Independence
One of the biggest challenges we face as parents of teens and tweens is knowing when to let go. Each of our children is different and we can’t keep them in line of sight forever, but it’s still tough.
I’m talking about letting your child go off to camp for a week. Letting him go on a vacation with another family. Letting her travel on her own. You know, independence.
I am very fortunate that my parents allowed me to earn my independence in small doses so that when I was ready to make a trip to Europe on my own at 18, I was confident and well prepared.
My son is 11 and we really want him to have that same confidence. He is off on an adventure this week - one that most kids his age would only dream about. He gets to drive cross country with his Grandfather, Uncle and cousin in an RV to go watch his Uncle race motorcycles. How cool is that? I know he is in great hands and he will have a ball. Plus, I know he is ready for the independence.
Plus, the cousin he is spending time with is 14 and taking on his own world travels. He lives in another country and is visiting us for a few weeks. The boys are going to have a great opportunity to bond and when my son is a bit older and ready for a bigger adventure, he can travel half way across the world to visit his cousin.
How did you know your kids were ready for their first big adventure? I’d love to hear about it.
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POSTED IN: Summer Vacation, Travel
3 opinions for Independence
Neena
Aug 7, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Wow - this is a big step - for both of you! How long will the trip take? My son has spent a week here and there at my parents home but that is about the extent of his independent travels. Being the overprotective mom that I am, I have a hard time letting him go, but suprisingly, once he is on his way, I really don’t worry too much.
V-Grrrl
Aug 15, 2007 at 5:54 am
For me independence is less about The Big Trip and more in the little things. We live in Europe and don’t speak the local language. Still, I let my almost 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter walk together to the neighborhood bakery to get bread for the family and go biking as a team in our area. I also let my son bike by himself to a friend’s house (about 2 miles away), with my cell phone in his pocket.
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