Raising Kids On A Boat

[timgoz]

Thoughts or exeriences sought.

[westlawn5554X]

Mmmm..... I have read somewhere Thomas Colvin went sailing with his family for nearly 10 years... with his wife and children... might be an interesting article... I will post the link if I remember it tim

[Fanie]

Ooooh, just look at that avatar !

Oh boy. Tim you have plans ?

I have also read an article on kids lived on the boat untill they went to school.

Personally I don't think (small) kids should go on or near boats but that's just me. You have to watch them 24/7.

On land when things become too much (temporary) you can walk out the yard and pick a fight with the neighbour or visit a friend or harrass the nearest policeman. (trust me) The romance of pitter patter of little feet can sometimes turn into mind shattering grinding frustration. You will need a break once in a while, so will lovie-dovie.

Plan this thing smartly, it's hell untill they live in a foreign country :D

[lazeyjack]

in the ocean cruising fraternity you often meet children on boats doing school by corrospondence Way up in the pacific islands
By my observations, they seem to develope into well rounded individuals they seem more grown up, polite
It is a great lifestyle Any lifestyle close to nature will produce a better type of person, regardless, as one grows up being aware of nature, the planet, other cultures
yes 10 years cruisin should be a compulsary core subject:))

[safewalrus]

as a so called expert (I've spent some years as a kid on a boat!) it's a great life - sure it has problems, especially in the schooling, but so has living elsewhere on land! If you can give your kids (how many you planning on?) a couple of years on a boat do it! Between the ages of say 6 and 12 are the best years. Under 6 and they can't really look out for themselves over 12 and they need to be in a settled place for their education - still live on the boat but it DOESN'T MOVE!

Going back to the schooling, better to 'home school' than keep changing every few months, that way causes total chaos, each school does it differently, even using the same syllabus and it takes ages to catch up (if ever) After 13 different schools between the ages of 5 and 15 I can assure you it ain't easy!!

But as I said - if you can between the ages of 6 to 12 do - they'll thank you for it (and amazingly enough it will make your boating more fun to!!)

Mike

[eastcape]

Just go and do it.

I was a lucky one to have had the opportunity to be raised on a sail boat in the South Pacific.

I hope to offer my young family the same soon. I would recommend to anyone it is well worth the risks.

Your kids may miss the prom night, but the life lessons you will give them now, will last a life time! Your kids will thank you later in life..

All the best in your adventures!

[westlawn5554X]

err... they have educator teaching them through HF radio... even now we have sat linking us almost to every website... shouldnt be a problem... they (childen) can enroll westlawn on board and send homework back to school by email...

[timgoz]

Thanks all.

Mike, Soraya is talking about four kids, but with her being 35 and I 44, I think two would be more reasonable.

We would definetly home school. She has a four year degree, and I have at least 6 years of post highschool education.

Tim

[safewalrus]

she wants four? better get busy buddy, ain't got no time for sailing and things! There again my wife had her youngest at 43, trouble is they do get hard work when your older (yes guys bloody hard work when your young too, I know, especially when your youngest is nearly 8 as opposed to the second grandchild who is 8!)

[Ike]

I would suggest you also post your question at LivingAboard.com's forum. http://www.livingaboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi Many if the people there are living aboard with children.

[timgoz]

Thank you Ike. I was unaware of that site.

Tim

[westlawn5554X]

Thank you timgoz. I was unaware of that I havent had children.

[safewalrus]

Can I go on it? I'm still a child, tried theis grown up once didn't like it and so went back to petulant child! More fun!!

[timgoz]

Thats funny Mike, my girlfriend told me the other day not to be "petulant". Had to look it up, as I had heard it but was not quite sure of the meaning.

Tim

PS. I signed up for livingaboard's forum and they declined me. Said my email address was a "red flag" that indicated I might be a spammer. So can anyone tell me what my email address is derived from,? Positive rep points for the first correct answer. tvmdcaw@juno.com.

[masalai]

"I am taking on or discharging explosives"? or "B" - - alternatively, that ISP has a bad reputation for being infected with mal-ware which lets "spammers take over the site as if it were their own and like a fungi, spread its spawn all over the area... Suggest that your ISP runs "Linux Red Hat" or some of the unix like operating systems with better security and defences against this sort of "attack"...

[safewalrus]

Missy Lee can't get the hang of that one, according to my signal book; Tango Victor states "fishing in this area is prohibited", Mike Delta Charlie is of course medical and states "Patient is restless" whilst Alpha Whisky states "Aircraft should endeavour to alight where flag is waved or light is shown".

