My families crazy gap year.....

[The Nappy Lady]

Anyone watching tonight?

No way you'd get me out there on a boat with my 2 children! Just watching is making me feel sick.

M

[Moos]

fuckity fuckity fuck fuck.

I'm wincing at his swearing even more than at the huge waves knocking his small children about. What's wrong with me?

[ClareC]

We are watching.... No way is what they are doing a good idea!! It's his dream and the family are just there for convenience! Can't believe he would put those two boys in such a risky situation!

Edited to correct iPhone typos ;-)

[ClareC]

Omg....now they have poisoned themselves!!!

[The Nappy Lady]

I think it's a great adventure, but no way I'd do it with children that age, because I know I'd never cope with being cooped up with them for days on the boat, and also personally I don't think it's very fair on them. When older they'd get more out of it, cope with the days at sea better and ultimately remember it much more in future years.

As for the fish, I can't believe how calm they are, but maybe that's just their way of coping. Sooooo scary.

[Belle]

Didn't see it - and sure it's not the same people anyway - but i once rented a flat from a family who did something like this. The kids were def young - one was school age, one a toddler from memory - and I remember thinking that whilst in many ways there would be tonnes of great experiences etc etc, it was all a bit crazy really.

[ClareC]

Fantastic experience, it's the age of the kids that is the problem. 2 and 4 is too young for the potential benefits :-(

[The Nappy Lady]

I thought the youngest was 4 (still too young though I reckon), mind you, at the end it said they're not coming back to the UK until 2012 now, so I guess the boys will be a lot more grown up by then. It was lovely to see how the family dynamic changed over the course of the voyage.

We've thought about doing it, but it's the 'when' that is tricky as we really want the children to remember it, but equally worry about a year out of school - if we went when our oldest is 10, youngest would be 6.......I guess going when the children are younger at least makes schooling less of a worry.

[ClareC]

Said they were 2 and 4 when they set off, must have been 3 and 5 when reached Oz. Great to be able to extend the trip 2 years but also wondered what they would do about schooling!! That said, my dad's cousin built a yacht and has been sailing the world for years now (charters it when he needs cash). His kids had no formal schooling but are fluent in numerous languages!

[The Nappy Lady]

Aha - thanks, was doing my on line food shop whilst watching so must have missed that!

I think at that age experience would make up for any lack of schooling, assuming the parents would pick up reading, writing and some basic maths. If they come back to the UK at around 4 & 6 or even 5 & 7 they would be able to catch up quite easily, with a little bit of extra coaching if needed.

Amazing re your relation's children, what a way to grow up. I'm sure they will always find work if they can speak that many languages.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Maybe me and husband are a hippies, but we thought it was a great idea! All things considered, the little boys seemed very calm and not really that badly behaved, but obviously we only got to see bits of their year journey crammed into an hour.

When I was 26 months old, me and mum drove to isreal- all across Europe and then ferries with the car when we needed to. It took about 4 months I think.

[Smiler]

Not seen the programme but really recommend the book "Hideous Kinky" by Esther Freud (I think) about a woman who takes her two young daughters to Morocco.