In reply to Mike C: Yup, weekends are usually rush, rush, rush, stress, rush some more, think, 'yay, climbing at last;' drive lots, climb some, drive lots more, rush rush rush again. I'm lucky though as RB's dad takes her until Monday morning and my folks live in Dundee, not far from where RB's dad lives. So, thank heavens for my parents, cos I can doss at their house on the Sunday night, pick up RB early doors Monday morning to drive the 35miles back up the road to school. Midweek wall training sessions during the dark months are much the same. Pick up RB from school, go to wall and belay RB for a couple of hours. Her dad picks her up from the wall and she goes there for her tea, then I climb with my partner until the wall closes at 10 and doss at my folks house, again picking up RB early to drive back up the road. Half the time you don't know whether you're coming or going and add to that a bloke that lives 130 miles away, it gets quite tiring. And RB ends up with stuff scattered about everywhere. You can be looking for her climbing trousers but they've been left at her Dad's or she needs something at her Dad's but it's up at my house, etc (sure you've been there!)
What do you think about your kids climbing (if they wanted to?) RB loves it, and when it comes to toproping I'm really happy for her to climb and she often comes out hillwalking which is nice as we usually have a laugh together. But leading is a whole different ball game! I get so nervous for her, sometimes I have to have someone else belay her (so my nerves don't get in her way!) She finally persuaded me to let her try a climb in winter and Andy and I took her into Sneachda a while back and up a grade I gully. I was crapping myself! I do think about the 'what if's' ie if she hurt herself. Though I do feel if she wants to climb, she should have the oppurtunity and we shouldn't wrap our kids in cotton wool. But climbing *is* dangerous, should I encourage her to do something which could ultimately hurt her? And for the folk who say, 'would you rather they were sat on the sofa playing a Playstation or out stabbing auld grannies etc' I don't really think you can make that comparison. Most people would say that a more moderate level of activity (ie running, sports, swimming etc) are better for children, ie allowing them to be active, but with lower danger levels.
Children may want to climb, but do they romanticise it? Are they fully mature enough to understand the consequences should something go wrong? Are parents wrong to put that level of responsibility on a child, who is ultimately supposed to be under their protection and guidance?
Er, I'm havering now!