"The puzzle for me is that more parents don't see that children at this age (pre-puberty) are so capable.
That capability can make teenage years easier provided the kids are taught responsibilty and "about" puberty when the lesson is most easily learnt - that is pre-puberty. "
Definitely ring true to me. I have seen this in my two boys lately; been to busy to follow them up.. or, rater holding them up (as required over here:)
-result is that they take more responsibility of their life, as I did back then.