When children fall in love at a young age.

Nowadays, media platforms, social networks, and films often depict love, making children curious and eager to experience it. During adolescence, children often experience rapid psychological and physiological changes, leading to attraction to the opposite sex. Instead of worrying or reacting harshly, parents should try to understand their children's feelings and gently guide them through the process.

Parents who are caring, attentive , and listen to their children help them feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. (Image is for illustrative purposes only.)

Ms. Hong Loan, residing in Tan An ward, shared that her son, Nam, left his personal Facebook account open on his desktop computer and accidentally read his messages, discovering that he had confessed his love but was rejected.

Nam is in 9th grade, preparing for the 10th grade entrance exam, so when his mother, Loan, found out about the situation, she was very worried. However, she tried to stay calm and find an opportunity to talk to her son. With his mother's concern and questioning, Nam shared that he and his girlfriend were both excellent math students and had been selected for the school's math team. They shared similar interests and felt close and fond of each other. Recently, Nam wrote a love letter, but his girlfriend rejected him, saying, "We're still young, we haven't thought about dating yet." Hearing her son's feelings, Loan gently advised him, explaining that his girlfriend's rejection was justified, as they both needed to focus on the 10th grade entrance exam. Following his mother's advice, Nam gradually calmed down and concentrated on the important exam. Loan also encouraged him to play basketball outside of school to improve his height and physical fitness, and to avoid spending too much time thinking about romance.

Ms. Ngoc Han, residing in Hung Phu ward, shared that her daughter, Lan, is in 8th grade this year. Recently, her husband discovered that Lan has a "boyfriend" and that they had arranged to go out together after extra classes. In anger, her husband scolded her and demanded that she immediately end the relationship. "My husband's behavior shocked my daughter, and she cried profusely. I gently advised my husband that this is a sensitive matter and shouldn't be discussed publicly. After discussing it, my husband and I decided to contact the boyfriend's family, and both sides agreed to allow the two to be friends freely, but with boundaries to ensure their relationship remains innocent and doesn't negatively impact their studies or mental well-being. Both families also discreetly asked the homeroom teacher to pay attention to and remind the children about their studies," Ms. Han recounted.

Not all parents know how to handle the situation "skillfully." In fact, many unfortunate incidents have occurred when families discover their children are in early relationships. A few months ago, Ms. Nguyet and her husband, originally from Ca Mau and running a business in Ninh Kieu ward, received a phone call from their family saying their son had attempted suicide by taking sleeping pills because his grandmother was preventing their relationship. According to Ms. Nguyet, her son, a 9th-grade student, had been dating a girlfriend for a year. He often skipped meals to save money to buy gifts for her. That time, her son ordered a high-value gift online worth 2 million VND for his girlfriend's birthday, which his mother-in-law discovered. She made a big fuss, calling and scolding the girl's family. Ms. Nguyet's son, feeling both ashamed and heartbroken, acted rashly in a moment of weakness. After that incident, Ms. Nguyet and her husband rearranged their schedules to be closer to their son and listen to him. Currently, Ms. Nguyet's son has recovered from the "shock" thanks to his parents' timely support and understanding of his feelings.

According to psychologists, teenagers are very sensitive and need the support and companionship of their parents. When parents discover their child is in a relationship at an early age, they should remain calm, have open discussions about love and sexuality, respect their child, and set safe boundaries to prevent it from affecting their studies or causing unfortunate consequences. On the other hand, by being a friend to their child and gaining their trust, parents can more easily offer advice and guidance on how to protect themselves and choose good friends.

Text and photos: DONG TAM

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/khi-tre-yeu-som-a201262.html