I sent my son to Australia alone when he was 13 so he'd be more independent. Now that he's an adult, I get advice from him.

The author (not pictured) raised her kids to be independent. alyfromuk2us/Getty Images I sent my son abroad at 13 to help him grow more independent. Over time, my kids became capable adults with skills and confidence. Now I look to my children for advice, guidance, and inspiration. As a mom, I've made a few what-was-I-thinking parenting decisions. The first, and perhaps the most consequential, was choosing to send my oldest son to work on a banana plantation in Australia for 10 weeks the s...