I've made a conscious decision not to be a helicopter parent. My oldest child was walking alone to the library by the time he was in 1st grade.

My son Jack was invited to stay with his friend's family for a month in rural France, but the timing meant he couldn't travel with them. At first, I felt hesitant about sending my 15-year-old alone on two flights - he had a layover in Paris - but when I called Air France, they almost laughed off my concerns. It was perfectly legal for him to travel unaccompanied. The customer service agent was so laid-back about it that I thought, 'Why not?'

We've long held the belief that Jack, now 18, and his sister, Evie, 14, should enjoy as much freedom as possible, as long as it's within reason. I didn't want to be fearful in raising my kids. The idea of being a helicopter parent who monitors their every step is somewhat hilarious to me. My husband, Kevin, and I waved him off at the airport in San Francisco in the summer of 2021.

Read at Business Insider