There comes a point when you’re raising teenagers that you become very aware of how quickly things are changing.
The little person who once needed you for absolutely everything is suddenly wanting to make their own plans. They are developing their own interests, and yearning to become increasingly independent. That is exactly what we want for them, sure, but that doesn’t make it any less confronting as a parent.
My daughter, Ash, is 15. When the opportunity came up for us to spend some time together in Seoul, South Korea, I jumped at it.
Partly because I wanted to spend some time with her one on one. Partly because I am really aware that the window for these opportunities is closing faster than I want it to. It won’t be long before she is off on her own adventure, and travelling as a young adult with her friends will be far more appealing than travelling with her old Mum.
I wanted us to have an incredible time together, but I had another reason for this trip.
As Ash becomes more ready to make her own decisions and become increasingly independent, I am really aware of the skills I am sending her out into the world with.
Travelling is a goal of hers (no idea where she gets that from?). When that time comes, I want her to be ready. I want her to be armed with the tools she will need to navigate the globe easily, and to be smart and safe as she does it.
And I want her to do it with confidence.
As someone who has spent more than 20 years working in the travel industry, I know how much travel can change people’s lives.
But I also know how intimidating it can feel to land in a new place, far away from home, with none of the local language and no idea what to do next.
There are some things we can teach our young people before this point, so when that does happen (and there is an argument to suggest it should as a character-building experience) they are somewhat ready to handle it by themselves.
As seen by Ash. Seoul, South Korea, August 2026.
So, Seoul was going to be a bit of an adventure for both of us.
The travel lessons started before we even packed our suitcases.
At every part of the booking process, Ash sat with me and we talked about why this was all happening.
Booking flights on the right dates, checking names, checking travel regulations like visas, planning budgets. We realised quickly that much of the knowledge I take for granted, she was just becoming aware of.
So we did what I do best. We made lists. And while I had to fight the urge to organise the living daylights out of things, I learned a valuable lesson in stepping back and watching her grow.
Those lists helped us check off the tasks together and gave Ash an opportunity to ask questions about all sorts of things.
Navigating Seoul also presented some challenges.
If you have ever been to South Korea before you’ll know that Google Maps is not the best option.
Also, how were we going to get around if we don’t speak Korean?
Ash investigated and discovered Naver Maps was a much better option, and she taught me how to use Papago. Letting her lead on this one was fun.
Day two was when Ash really came into her own. As we strolled along the platform to our train, she stopped me to let me know that I, in fact, had our direction all wrong and we were on the wrong platform. She got us back on track. It was working. She was managing this!
And then there was the food.
I am a crazy foodie. I will try just about anything (though please never ask me to eat sea cucumber again). I was so excited to try all the street food and Korean BBQ I could get my hands on.
Ash is not. She chose a vegetarian food lifestyle when she was 7 years old and has stuck to it ever since. Spice is not her favourite, and like so many kids in Australia, she loves nothing more than a good pizza.
So how to deal with this? Compromise. We started slowly, with bland street food options, but enough to let her start to see the world through new eyes and new tastebuds.
The moment that made me emotional.
Actually there were two moments.
We came across a fashion exhibition in a Hanok. A Hanok is a traditional Korean style house, and this fashion exhibition was a really fun surprise we stumbled across. I really enjoyed the exhibition, but that wasn’t the highlight.
The highlight was watching Ash interact with the guides. She asked all sorts of questions. Questions about fashion. About Korean history. About the guides perspectives. She was genuinely interested and wanted to know more about the place she was in and the people she was with.
Then came the one that had my anxiety through the roof.
Seoul, in case you didn’t know, has spectacular shopping. Particularly for beauty enthusiasts. We had visited many K-beauty shops already, but there was one product the teenager was after and wanted to go back to get. By herself.
The store wasn’t far away, and we were both connected with mobile eSims, but this was a real test for me. I was letting my baby go off by herself in a foreign country. It was like the biggest trust fall of all time.
She nailed it. I survived it. We both grew from it. (And she did get a fabulous moisturiser).
Travelling with soul at any age.
So with all of these new experiences under her belt, decisions made by her and guided by me, How did she feel at the end of it?
In her words:
“Trying all the new things was overwhelming at times. Some things were nerve wracking, like bartering in the markets, but it saved me money so I’m glad I did it and I will do it again. I definitely feel a lot more comfortable now, especially after navigating the subway system. I feel really proud of myself and a lot more confident. I think what I’ve learned doing on this trip, my future independent travel will be much better. I learned what it feels like to go out and try something new, and learn how to be in a new place, and it left me feeling a lot smarter and confident and proud”.
Job done.
This leap is available to people of all ages. This is the joy of travel. If you do need a hand taking that leap, Ash and I used our skills to create a guide just for you. It is full of helpful info about each stage of travelling overseas, checklists, definitions and resources. And it’s free.
We both wish we could explain how amazing this experience was, but maybe you just ought to try it for yourself.
All images courtesy of Ash.