“10-Year Family Trip From Hell”

[Creedence]

A quick search didn’t turn this up for me, so I thought I’d post it.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/boo...trip-hell.html

As a guy with a 7 year old daughter, in discussions with The Boss to sail off for the middle school years, this poses some interesting considerations. I have my opinions, but thought I’d put it out there and see where the discussion goes.

[Gadagirl]

It was discussed extensively in this thread that I started....

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f92/written-from-a-childs-perspective-274240.html

[Creedence]

Thanks for the link! Good ol’ Dailymail regurgitating something old for more clicks. As I scrolled down in the article, I could have sworn I’d seen the picture of her and her diplomat husband before.

Old news... carry on!

Apropos of nothing... In search of a graceful exit off this stage (in consideration for anyone who wasted time coming in to see this), I’ll offer the YouTube video I was watching when I remembered that I needed to check in on my post. Enjoy!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uo_hJrDLdJU

[wholybee]

I must wonder how representative this article and the other thread really are. One would hope that good parenting would in most cases not put children through 10 years of hell, and all the rest described in that article.

While I don't have kids myself, I met many that were off cruising with their families. Some of them wrote about it on social media, or otherwise talked about it. Thier experiences don't seem to line up with these examples. Hearing from them as young adults more often was "I didn't understand why my dad wanted to go, and I was upset about it. But now, I am so thankful for what I gained from it."

Anyway, I think the experience has more to do with how well the parents parent their children in general, and less to do with the fact they set off.

[sailingunity]

I saw that article in DM as well. I do sympathize somewhat with the girl, as it seems like her parents prioritized cruising over their duties as parents. However, it did motivate her to find a better life for herself, she got into Oxford and made a good life out of it, no doubt the experiences she had while cruising shaped her into the person she became.

It is largely a lifestyle of choice, so anyone looking to get into it should make sure to have enough funds set aside, and make sure everyone is having fun.

[letsgetsailing3]

Taking children cruising is the parents' fantasy, not the children's.


Like most things parents do.


This isn't saying it can't work out, but that's the reality of it.

[sailingunity]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Taking children cruising is the parents' fantasy, not the children's.


Like most things parents do.


This isn't saying it can't work out, but that's the reality of it.

We've owned our boat for 7 years, and have been out 3 times (about a year each) in that time. At this point most of my kids would rather live on the boat than on land.

[Jfjunior]

Unlike many here, this is my first time hearing about this story. I don`t want to judge anyone, but I have always been surprised at how strong the selfishness of some people can be. The absolute inability to soberly assess the situation and to think with the head and not with something else has led to a sad story. Well, now this girl knows what not to do.

[Eder]

Boat kids are much better citizens with higher IQ's from my experience. This one seems intent on cashing in ...did I mention higher IQ's?

[El Pinguino]

I guess this was a different Suzzanne Heywood

https://www.fijitimes.com/a-life-on-...he-south-seas/

[Jim Cate]

^^^^
Now THAT'S interesting, Ping. I guess what you write depends upon the audience that you are writing for. Or perhaps she has had a mind altering experience in the interim.

Thanks very much for ferreting that bit of history out!

Jim

[JPA Cate]

Or perhaps she's one of those people who are not truth sayers.

Ann

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Or perhaps she's one of those people who are not truth sayers.

Ann

You don't sell many books if it is all 'another pleasant day , we went for a walk to the shops and then had lunch'.

Interesting thread over on CA where her brother has his say
https://forums.sailinganarchy.com/th....241420/page-7

[Fore and Aft]

Ping you are a legend. That was the point I was making in the last thread about Mrs Heywood. I think I proved the point when I started a thread about a girl from the Gold Coast who lives aboard and produced a film about her positive experience. I got all of nine replies, yet Suzanne with supposedly bad parents gets countless replies and opinions. Even the brother seems to think she's exaggerating.
Still she's got the book deal and who knows maybe Netflix will get onboard as well and help fund her retirement.
Cheers

[Billcook]

Originally Posted by Jfjunior

Unlike many here, this is my first time hearing about this story. I don`t want to judge anyone, but I have always been surprised at how strong the selfishness of some people can be. The absolute inability to soberly assess the situation and to think with the head and not with something else has led to a sad story. Well, now this girl knows what not to do.

The only thing we can be sure of is that she knows how to pitch the story well.

Originally Posted by sailingunity

We've owned our boat for 7 years, and have been out 3 times (about a year each) in that time. At this point most of my kids would rather live on the boat than on land.

It's a real challenge for my kids. They miss friends and socializing with their peers, so we don't leave the land for more than ten days. If I told them we were planning something for the whole year, I would have to look for them in the next state