Anchorman-turned-broadcaster Baek Ji-yeon shared her candid thoughts on parenting.
On the 29th, a video titled "Moments parents should check at least once: subscriber questions flooded in about childrearing, what is Baek Ji-yeon's answer?" was uploaded to the "Now Baek Ji-yeon" channel.
That day Baek Ji-yeon cautiously began, "I think the proportion of our sisters who ask for advice on parenting is almost 40 to 50 percent. So I thought I should have a conversation about childrearing with the sisters, but it's a really burdensome topic for me. Because I'm not a great parent. And every child is different."
She said, "They say a parent's role ends when the parent dies. Because it's always worrying about children, like an 80-year-old mother telling her 50-year-old son to be careful crossing the street. When my child was one or two years old, when putting them to sleep or taking them out, their hands were this small. Holding that hand, I would mutter to myself and always resolve in my heart, 'Mom will protect you.' It's an impossible story. In this wide world. No matter how superpowered a parent might be, unless they are a god, how could they protect my child 100% perfectly? They don't follow you around to school or work."
She continued, "Once they pass 20, they are no longer my child. Aren't they adults? I can't dare control or interfere or tell them what to do; you have to recognize they are a noble individual. From then on, it's not like I can do things because 'I'm a mother.' Children are said to be precious guests. That expression seems really right. It seems to imply many things. Only when they're in my arms are they my children, but they quickly grow out of my arms. It feels like a relationship between adults, adult to adult. Rather than being respected by my child, what's important is 'no matter what happens, my mother will believe me.'"
In particular, Baek Ji-yeon reflected on herself, "Then during the parenting period I just mentioned, did I do all that? I lacked so much. So when my child got married I was so happy and joyful, but there was also regret like, 'I thought they would stay in my arms longer, so I thought I had more time to make up for any mistakes I made as a mother.'"
She said, "One misconception I had is that parents are beings who teach their children, but that's really when they're very young, when they're in your arms. As children go to school and form friendships, they become members of society. Rather, it seems to be a relationship where you can teach each other and give each other lessons. The world isn't easy, and the child surely knows that; our children may be much smarter and far more updated than we are in this era. Parents should of course do what they can well. Because of that, I don't act as if what I know is everything by indoctrinating, forcing, and controlling; I spread my wings. There may be standards and attainment levels for worldly success, but there is no absolute standard or attainment level for happiness and it can't be scored, so what I want is my son's happiness, not success and achievement. I wanted him to live the life he wants, not the life I want."
She went on, "But one thing is certain: children really grow up fast. And they leave my arms quickly. If someone lives to 100, the generation that lives with parents is one-fifth, at most only about 20 years. For 80 years the child has to live alone. If you don't forget that time, you can find answers to many worries and specific problems. I do my best to do everything possible for my child to become a fine adult. But later I hope there won't be talk like, 'How did I raise you?', 'I lived like this because of you,' or 'You are my life and my pride.'"
She added, "Parenting is strictly case by case. There is no answer. But they are the most precious guests who came into my arms. Let's do our best to treat those guests well. Twenty years go by quickly. If you're tired of parenting, if you have many parenting worries, keep going. You're doing well. You need to nourish your own happiness to gain energy. That way we can live happily tomorrow and the day after. In conclusion, fighting."
Meanwhile, Baek Ji-yeon debuted as an MBC 15th class public announcer in 1987 and pursued her career. After marrying in 1995 and giving birth to a son, she divorced after four years. She remarried in 2001 but divorced six years later and raised her son alone. Notably, her son married the daughter of Jung Mong-won, chairman of HL Group, in 2023, drawing attention.
[Photo] Now Baek Ji-yeon
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