Parenting Teens: Giving them wings to fly
Our son, Pablo, turned thirteen pre-pandemic. It was an exciting time for him because we started giving him more space to do things independently, such as go to his dance and acting classes on his own, hang out with his friends at the mall until a reasonable time in the evening, ride TNVs by himself, and even take the public transport to his classes at Abot Tala.
Fortunately for us, we live in a relatively safe location with good transportation systems available, and almost all the places we need to be at are accessible to us, which made it so much easier for us to loosen the strings.
When the lockdown ensued, being a minor that he is, he was stuck inside our 21-square feet apartment along with his brothers, unable to go anywhere or do anything much. I wasn’t aware how much this bothered him until recently when he commented that he feels less independent than I was when I was his age.
He’s not wrong and it’s not entirely our fault, of course. Times were different. Human trafficking and black market threats on the young have increased considerably through the years, and the streets are less kid-friendly, so it has been a bit of a challenge letting the boys out of our sight when they were younger.
But we are very much aware that they are starting to grow up and at some point, we need to teach them to stand on their own and fend for themselves. And the best time to start is now as they hit their teen years.
The plan is to introduce them to independence little by little starting off with something as simple as running an errand. For example, last week, the boys informed me that they ran out of acne facial wash, so I shooed them off to the mall to get it themselves. I even encouraged them to hang back a bit, so they did. They told me that they walked to the other mall, about five to six blocks away, to check out available Switch games and anime books at their favourite shops before coming home. You know boys!
(READ: On young love)
F2F Opportunities
Now that it seems that the pandemic restrictions are starting to ease, the boys’ dance school decided to adapt hybrid learning wherein they meet for ballet classes on Saturdays in a club in Makati and still do online classes on weekdays. We took the opportunity to give the boys some space and let them ride with a friend and her. mom to their face-to-face classes.
Originally, the boys were going to take the bus then use the elevated walkway going there and back. It’s a route very familiar to us because it was the same one we used when they rehearsed for shows or go to studios for their recording gigs. But my husband and I agreed that it would be much safer for them to hitch a ride with their friends. The walkway felt a bit more deserted than it had been when I accompanied the boys to their first F2F classes, and they go home a bit late, so the first stretch of the walkway was dark and I couldn’t see any form of security around. Sending them off to that walkway without an adult around may not be wise.
Nowadays, they either take the bus or a TNV to their classes on their own, going there, but their dad comes to get them when their friends cannot give them a ride back.
(READ: Boys don’t wear tutus)
Back at Abot Tala High
A couple of weeks ago, Pablo rejoined his High School – Abot Tala. Their online classes will begin next week and I’m excited because I finally convinced Lukas, who turned 13 this year, to join as well. Their in-person Monday meet-ups started two weeks ago.
We have limitations, of course. For instance, my husband, Jay, has to bring them to Quezon City and pick them up 6 hours later when they have meet-ups there because the commute in that area is a bit more complex. But for their activities around BGC and Makati —- where there are more systematized public transports, roads are safer and people tend to follow traffic rules — they are pretty much learning to go around on their own. I think letting them take the P2P bus to Alabang Town Center won’t be an issue for us, either.
I asked the boys for feedback and they are obviously happy about not having a chaperone around all the time, although Lukas said he is still trying to get used to not having any adult along. Unlike Pablo, though, Lukas has his older brother with him all the time. Because Pablo is four years older, he had a taste of what it was like to really do things by himself.
(READ: Sending our teen to High School at Abot Tala Self-Directed Centre)
Fears Schmears
To be truthful about it, I still freakin’ worry about my children, but I know that cannot hover over them like an eagle forever. They need to find themselves and learn to navigate life in the real world without us. If we truly want them to have wings and fly on their own, we need to learn to release them and get out of the way. That’s why we homeschooled them in the first place!
