One of my daughter’s 16 year-old male classmates called her up to ask for directions to get home—his home. I happened to overhear the conversation at my home as she had already returned. After they hung up, I asked “This is a 16 year-old guy. Bigger and taller than you. And after you all left the restaurant, you came home but he is still lost?” My daughter laughed out loud confirming.
Unbelievable. Does this kid not get out? Does he go anywhere besides school? Has he always been shuttled in private vehicles and never taken a bus?
Since she was little, I’ve tried to give my daughter the opportunities from exploring our neighborhood to navigating the airport so she is not intimidated by new surroundings. Whether it is a bus station or an international airport, I taught her how to read departure screens and showed her how to look for terminals and gate numbers printed on her boarding pass. And if all else fails, ask someone in airport uniform as airports are the safest places in the world since everyone is screened and secured.
As highway driving is easier than city driving, arguably travelling by air is often easier than navigating within a city. In airports, you just need to get to your gate by a certain time. But there are many more pathways in the city to get lost in. One detour can leave you at a different part of the city without familiar transit connections.
One detour can leave you at a different part of the city without familiar transit connections.
So, when a friend in a neighboring city asked her to come for a weekend sleepover, I suggested she take a commuter bus since I couldn’t drive her. She initially hesitated. But with the benefit of pre-planning, transit apps, her trusty fare-card and phone and the friend waiting for her at the agreed upon street intersection, she embarked on the 100-minute journey across three transit authorities.
In the weeks that followed, we travelled along the same major streets and she remembered some of the landmarks. This is the reason why I don’t let her put on headphones when she’s in the car with me. It’s also the same reason why I tell her never to put on headphones while travelling on public transit. All this is good practice as she prepares for her new driver’s permit. Navigating unfamiliar territory at speed requires focus.
Later that evening, her friend called back to confirm he got home okay. It only took 90 minutes for an otherwise 20-minute bus ride. Then I said, “Well, I bet he won’t make that mistake again as I’m sure he was watching for his stop.” My daughter said, no, it’s dark and he just played games on his phone.
I snickered, “Kids don’t get kidnapped, they just wonder off mindlessly.” We both laughed out loud.
