You don't get around much, do ya?
Yea, I kinda do. I've been to more places in this world than most, some I wish I hadn't.
In those travels I've learned that simply “experiencing” something is not always a positive. I wish neither to coddle my children nor encourage reckless behavior for the sake of “experience”
Very few 16 year olds in this world are capable of making a life or death decision because they have not fully become aware of the permantality of death. 90% of kids at that age believe they're invincible, immortal and are more worried about pubescent concerns like boys/girls, their popularity, parental approval(or not) etc.
At 16 they will acquire a car, a gun, or any of a number of different potential dangers to their person. But we do our level best to teach them how to cope with every possible scenario and hope and pray for the best.
Putting a 16 year old child into a small sailboat without a ship for 400 miles in the vast Ocean to set a record is totally incomparable and you know it. If you don't I feel for your present or future psychiatrist.
No S. You'd think he'd have given some cred. for the cool strato pic hobby you pursue.