As BB & GG are completing a phase in life and moving on to Secondary school, this brings to my mind that they are not children anymore. They are on the brink of being teens, mini adults, complete with the tears and tantrums that go with it.

Last week on Friday, as we were celebrating being halfway down to the end of the PSLE exams, my helper told both of them that the day after their exams end, they need to start clearing their rooms and putting away books and toys. They should also go through unwanted books and toys and sort them into two piles – to throw and to donate. GG looked up and said she can’t do that as she is going for a movie with a friend. Well, this was news to me and I said so!

That started a flood of tears and shouts about how she is not a baby anymore and that I don’t allow her to go out on her own to see movies with her friends. Actually, that is not 100% true. I have allowed her to go out twice with her friends, once though with an adult present. But it’s this ‘new’ friend that I am a bit leery about. For some reason, based on the Whatsapp conversations I’ve seen between her and GG and the limited interactions I’ve had with that girl, my mind tingles and I feel something off-kilter! I’ve learnt to listen to my intuition and so decided to be firm here. My helper also said she didn’t like the girl and also that she felt something off….

After a lot of tantrums and crying, GG gave in when I explained my reasons. But she still is most probably going to get her way. She has now decided to go see a movie with two friends from Hindi school. I’ve told her, I need to see evidence of parental consent from both girls before I allow. Also I will send BB as well so that both can then come home together after the movie!

BB & GG have a list of movies they want to see – after this above movie, they have another movie this week with their tuiton teacher and one with us also!

Well, they’ve finished their big exams and deserve this bit of fun and games before they start a new life journey.

As a parent, I need to start adjusting to the fact that they are growing up and I need to loosen the apron strings —- a lot more than I am comfortable with 😦