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Would you let your child go?


MommyToAshley wrote: Ashley's friend's Mom called and asked if Ashley could go to the lake and out on the boat with them. We already had plans to go to a cook-out and swimming for the day, so I told them that we already had other plans. But, if we didn't have plans, I would not let Ashley go out on a boat without me being there. I'm sure they'll ask again, so eventually I will have to tell them that I don't feel comfortable with her being on a boat without me. Just curious, what would you do in this situation?

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: Make sure she has a vest on and let her go. Katy doesn't have any friends whose parents I don't trust. Half of my memories of fun things i did as a child were with friends if my mom never trusted them to have me those are all experiences I would never have had.

MyBabeMaddie replied: I would as long as I knew the parents, and trusted them...

my2monkeyboys replied: If you know the parents well enough, and trust them, then I would allow her to go. I would just make it known that at no time is she allowed on the boat without a vest, and I'd go over boat rules with her, too. Such as not standing/walking when the boat is moving, that kind of thing. I agree with the others that those memories are always the best.

luvmykids replied:
Ditto. I wouldn't want her in the water at this age, but on the boat with proper precautions I'd be ok with it. I trust all the kids' friends parents, and know they'd probably be extra cautious with someone elses child.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I would only permit it if my kids knew how to swim. Because even with a vest on, it would still scare me if they didn't know water safety. My kids don't, so my answer in my shoes, would be NO WAY. But like Lisa said, my best friend growing up had a ski boat and they would take me all the time, without my folks, to the lake to go water skiing and tubing. I was a bit older than Ashley though, knew how to swim really well by that time, maybe 8ish.

A&A'smommy replied:
I completely agree!!

MommyToAshley replied:
If she were a little older (like 9 or 10), I might consider it. I just would never think to ask another 5-year old to go on a boat with us without the parents. I wouldn't let Ashley go, and I guess I just assumed that would be common for this age group. But, I was wrong, it appears I am actually in the minority. I do tend to be more over-protective but I don't think it has limited her experiences any. She will just have to do them with Mom around for awhile. Thanks for sharing your thoughts though -- at first the answers were a bit surprising to me, but it also served as an eye-opener that maybe I am a bit protective. I still won't let her go on the boat though.

Calimama replied: Yes I would let her go (providing what some of the other girls mentioned.. life jacket.. talk on boat safety.. etc) but DH said no way would he feel comfortable with that at 5. Interesting.

jcc64 replied: I understand your concern Dee Dee, I really do. But if I completely trusted the parents, and was positive she'd be wearing a life-vest at all times, then I'd probably let her go.

Texasmomof4 replied: no way unless I knew my child was a good swimmer Iam funny like that I guess

My3LilMonkeys replied: Depends on who it was. My kids have been out on a boat with my parents before without me. I trusted them 100% because I knew they would have life jackets on at all times and follow the rules. But if it's going to make you uncomfortable and you'll just be worrying the whole time, it's not worth it IMO.

boyohboyohboy replied: NO honestly I wouldnt. I dont even like my kids riding the bus. let alone being in a boat. I think that if something happened you would always wonder if they were watching them, or blame yourself for making that choice..
but i am a really strict mom..

AlexsPajamaMama replied: No. Not at age 5. Closer to age 10 if I knew the parent and knew my child would follow the rules to stay safe.

Kirstenmumof3 replied: thumb.gif With Claudia I would say yes, because we know all of her friends and trust there parents. But with the other 2, I would have said no at this age. Emily wouldn't have gone anywhere without me anyway. But when Emily and Spencer were younger we didn't know the parents and they really didn't visit any of there school friends. They mainly socialized with the children of our friends.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Honestly? No. I wouldn't allow my kids on a boat without me. They were on a boat with me for the first time a couple of months ago and that freaked me out. I'm probably a bit overprotective, too. Maddie is 8 and I have no idea when I would allow this...if ever. I totally get where you are coming from.

redchief replied: Given that wearing of a vest would be required, and that I trusted the parents, I would let them go. In fact, I think we've done that. But my memory fades.

maestra replied:
ITA dito.gif

mom21kid2dogs replied: If we knew the parents well, have seen their boat behavior (no unsafe driving, no drinking & driving) and were aware of their ability to protect and keep my child safe in the situation (mandatory life jackets, clear conscice repeat of rules. etc.) then yes, I would let her go. My best buddy has a boat and although we are generally together as a family O could go with her or her husband w/o me. I have some friends and relatives who I'd hestitate to let her in the car with, let alone on a boat or a pool.

I'm the same way, though, with taking her friends to the pool. There are only 2 of her friends I will take to the pool with me because of the poor level of some of her friends listening/attending skills. Conversely, the only person I'd ever let take her to the pool (outside of Stephen) is Karen, the aforementioned friend.

TeesaŽŠ replied: I wouldn't let either of mine, but they also don't swim very well. Despite we live in Canad-eh and we're like 90% lakes, emlaugh.gif , they really haven't had much of a chance to learn how to swim. I don't take them by myself because I can't swim blush.gif blush.gif and I'm totally petrified of water [I have a hard time crossing over bridges - walking and in a car wacko.gif wacko.gif ]

gr33n3y3z replied:
Yes but our kids grew up in a boats so lettting them go out with others just as long as life jackets are worn and we know the parents I see no biggie with it

BAC'sMom replied: Nope not unless my DH or I was there.

moped replied: Yes I would and I did at the lake last week with a little boy and his parents that we met.......

Brias3 replied: I let Ryan, my other two have never been asked yet. (I'd be a bit nervous though with the younger two, I'll admit.) Likewise, we've also taken other kids on our boat with us.

I always send Ryan with his own life preserver, which is properly fitted to him, and I make sure the parents are aware of my rules for the lake as well. I really trust the family that we typically let him go with, so I guess it would depend how well you know them and how they operate when out on the lake.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
I think you're right about that, Lisa! When you are raised in the water the comfort level does seem to be different than if you aren't!
I think her chances of being injured,etc would be FAR greater in someone's car than on a boat. I just can't recall many child deaths related to boating but I can recall plenty related to car accidents or even pool accidents!

MommyToAshley replied:
I never let Ashley go swimming without Rod or myself being present. And, I usually volunteer to drive so she is seldom in anyone else's car. On a rare occasion I let her ride in the car with someone else, and that was with a friend that I really trust.

lisar replied: I would as long as I knew the parents and trusted them.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I would if we knew the parents well enough and trusted them. Tanner also knows how to swim without a life-vest in deep water, but I also would still want him to wear a life-vest anyways. He has gone out fishing quite a few times without us, with my dad. If it were close friends or people we knew well enough and could trust, I'd let him go. I don't see why not.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Just to clarify, Dee Dee~the "she" in my post was refering to O not Ashley. When I re~read it, it appeared it could have been misunderstood blush.gif Sorry.
I'm the same way with the pool & the car. She's never been to a pool without one of us. She's only rode in 2 non relative cars without me (both for Girl Scout trips).

Kaitlin'smom replied: TBH not the first time, I woudl want either DH or I to go the first time, and really thats only cause I dont know how she will react to a boat and I would like to be there incase she gets sick or is really uncomfortable. But after that as long as I know the parents well, feel I can trust them and if she is doing well with swimming sure I might.

youngmomofone replied: no way in he!! i'll let her go on a boat at that age, not even on my dad's boat.

kimberley replied: at 5, i'd probably not allow it unless i completely trusted the person. my boys are cottage kids but i was usually there or on the dock if they went in the boat and stayed in sight.


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