All The Other Kids Are Going!!

Abby Sunderland Thought To Be Alive and Afloat In Indian Ocean
Contributed by ontheway (Editor)
Thursday, June 10, 2010 7:07

“The engineer behind Abby Sunderland's solo trip around the world says he believes the 16-year-old Thousand Oaks sailor is "alive" and "most likely floating" in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Speaking to a throng of reporters outside the family's home, Jeff Casher said he spoke to her at 3:45 a.m. Thursday, then lost contact after she went to check on some equipment on her boat. About an hour later, she apparently activated her emergency beacons – devices that sent automatic alerts to the Coast Guard and her family.”
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/76/529/Abby_Sunderland_Thought_To_Be_Alive_and_Afloat_In_Indian_Ocean.html

Are the Sunderland Parents evil for letting their 16 year old daughter sail around the world alone? My first instinct would be to presume that they over-achieving, pushy stage parents. This is due mainly to the fact that their 17 year old son has accomplished this same feat. Do they just happen to have two outstandingly athletic and responsible kids?

I know at 16 years old I felt fully mature and ready to handle all that life could throw at me. I put that to the test much more than my poor parents would have ever imagined. Was I right back then? Could I really handle it? Yes and no; I was not mature enough, or able to handle anything. The thing is, at 50 years old, I’m still not able. Now more than ever I realize how immature I can be and how unable I am to cope with many things. It’s ironically a sign of maturity to recognize this.

But I did handle many adult activities as maturely as I am able to now. I look at these children today and shudder when I think they are probably well advanced in knowledge and experience.

Are the Sunderland’s bad parents? I don’t know; I do know my kid wouldn’t be sailing around the world alone. I don’t have the nerve for it. No matter what, I hope Abby did it because she really wanted to, and not from parental or peer pressure.