It’s not easy. As parents, we want to ensure that our children will be safe and secure until they are adults, but we don’t have authority over that, do we? We guide, we support, but the most important thing we can do, really, is to pray for our children relentlessly. Little by little, I am learning to let go because I want them to grow. I may never get used to it, who knows? Whenever I’m feeling fear creeping up on me, I get down on my knees and remind myself that I am not releasing my teenagers to the world, I am releasing them into the hands of the Almighty.
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“Pour out your heart like water before the face of the LORD. Lift your hand toward Him for the life of your young children” Lamentations 2:19.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1.
23 Comments
Bryan
Yes, we have to find the courage to let go and let our kids do what they love and discover their interests. It’s not always easy, but they need the freedo to be themselves.
Blair Villanueva
Teenagers need to learn their ways and guide them accordingly. It gives them a sense of achievement that they can do things independently.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Exactly!
Tweenselmom
Right, our kids can’t be kids forever, but we will guide them every step of the way!
Beth
I think the hardest part of being a parent is knowing that we have to let our kids go and do things for themselves – even if those things might not work out the way they hope.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Oh, that is so true, Beth. They won’t always hit their marks and they need to learn to be tough — and they’ll only learn this if we let them experience these pains as they grow up.
Kelly Bolen
I think it is natural for us to worry about our kids, regardless of their age. Mine our 25 and 27 and I still worry and flutter! But they have defintely made my hubby and I proud as they have turned into fabulous working and caring adults!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
That is our goal — to help them grow into productive, compassionate, kind adults!
Alita
This is so beautiful and I love the message. We do need to find courage as parents to let our kids go at some point and find themselves. Find the things they love and discover their true selves.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Thank you, Alita.
Stephanie
We are starting to give our kids a bit of freedom, too, and it isn’t easy. Mine are younger than yours at only 7 and 9, but we let them walk to their grandparents on the next street and play in the neighborhood park on their own recently. School hasn’t been an issue because they were back on campus fall of 2020, but it was an adjustment for me not being allowed to volunteer there that year. This past school year was business as usual thankfully.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
We live in Manila. Most of the places here are not as kid-friendly unless you live in gated neighborhoods, otherwise, they would be walking the streets, too, at that age. They did get to do activities with other kids on their own when they were younger, like do shows and trainings, though we had to take them there and pick them up.
jen schreiner
This is the hardest. I am dealing with giving my teens more independence. I still think of them as babies. Time flies by way to fast.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
People used to warn me about that, but they were all little at the same time and I was having so much fun. Then one day, they have grown up!
Melanie Edjourian
It is lucky you are in a relatively safe area. I have a teen and she can’t go out without as adult where we are it isn’t the safest area. It’s hard to let them spread their wings sometimes.
Neely Moldovan
I am so glad I am 8 years away from teens! i need more time!
Fransic verso
Parenting is a bit difficult and we need to ensure that they are safe and well. I appreciate all the parents for the hard work they put in.
Rosey
I think the most worrying I did was when they turned early 20’s. The oldest three all made some decisions I wish I could have grounded them for, lol, but they all turned out pretty amazing despite me not being able to ground them, ha. 🙂
Wendy
This is so relatable. My older son has a little bit of independence when we were in Seoul. We allowed him to go out with friends but we also know Seoul is relatively safer compared to anywhere else. He feels a little bit constricted here in Jakarta because we don’t allow him to take public transpo. Although we allow him to meet up with friends. Backing off from our sons’ lives is a gradual process.
Ntensibe Edgar
Yyyyeeessssiiiiii…now, this is how it should be done! Teens deserve their space from where they learn best and most.
Christian Foremost
Im not sure if my parents felt like this as well when we started going out on our own. The taste of independence is truly something else but of course we still wish safety for the kids!
Ivan Carlo Jose
The teenage years are an exciting phase both for parents and children. However, coming from the perspective of a parent, I do think that raising a teenager would also entail a lot of adjustments from us.
WanderWoMom
i have so many things to learn about letting our children fly.. and im scared because im almost in that part.. i hope i will be able to help him fly and not hide his wings. good job on your boys momma!