I would just like to say that we're not talking about ANY of your real or hypothetical children.

We're talking about a girl with a very specific set of skills, resources and experiences. She was born while her parents were spending 7 years sailing around the world together and living at sea. She has been asking to do it since she was 6 years old. I read up on it, and there is actually ANOTHER 13-year-old girl from Australia about to take off on her own voyage around the world.

These are not just any girls. They are unique, in unique circumstances (rich, maybe?). How could they NOT do what they were destined to do?

I always think it is interesting that a parent "lets" a child do something out of the ordinary that others always think that it hasn't been thought through or researched, etc. Do you think they haven't thought about pirates? Schooling? Repairing the boat?

I certainly wouldn't want to be the one who stood in their way, on some totally assuagable and compensable fear.

Karen