Hwang Jung-eum shares parenting struggles as sons learn independence

Actress Hwang Jung-eum has candidly shared the reality of parenting and the changes her children have undergone while raising her two sons herself. She explained that the children, who were not accustomed to solving things on their own because they grew up under their grandmother's care, have gradually become more independent through four months of 'mom-led parenting.' Hwang reflected that while the process was not easy for her, it was a necessary experience for the children.

On the 20th, Hwang released a video on her YouTube channel titled '4 Months of Mom-led Parenting: The Brave Ones Have Changed.' In the video, she explained how the grandmother had primarily been in charge of raising her two sons and discussed the changes that emerged after she began caring for them herself.

Hwang stated, "The grandmother has raised them since they were babies. They can't do anything by themselves. Everything was done for them." She further confessed, "They couldn't even go to the bathroom alone," explaining that until she stepped into parenting herself, adults had been handling a significant portion of the children's daily lives.

Among these, the change Hwang felt most acutely was the matter of going to the bathroom alone. She noted that for four months, they kept saying, "Mom, let's go to the bathroom together," revealing that the children initially found it difficult even to move on their own.

Ultimately, Hwang said she had no choice but to speak firmly at some point, telling them, "Go by yourself." Even while crying, the children went to the bathroom alone, and as time passed, they naturally became able to handle it themselves. While it may seem like a simple change in a daily habit, for Hwang, it was a symbolic moment where the children began to act independently, breaking away from the guardian's help.

Hwang's father, who was listening to the story, also remarked, "It has gotten much better now." Hwang herself expressed the thought that "the environment seems to make the children," suggesting that the environment and upbringing can have a significant impact on daily habits.

She said, "They are becoming independent little by little, so while it is hard for me, I think it is good for the children." This means that as the children's ability to do things on their own increases, the practical labor the mother must endure also grows, but she is accepting that process as part of their growth.

Hwang's parenting concerns do not stop at the bathroom issue. In another recently released video, she observed her two sons and said, "Their problem-solving skills are too low," emphasizing that what the children need for their future is not specific professional success, but the strength to judge and resolve situations themselves.

Regarding the children's future, Hwang kept her distance from methods where parents pre-determine careers, such as doctors or judges. She expressed her wish for the children to live happily and laugh a lot while doing what they want, citing independence in life and happiness as more important values than grades or professional achievement.

These changes are also having a significant impact on Hwang's own life. In a video released last month, she confessed that it was not easy to manage her physical condition and that even her voice had become hoarse because she was looking after the two sons alone. At the time, she revealed the realistic burden of single motherhood, saying, "Because I am caring for the kids alone," it was difficult to even take proper care of her own health.

However, this does not mean Hwang is handling everything entirely alone. In a recent video, her father expressed his intention to stay by her side to help until she feels stable, noting that his daughter looks exhausted. This part reveals Hwang's parenting style of trying to give the children opportunities to do things themselves as much as possible, even while receiving help from her family.

After debuting in the entertainment industry in 2002 as a member of the girl group Suga, Hwang transitioned to acting and has shown a strong presence in works such as "High Kick Through the Roof," "Giant," "Secret Love," "Kill Me, Heal Me," and "She Was Pretty." Having been in the public eye as an actress for a long time, she is now showing another facet of her life by revealing not only her glamorous acting activities but also her daily life as a mother raising two sons.

In particular, in the process of raising two sons alone after her divorce, Hwang's remarks about parenting go beyond simple stories of celebrity child education. She is using her experience to convey that while doing everything for a child might seem convenient and safe in the short term, there is a necessary process of waiting for them to be able to judge and move on their own at some point.

Of course, the upbringing environment of individual families cannot be generalized. The appropriate parenting style can vary depending on a child's temperament, growth stage, and family care conditions. Hwang is not presenting expert parenting solutions, but rather candidly sharing the changes and thoughts she has experienced while raising her two sons herself.

Nevertheless, Hwang's remark, "I am struggling, but I think it is good for the children," clearly captures the values she currently prioritizes in parenting. It is about a mother stepping back from doing everything for the child to allow them to do things themselves, and accepting the resulting trial and error as part of their growth.

The small change that began with her sons needing her to accompany them to the bathroom has ultimately led to the fundamental parenting question: "How much should a parent do for their child?" The honest confession from Hwang's daily life is prompting parents to rethink the balance between care and independence.