So your saying that if Tim becomes restless because he can't go fishing he should be flown directly to hospital by Air Ambulance, why is the condition serious? Never realised that not being able to fish was so dangerous!!! Better warn Fanie as I believe he goes fishing a lot!!

[masalai]

I was just going with the one flag "red" which is code "B" etc, but if you join all the flags to show "R", "E", "D" . . "F", "L", "A", "G" I think you would get something like. . . . "the way is off my ship. You may feel your way past me", "I am altering my course to starboard", "keep clear of me I am manoevering with difficulty". . . . "I am disabled, communicate with me", "You should stop, I have something important to communicate", "Diver below/I am undergoing speed trials", (take your pick), "I require a pilot". . . .
Now that could be misinterpreted in a lot of amusing ways...

Where did you get all those other letters?, I only have one multi-flag code "N" over "C" - "I am in distress" - actually I am wearing a "sarong! - legitimate male attire on the islands"

[charmc]

PS. I signed up for livingaboard's forum and they declined me. Said my email address was a "red flag" that indicated I might be a spammer. So can anyone tell me what my email address is derived from,? Positive rep points for the first correct answer. tvmdcaw@juno.com.

Tim,

"TVMD" ? It never occured to me when you told me about changing your email, but that's 'cause I know you're a good guy. To a stranger, or worse, to a spam-blocker, it could sound like you'll be deluging them with "Best prices on meds, no prescription necessary" type stuff. Then again, you could be promoting hormone pills for those guys that want to grow real boobs. "TV" has many meanings on the World Wide Web. :D :D

[masalai]

I give up Tim, although I need the points to recoup losses from a petulant poster (of the unknown variety)...:D:D:D

[charmc]

I give up Tim, although I need the points to recoup losses from a petulant poster (of the unknown variety)...:D:D:D

Stop whinging, mas. I gave you back more than he was able to take away, you wimpy Ozzie! :P :P :D :D

[charmc]

He was a picky presumptuous pouting pedantic petulant poster. :)

[masalai]

Just testing the water to see if he is prowling offline? & if that doesn't get him started - then he is away.............. Did you give the1 any - he deserves more:D:D:D

What hurts is I couldn't solve the puzzle set by timgoz......

[charmc]

Back to topic, Tim,

Stu said it well; it can be a wonderful experience for children. The widespread popularity of home schooling plus the technology tools available via the Internet, make the formal schooling part more simple than ever. The many close to nature experiences, exposure to space sharing, social interactions inherent in living aboard or cruising give a good education in the qualities that help make a good person.

We took both of our children cruising; my son starting when he was about 6, and my daughter beginning when she was 8 months. Watch the wee ones every moment, and enforce the "lifejacket is worn always when not in a bunk asleep" rule strictly. I've watched the home schooled children of several close friends develop into delightful young adults. Combining the two experiences ... well, there are much worse things.

[charmc]

Just testing the water to see if he is prowling offline? & if that doesn't get him started - then he is away.............. Did you give the1 any - he deserves more:D:D:D

What hurts is I couldn't solve the puzzle set by timgoz......

1. Search the term "pizza", mas. Good for a giggle, although it says more about Bob than about you.

2. Yes, I've given all I can to that1 and you; Jeff says enuff fer now. :) I even gave some to Jeff, for slapping down some idjit who asked for help in finding pirate copies of NA design software.

[masalai]

Been there before I "grizzled/winged" - trying to make you guys feel comfortable:D:D:D

My children thoroughly enjoyed time out overseas - still call it "the cocoa" for some reason. Now both are over 30 and married with their own issues and yet to travel slowly... Daughter is a pub manager in country WA... Son married money:D...

[charmc]

Forum first - naming a new design after other forum members?

You could be famous, mas! :D :D

[masalai]

Arrrrrr, beaten again & I was going to call my new boat "masalai" and scare the 5hit out of the local pirates... How does "Flaneur" sound for a boats name?

[timgoz]

"Timid virgins make dull company add whiskey"

Timid = True
Virgins = Variation
Make = Magnetic
Dull = Deviation
Company = Compass
Add = (+)
Whiskey = West

That memory aid for compass corrections must not be as well known as I thought. Or maybe, we need a memory aid to remember the memory aid.

Tim

[Landlubber]

My daughter, wife and myself spent the first few years on board, cruising the Pacific. We moved out of the house when she was about 3 months old, she learned to walk in Berrys Bay in Sydney where we lived for a few months whilst I was working for the Maritime Museum there. She is now 18, doing a double degree at Uni, is a very popular young lady, and is a delight to be with.

