In Good Hands

"Your daughter is on a French fishing boat in the southern Indian Ocean, 2000 miles from any land."

If a statement such as this comes as good news to you... perhaps you are allowing your child to take too many risks.

Just as at least 18 people drowned in southwest Arkansas, Abby Sunderland - shaken but healthy - was plucked from the storm-stirred waters just north of Antarctica. This rescue cut her around-the-world solo navigation attempt short, but given that her boat was disabled, she's lucky to be back on dry ground... or at least in the hands of a bunch of French fishermen.

There has been a lot of conversation the last few days about what kind of parents would allow their daughter to attempt such a dangerous feat in the first place. Some have claimed that girls can do anything a boy can do, and after all, Abby's 17-year old brother managed this same journey himself. Others argued that the timing was the real issue, given the severity of the winter stormy season in the southern Indian Ocean. Apologists have pointed out that Abby's father is a professional sailor and tutored both children on handling the seas, so she was well-prepared for any eventuality. I've come to a slightly different conclusion given the latest fact brought to light:

Abby's mother is expecting her eighth child in the coming weeks. When you have that many kids you have the leeway *ehem* to take greater risks with a few of them.