This iambic poem is about overprotective parents who cares more about their son's safety than his well-being. They are so determined to protect their kid that they end up harming him. They home school their son, never letting him out of their sight or even the house, and denies him friends, all for his own safety.

The last stanza could be interpreted in a bunch of different ways; but basically, the boy grew older but was so dependent, so when it was time for him to go out on his own as a man, his parent's struggles to make him safe actually made him vulnerable because he never learned how to be one.

The title can also be interpreted differently, but the main idea is that although the boy is constantly told that he is being protected out of love, he never really learns the true meaning. Another main idea of this poem is irony!