Dutch Girl to Sail Around World
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Dutch Girl to Sail Around World
Not long after 16-year-old Abby Sunderland’s attempt to become the youngest person to sail around the world went awry in the Indian Ocean, a 14-year-old Dutch girl is preparing to do the same. Laura Dekker’s mother and a Dutch court originally objected to her plans, inspiring her to run away. Now, she has approval from her mother and the court, even though the Council for Child Protection in the Netherlands begged the court to block her trip. Dekker is hoping to complete the trip before September 2012, when she will be 17. (The record is held by a 17-year-old, the 16-year-old Jessica Watson unofficially made the voyage, too.)
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DeliaK
Will Mom be equally happy to give her daughter this big chance, if she goes missing at sea?
Good luck, young sailor! May you have a good journey and may you be at your destination.
jaydeekay
Would Mom be equally happy if despised by her daughter for not letting her follow her dream?
DeliaK
jaydeekay - 'tis true, but an age-old result of good parenting!
keepakeeper43
Co-Sign.
keepakeeper43
(Co-Sign meant for Delia).
Holyterror44
JDK,
It's not the role of a parent to be liked. A parent's role is to protect and guide their child by, for instance, letting them but themselves in danger to set some asinine record.
The youngest to try this journey may only be remembered as the youngest to die attempting this journey.
Congratulations, parents, on risking having your child die before she's even out of high school.
jaydeekay
Age is arbitrary.
Some are 'adults' at 15. Some aren't at 21.
And I beg to differ that it's not the role of a parent to be liked. Oh yes it is, but that's just ONE of a parent's roles. A parent who is hated is hated, period, with no chance of helping to guide the child from then on.
If one has brought up their children 'correctly' (there is no defined 'correct' way as each child is different), there would be understanding from both sides as to what should/should not be done. And being that we have no idea who/what this girl is, perhaps we are both talking out of our @sses.
As my @ss sees it, this kid was going to do it no matter what. Wouldn't it be better if the kid was informed/aware/prepared by having her parent's permission than her just running off and doing it? My @ss says, "Yes."
Holyterror44
Yes, perhaps we are both making that error, but I would argue that it's impossible for a 14-year-old to have the wisdom to make that decision. I would also say that the "dreams" of children that age tend to be a bit unrealistic. What idea could she have of the distance she'll be traveling? Or all of the things that could happen to her body that would put her in danger?
Moreover, if she is killed, will it have been worth it if she's dethroned next year by a 12-year-old?
Wanting to sail around the world is a wonderful dream. It will still be a wonderful accomplishment if she drops the need to be the youngest to do it.
ittybittykitty
Noooooooooooooooooo!
Thank you.
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