Went for a surf this morning (nothing flash) at Trigg while paddling out saw a group of kids trying to paddle back in with one little girl (about 12-13) scared s**tless. With the help of a longboarder we got her in. When ask where her parents where she replied they where here by themselves.

WTF those parents should have a serious look at themselves

Just my 2 cents

your kidding me. some of my best surfing memories were heading down the coast with the crew at that age on the train checking the swell at the headlands as the silver bullet took us to our new adventure do you think parents should keep their kids at home until they are 21? karlo the kill joy

Wasn't trying to be a kill joy, she just seemed a bit too young to be there by herself.

I guess it doesn't take much for it to go all wrong. Since becoming a dad recently I may have a different outlook now.

As we all know the ocean is not forgiving and sometimes we don't get a second chance.

Anyway, I may be out of line saying how we should look after our kids, but then we all pay a price for our decisions, depends on how high a price you want to pay.

I guess my point was a "heads up" more than anything else.

I'd be more worried about the erchins and creatures lurking around the carparks rather than the ocean.

Take it from a bloke who has lived a sheltered life til of recent, kids these days are bubble wrapped way too much. In my 20's my parents still 'forbid' me from surfing and I've received all types of excuses from 'Asians don't belong in the water' to 'you're gonna drown or get eaten by sharks'. Either way still love my parents to bits though, they've guided me down a path to a bright future.

I understand you Karlo and when I have kids, I'll probably be the same but as hypocritical as it may be inorder to protect them you've got to let the kids experience things themselves and hope you have taught them well enough. In order to fly you gotta spread your wings.

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newguy said...

Take it from a bloke who has lived a sheltered life til of recent, kids these days are bubble wrapped way too much. In my 20's my parents still 'forbid' me from surfing and I've received all types of excuses from 'Asians don't belong in the water' to 'you're gonna drown or get eaten by sharks'. Either way still love my parents to bits though, they've guided me down a path to a bright future.

I understand you Karlo and when I have kids, I'll probably be the same but as hypocritical as it may be inorder to protect them you've got to let the kids experience things themselves and hope you have taught them well enough. In order to fly you gotta spread your wings.

Although, I reckon they could be right about the 'eaten by sharks' advice

its trigg dude. not pipe.

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quote]saltiest1 said...

its trigg dude. not pipe.

Well it might as well of been for her, when your panicking it doesn't matter whether its pipe, trigg or a pond it may end up the same result when you lose the plot.

As the saying goes "if it doesn't kill you, it only makes you stronger" hopefully she is wiser for her experience, but its nor one I wish on anyone.

I can't wait to be able to teach my young one to surf and share a few waves :) but only after a few lessons.

Lesson 1 : We are visitors in the ocean, treat it with respect

Lesson 2 : Learn to swim

Lesson 3 : Don't go out if you can't swim back.

interesting post this one, the "cotton wool" effect is real. Many students I've taught exhibit a lack of self esteem and a fear of expressing themselves because mum or dad have either answered for them their whole lives or have not allowed them to explore on their own. The most successful teenagers I've met all share a similar upbringing, one that has included experiences and problem solving activities that require independent thought. I think surfing does this in spades, but with my own kids aged 11-4 this has come under direct supervision and swimming/surf lessons from age 2. The situation outlined in this thread is a poor example of parenting and one that could've ended very badly, however, it's a very fine line and those of us with kids battle it every time one of them asks to head out on their own or with a group. The beach is usually a safe place and once you feel your kid has the skills needed to handle most conditions it's a great place to grow up, you will be confronted with all sorts of challenging situations in and out of the water but I reckon it's a metaphor for life and my boys will enjoy it with me and with their mates when the time comes and with a skill set that should see them safe but at all times respectful of the power of the ocean and everything that lives in it.

I too took the train off to the beach as a 11 year old. If my parents came with me they would have been no help. I lived in the water as a kid and never had one lesson, apart from school, and somehow ended up with stae qualifications and invite to the Panpacs. First thing, as parents, my wife and I took both our children to lessons. I can't be at the beach as much as my son wants to be, so the best thing to do is teach him as much as I can to keep himself safe.

^^^
Agree. As we have a pool our kids have been swimming since 6 months old and both have gone right through the swimming lesson programme...

I've taken a couple of my son's mates out a Lano back beach a couple of times and whilst my son has been OK, I have had to pull a couple of them in from way out back caught in rips... one kid twice over. They had no idea how to read surf or get themselves out of trouble.

I would want to know that my kids can handle themselves before letting them off on their own...