Testing Teens at an Airport leads to Reassurance

I allowed my daughters, 13 and 17 to lead the way through Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. We deplaned and I told them to get us to our luggage. This meant walking past 25 gates, navigating escalators, making the right choices on escalators, getting on right tram, exiting and ascending escalator then choosing the “red or blue” side of baggage claim and locating our correct carousel.I walked behind them, 30 yards or so. I let them make a wrong decision and did not correct right away, I let them figure out the “fail and recovery.”Both were already well travelled and knew the above sequences to getting luggage. They’d never been allowed to do this alone.It’s an easy and safe exercise. They taught me they were capable. I taught them that had a skill they’d use all their lives. It was so successful, next time they travelled with their mom, (my ex) they argued with her and won. She had directional difficulties but “knew it all.”I no longer get anxious when I drop them off, together or alone, when we travel. via /r/Parenting https://ift.tt/36YLkcc