Kim Petersen and Katherine Smith at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Julie Alexander, Charlene Pate at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Caroline Bean, Leslie Pitts at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Sarah Wynne, Elva Akin at the Houston Children's Museum Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Amy Dunn, Amanda Boffone at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Tania Rangel, Jolie Campbell, Catherine Renaudin and Kelly Canova at the Children's Museum Houston Friends and Families luncheon at River Oaks Country Club. (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

What: The Children’s Museum Houston Friends and Family Luncheon

Where: River Oaks Country Club

PC Moment: New York Times best-selling author Julie Lythcott-Haims kept the gathering of more than 300 in a jovial mood with her sometimes hilarious, always thought-provoking remarks on real life situations that she encountered while counseling students as a dean at Stanford University. Particularly bothersome were student problems with helicopter parents and even more bothersome was when she discovered that she was equally overly-involved in her own children’s lives.

Chaired by Winnie Simmons Phillips and Whitney Anderson Walsh, the event raised more than $156,000 for the museum. Guests dined in a spring-like setting created with flowers from Trader Joe’s, arranged by Bergner & Johnson Design. All departed with yummy chocolate chip cookies (as in Tiny Boxwoods) donated by Tiny’s Milk and Cookies.

PC Seen: Ursaline Hamilton, Hunter Bell, Stacy Johnson, Gina Bhatia, Susie Criner, Lacey Goossen, Ting Bresnahan, Katie Arnoldy, Rachel Regan, Ginny Simmons, Amanda Boffone, Linda Anderson, Ellen Simmons, Annie Eifler, Viviana Denechaud, Katie Zorich, Bobbi Samuels, Elisa Pye, Mary Kay Bowden, and Melissa Sugulas.