Hey Peeps,
This has been an amusing read and it's great to see everyone putting in their two bobs worth. Even those without kids
Every person was once a kid and has life experiences guided by their parents which shaped their ideas of what safety and fun and enjoyment is. Your parents also had a childhood which was shaped by their parents thoughts of what was right and wrong, safe and otherwise. In other words everyones idea of fun came from what they experienced many years ago.
Just because something doesn't fit in your world view of safe practice, doesn't mean it is wrong for them, only wrong according to
your book of life rules. It may well be perfectly acceptable in the other persons life rules. They have assessed the conditions, weighed the risks and found them to be acceptable to them. To judge someone else on your model of the world is a little pointless.
My daughter (3 1/2) is mad keen to do some kiting and in time I will take her. I also want to take her spearfishing when she is able to handle herself well enough in the water. I look forward when she can join me in the line up at my fave surfbreak and yes I will be nervous about her wiping out, but that is part of the game and I believe the fun is worth it. I also look forward to teaching her rock climbing when she is ready.
My childhood was filled with fast bikes, skateboards and big hills, swinging over cliffs on an old piece of rope I found "down the bush", climbing to the top of 60ft high trees, spearfishing with a gidgee at 8 years old, I sailed racing dinghys and skiffs, at 10 was slalom water skiing, jumping off cliffs into water and so on and so forth. My life has been a blast I never regret one busted knee or scrape (and there were many)
I dont want to disuade my kids from such an adventurous life and will encourage, but not force them into any such activites as soon as they feel confident enough to handle it. Fun, adventure and excitement is the juice of life, let your kids sink their teeth into it.
As a parent you make decisions for them and therefor are responsible for the outcomes. No parent will deliberately put their kids in harms way, but you can eliminate some of the greatest experiences they can have if you try and protect them from every possible potential injury.
Remember, your model of the world is different from everyone elses, don't try and lay down your rules on their life, it will never work and you will never see eye to eye, regardless of how much breath you waste or how many keys you type.
Bring your kids up the best way YOU know how and allow other to do the same.
I reserve my judgement of Ruffryder, it may not be something I'd do just yet and maybe not in the baby bjorn harness, but I know Pallarenda, and it is not deep, and I know how much my little girl would love to do that. Each to their own
Good winds,
just fun and outgoing, enjoy life to the fullest.
