This morning while cleaning my shop, I overheard some teenage boys chatting with my neighbor’s son, they are his friends. Their conversation caught my attention.
One of them was bragging about a friend who smokes secretly and the parents had no idea, and the boy was already addicted. Hmmm.
Another started laughing as he shared how one of their friends had sex with a girl in an uncompleted building, while they stood outside the building to “kept watch” to make sure no one caught them.
They were just taking and laughing like it's a normal thing. Deep down I was already irritated my heart sank. I can't even say anything to them because obviously I wasn't invited to the conversation. These are young boys whose parents would probably be boosting that their kids are still innocent and well-behaved.
It reminded me of how my parents where so involved in our lives to the extent that all our friends are known and welcomed to the house. My mum will make sure she destroys any relationship she isn't comfortable with. As parents, we can't be everywhere but I guess we can pay attention to who our kids hang around with. Because this wrong company can just undo all the good value we install in our kids.
Funny enough, my neighbor doesn’t allow her son to go out much. But guess what? He still learns all these things through the friends who come visiting. That’s how subtle peer influence works. So get to know your children friends, invite them over sometimes observe how they behave and what they say. Most importantly be your children safe space so that they don't learn life from the street.
Build a strong connection with your kids while rising them.