Posted by Jonathan Labaree on July 03, 2003 at 17:02:22 from 207.5.234.19 user JLabaree.
In Reply to: Bravo! (was: what would they be like today?) posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on July 03, 2003 at 08:59:09:
Alex,
I, too, grew up on the Maine coast (well, summers anyway), on Vinalhaven. Apart from the bit of owning your own Friendship at 16 (I had to be content with building my own peapod at that age), our histories sound similar – lots of time in boats, sailing, exploring, camping, and parents willing to give us room, but concerned for our safety. I came to AR when I was 12, and was thrilled to find stories that so closely reflected my experiences and passions, while offering new ideas and dreams. I currently work protecting islands and coastal properties at a state-wide land trust in Maine. I’ve said this here before, but one of the main reasons I chose this career was to ensure that places still exist for kids to learn the lessons that wild places and deserted islands taught me.
I entirely agree with you and others who have asserted that motivated kids with understanding parents can find ways to have their own adventures. There are certainly plenty of spots along the coast of Maine that are suitable and available. There are even communities such as the one you describe who would be willing to keep an eye on such a group of youngsters.
I am interested in the responses that mention our society’s increasing obsession with safety as a deterrent to these experiences. I wonder, though, if that applies more to organized events than to families going off on their own. I can see how safety issues might seem burdensome to someone organizing a group outing such as a TARS event, but it’s pretty much common sense to be careful when you’re on your own. Those are good lessons to learn as early as possible. I remember being most disappointed as a kid that we weren’t allowed to have an open campfire (town regulations), but we made do with a pan of charcoal, tossing in the occasional twig to get a bit of flame.
As an aside, a very good friend of mine is now divorced from his wife largely due to taking opposite sides on the better drowned than duffers philosophy. Having grown up on a farm with lots of latitude and an ex-Marine father, my friend is strongly in the go-off-and-explore camp whereas his ex-wife very much coddles the kids, constantly hovering nearby, ready to pick them up when they fall, and rush them to the emergency room when they bleed. It’s too bad because otherwise they were a very compatible couple and it broke my friend’s heart when his wife decided to call it quits. Of course, the irony of that situation is that divorcing him did nothing to change the way he treats the kids, so they have two separate experiences at their parents’ homes. With our own child only three months old, I can only guess how we will react to all of this, but I very much hope we will emulate Alex’s, Andrew’s, and my parents and give her increasing latitude with sound and consistent rules for safety.