BOAT GIRL’S PARENTS: Negligent, or Noble? I think modern kids are mostly overprotected.

UPDATE: Reader Kelly Summers writes:

Thanks for the link to Helen’s post regarding young sailor Sunderland. In reading news accounts since her distress signal, I didn’t share the view that her parents were irresponsible and found those arguments, frankly, annoying. I applaud the parents — they were brave to let her go, and Abby will forever be confident in herself for this attempt and her survival is a major achievement! I wish I were surrounded by more people like the Sunderlands. Gutsy & unafraid.

The next article I read talked about how the new health care bill has kids being on parent’s insurance policies until they’re 26. Twenty-six! Good grief. If this thinking keeps up, we’re all going to be looking to some outside authority for permission to pee, in which case I’ll take being stranded in the Indian Ocean any day.

Indeed.