We had all the doomesday do gooders telling us she would be antisocial, etc etc, she is in fact well spoken and interesting to talk to. She is multilingual, very well balanced, and has nothing to do with drugs.

So, if that is any prediction of her life to follow, I am very happy we did what we did. Take the kids sailing, they have a ball, meet all sorts of interesting people, and learn also just how well off they really are, being alive and free.

[charmc]

Arrrrrr, beaten again & I was going to call my new boat "masalai" and scare the 5hit out of the local pirates... How does "Flaneur" sound for a boats name?

Flaneur:"simultaneously part of and apart from (the world), combines sociological, anthropological, literary and historical notions of the relationship between the individual and the greater populace." Paris, Capital of Modernity

Bore them to death, as opposed to scaring them to death?? Many would say that's more merciful; of course, others would say its more cruel. :D :D

If you build a tri, you can name it for each hull, borrowing from Susan Buck-Morss, The Flaneur, The Sandwichman, and the Whore. :D :D

[masalai]

Tim, Never heard your memory aid - that I can remember. . . & now I'm confused, locally True to Mag, add the variation East... Dam now I'm feeling old - should I have known that? - shrugs shoulders and pleads innocence/ignorance:D

Not many seem to have your depth of literary knowledge - several in the local fraternity have suggested "Its all about being a poufter?" so I may leave any thought of "Flaneur" out:D:D

Tim, travel broadens the mind, enhances the spirit and guides your attention to things that really matter...

[timgoz]

Hi Mas,

The add west applies when working downward. Going the other way (up) it would be add East. It does work. When the lady from livingaboard did not recognize it, I was suprised, as she is a US resident. The feminine version differs: "True Viking Maidens Demand Compensation After Marriage". Those women are always thinking, eh?

Regarding travel; My girlfriend has been to 26 countries, but never OZ. Her sister Nino ( I call her "Vino", because she loves wine), was over your way for awhile last year. We do want to see Austraila. I'd prefer Berg's area and/or Tasmania, as I am not suited to warm climates.

Tim

[safewalrus]

Arrrrrr, beaten again & I was going to call my new boat "masalai" and scare the 5hit out of the local pirates... How does "Flaneur" sound for a boats name?

best I could do given the short notice - if I can get it in! you'll need to stroke it a bit!!

[masalai]

Safie - - - So, Pizza bob was not the first? :D:D:D:D
Tim, - - - How are you going to bypass the equator???? Hope for one of those "polar flips"?

[charmc]

Don't think I want to know what that guy standing in the stern is fixin' to do ...:P :P

[masalai]

Not me... Pee of the stern is OK but turn facing aft to deliver...

[Frosty]

I used to P off the back of the boat but I had forgotten how to do it properly. There is definately some serious wind direction calculation involved.

Last time I did it I remember thinking "its all coming back to me now"

[Landlubber]

You could write a song about that Frosty, some shiela did once, she was quite young, I wonder if she was wet behind the ears!

[timgoz]

Somebody needs to bump Charlie past the 500 mark.

Mas, An airconditioned jetliner should do the trick.

Frosty, speaking of "it all coming back", many years ago when I was a teenager, we were driving home from a party, and a female passenger vomited out the car window, only problem was, the window was the whole way up. As most of what she had in her was liquid, things got real messy.

Tim

[masalai]

Tim, I hope you made that messy person clean it all up!!! - That is "sooo sad" as my lovely lady would say... (LL definitely is... "the better half")

I'd love to give Charlie more points, but I am still inhibited, even though he deserves more, so I can only plead..... for others to donate to the points bank of the venerable, noble and charming - - Charmc......

[masalai]

Landlubber, was it something like "The wayward wind"?

[safewalrus]

or could it bring a whole new meaning to 'getting your own back?'

[Brent Swain]

A freind had a couple of teenage daughters on a circumnavigation. If they began hanging out with a sleazy crowd, there was no arguement. Time to leave. If they hung out with a good group of kids they would stay a little longer. When he couldn't tell them anything to their faces, he and his wife would sit in the main cabin and discuss things they wanted the girls to overhear. Those ears were listening.
Kids I've seen grow up on boats were far more practical and self reliant than those who grew up ashore and were far less influenced by "Peer pressure. "They learned to do their own thinking rather than be programed by group thinking. All were later glad their parents took them away from such ******** influences.
Brent

[safewalrus]

Brilliant ability you have there Brent - bet your a real wow at parties! I wonder did they ever discuss you?!