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Originally Posted by Jim in CT
I heard they made contact and that she's OK, thank God. In my opinion (just one man's humble opinion),I hope this scvare gives parents pause about things like this, climbing Everest, etc...
Eben, as I said before, you are certainly someone who knows how disagree thoughtfully, and I think that's rare and very respectable. And I hear you about stifling kids, and I agree that if you suffocate teenagers too much, they might rebel that much more wildly when they are eventually on their own...I could not agree more.
I try to find the balance. We let our 15 year-old do more and more things on her own every year, and I have let her sip wine a couple of times so there's not as much mystery about alcohol.
Hard for me to say where I draw the line, but suffice to say no unsupervised overnights to NYC, and no way I'd let her live on her own, in potentially life-threatening situations, for months and months.
I did 2 tours in Iraq with the USMC, I was in for-real combat a few times. I'd bet a 1 year hitch with the Marines is statistically much safer that a soloo circumnavigation, although I'd love to see the statistics on mortality rates among teenagers who try it (I'm an actuary, I always need statistics).
Good debate.
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I remember being 16 and telling my dad I wanted to join the Army on my first possible opportunity. He never tried to talk me out of it. I was passionate and focused on making it happen. I did all my homework on early entry, pro's and con's covered and I had a recruiter come over for dinner. My mom was sick about it. At 17 I joined with parental consent. My Mom kept asking will he be safe, etc. The recruiter pointed out at 17 when I go out with my friends in their cars, etc will my parents know what I'm doing, where I'm going, etc. At least they would know exactly where I am and the training I am receiving would empower me for my future. I was so focused on making that happen in my life. That summer before my senior year I did basic and then after graduation I completed my MOS training and went to college. How many parents today would let their 17 year old join the military while still in high school? I give my parents credit for having faith in my dreams. That and I think it also helped that my dad was a Vietanm era vet and I was a royal PIA back then, so he thought I could use the dicipline from good ole uncle sam! I respect your views on this big time but I can relate to this kid somehow and also to the parents now that I have a kid approaching that age.
Oh, and thanks for your service man! I never saw or experienced what you did in Iraq and I'm thankful for guys and gals like you that served during troubled times. Thanks man!