What kind of irresponsible parent would take their children cruising? That seems to be the underlying message from many corners in the wake of the Kaufman family's rescue in the Pacific from their boat, Rebel Heart.
It's all too easy for me to remember the questions we had from people who didn't understand our decision to go cruising as a family. They dove to the risks, and not to the benefits, and never considered that we had considered those risks already. This was a very deliberate choice driven by family values: not crazy hubris, not selfish interests.
Not that this stops the naysayers, who loved to let us know how we were ruining our children's education. Placing them in harm's way. Not to mention, of course, that they would never be properly socialized.
I remember too well what it was like, that run up to cruising: it is full of voices, some from the well-intentioned but uninformed, some in your head, some from those who need to speak against your brave choices to justify their own inaction. Don't let them intimidate you, or let one unfortunate event spun up in the media tip your dreams. Don't let the ridiculous fabrications of the fearful leach into your psyche.
Consider the sources, and hold tight to your supporters instead. Their voices align more closely with the reality. Cruising is the fulfillment of our dream to share precious years with our children as they grow. Countless memories and experiences enrich their lives and ours. It is turning our kids into curious, articulate citizens of the world. It has given them respect for cultures and lives beyond our home sphere. It has built our bonds as a family.
No, it's not completely without risk, but we take great care to prepare for the tough realities, and mitigate each of them to the best of our ability. And really, what life is without risk? Whether it is natural disaster, or human error, or pure bad luck- stuff happens, whether you live on a farm in Oklahoma or a boat in Mexico or a condo in San Francisco. None of us are immune, no matter how we navigate our futures.
Irresponsible? Crazy? If that's the bucket we get tossed in, well, I'm proud to be a member of the tribe that's chosen to raise children differently.
You know it drives us extra crazy when you read this on the Sailfeed website.
