[Ann Archy]

Ridiculous....why would anyone, even divorced parents, let their 18 year old go out of the country without them?? Stupid.

[yellowdoghunter]

Ridiculous....why would anyone, even divorced parents, let their 18 year old go out of the country without them?? Stupid.

Exactly. I hope other parents learn a lesson from this. Teenagers have no business leaving the country, I don't care if it is next door, there is no place like America. However, I do pray for this child and her parents...things do not look good.

[macrahanish #1]

Because she's an adult?

[Protagoras]

Ridiculous....why would anyone, even divorced parents, let their 18 year old go out of the country without them?? Stupid.

My children went to foreign countries on carefully planned mission trips many times with the church group.

It wasn't ridiculous or stupid.

[OldFriend]

Are you a parent?

[kenth]

And why was she off alone and not with a chaperone who knew and controlled their whereabouts? At least, why wasn't she with other young people of her group?

[TBall]

I think most parents would encourage their 18 year olds to see the world. Can't protect them forever.

[Labyrinthos]

Ridiculous....why would anyone, even divorced parents, let their 18 year old go out of the country without them?? Stupid.

Because at 18 years old she is an adult. Because at 18 years old she ought to be able to take care of herself, and if she can't, then its because mommy and daddy haven't done their jobs. If parents stopped trying to control every aspect of their children's lives, then maybe 18 year old adults wouldn't need mommy and daddy watching over them.

[cyborg]

My sister went to Europe with her class and had no problems and she was seventeen.

[Hildy]

When I was 17 I backpacked through Israel for three months by myself. You can't stop living life because of what MIGHT happen. Sorry.

[xrp]

18 year olds are adults in the United States. She'd be able to go with or without her parents' blessings and with or without any "parental chaperones".