tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490833788146823466.post2049892193108942317..comments2023-04-23T04:58:58.225-05:00Comments on The Monkey's Fist: Collecting Cruisers' Perspectives: Taking Kids Cruisingjane morejoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14871633865109014202noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490833788146823466.post-52322835197590820582014-04-09T20:13:07.691-05:002014-04-09T20:13:07.691-05:00Excellent posts! I think the the two things that ...Excellent posts! I think the the two things that are missing from the whole cruising kids debate are 1. What do you mean by cruising--there is an enormous difference between Island hopping when you are only doing 1-3 night passages and 40 day passages and 2. Age of the child. There is also an enormous difference between an infant who by design has a poor immune system and requires constant care and a school aged child who is sturdier and more self-sufficient (and may even help with the sailing!). I think it is a mistake to lump all of theses families together. The other thing I'm not sure I understand is why people are raising money for the Kaufmans. If they were planning to cruise RTW, don't they have savings? If their boat was their home, why wasn't it insured? I'm not nit-picking, I'm just curious. I'm glad they are ok and think they made the right call to get help for their babygirl.Sharon P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01198658210412549042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4490833788146823466.post-89011089036717596752014-04-09T19:33:42.684-05:002014-04-09T19:33:42.684-05:0011 years ago I may have thought sailing with a tod...11 years ago I may have thought sailing with a toddler was dangerous. 10 years ago our 21 year old daughter began working on private yachts and sailing off into unknown waters, at least they were unknown to us North Texas Landlubbers. In the last 10 years we've learned not only a lot about sailing but a lot about the people who choose to live their lives on boats. After following many sailing family blogs I have come to admire these people who choose to live their lives free and full of adventure, especially for their children. I now wish I could have raised my children on a boat. I work in a elementary school and on a daily basis I see parents putting their children's lives in danger. They refuse to vaccinate, their children. They refuse to use car seats for their babies as they speed through heavy traffic. They allow their children from as young as 5 years old to ride a bus home from school and let themselves into an empty apartment and cook themselves something to eat. They also allow these children to walk down the side of a highway alone to get to and from school. I consider neglect dangerous parenting, not sailing. In the past 10 years we have learned to open our minds and stop living in fear. When our children tell us they are sailing off to Cuba or riding a Honda 100 from Panama to Austin, Texas, we listen to their confidence as they plan their trip. Their confidence stifles any fears we may have. I don't want my kids to know that I live in fear. Fear is what makes people tell others not to live their dreams. judithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04070661448170951709noreply@blogger.com