{"id":434099,"date":"2026-02-05T16:51:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T15:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/?p=434099"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:51:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T15:51:17","slug":"choix-decision-dechirante-mere-sauver-enfants-mer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/heartbreaking-choice-mothers-decision-to-save-children-from-the-sea-434099","title":{"rendered":"&quot;I had no choice&quot;: A mother&#39;s heartbreaking decision to save her children at sea"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Stranded at sea after their boats were swept away by the winds, a mother and her three children endured hours of fear and uncertainty. In an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/australia-news\/2026\/feb\/04\/mother-13-year-old-boy-swim-four-hours-save-family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attempt to save her children<\/a> , the mother made a difficult decision...<\/p>\n<h2> A family outing that turns into a nightmare<\/h2>\n<p> While enjoying a relaxing break near Perth in Western Australia, a mother and her three children were swept out to sea by strong winds. Their inflatable kayaks and paddleboards were carried far from the shore, leaving them unable to return to land. With rising waves and disorientation, the situation quickly became critical. Unable to bring the group back to shore, the mother made a decision.<\/p>\n<p>Aware of the danger and the urgent need for help, the mother asked her 13-year-old son to swim alone to shore to alert emergency services. After some hesitation and despite his fear, the teenager plunged into the water. He swam for nearly four hours, covering approximately four kilometers against the currents and under a darkening sky, before reaching the coast. Exhausted, he then ran until he could contact emergency services.<\/p>\n<h2> An agonizing wait and family rescue<\/h2>\n<p> While the boy struggled to reach the shore, his mother and two younger children remained adrift, clinging to their gear, battling fatigue, cold, and uncertainty. Alerted by the young swimmer&#39;s cries for help, rescue services launched a search operation. After many long hours, the teams located the family more than 14 kilometers from the coast and were able to bring them to safety.<\/p>\n<h2> The courage of a teenager and the strength of a mother<\/h2>\n<p> On social media, many users expressed their gratitude to the boy and said they understood the mother&#39;s decision in such an extreme emergency. However, others were outraged that a mother would leave her child swimming alone, unsupervised, believing he could have drowned, leaving the rest of the family adrift and potentially doomed herself. Recounting her ordeal, the mother emphasized that her choice was driven by love and the need to save her children. She praised her son&#39;s extraordinary courage, whose determination proved crucial to their survival.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, this family&#39;s story is a poignant reminder of the strengths that can emerge in extreme conditions, and how &quot;impossible&quot; decisions can sometimes lead to a happy ending.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Stranded at sea after their boats were swept away by the winds, a mother and her three children...","protected":false},"author":8375,"featured_media":434101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_msn":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6139],"tags":[97759],"class_list":["post-434099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-vie-de-maman","tag-news"],"image":{"medium":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/\u571f\u8c46-\u5730\u96f7-_-Pexels-200x113.jpg",200,113,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/\u571f\u8c46-\u5730\u96f7-_-Pexels-500x281.jpg",500,281,true]},"custom":{"td_video":"","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/\u571f\u8c46-\u5730\u96f7-_-Pexels.jpg","author":{"name":"Fabienne Baure","avatar":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fabienne_baure-96x96.jpg"},"categories":[{"term_id":6139,"name":"Parenting","slug":"vie-de-maman","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6311,"taxonomy":"category","description":"<p>The Parenting section of The Body Optimist supports moms, dads and every kind of family through everyday life with kids: raising children, emotions, school, relationships and the mental load. Advice from child development professionals, explainers and personal stories approach parenting without guilt, whatever your family looks like.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Parenting section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Raising kids<\/strong>: teaching children to share, setting limits without yelling, praising effort over intelligence, with ideas drawn from positive parenting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>School and bullying<\/strong>: helping your child feel good at school, spotting the signs of bullying and knowing how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postpartum for both parents<\/strong>: your body after birth, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/sleep-deprivation-fatigue-loneliness-the-reality-of-young-mothers-433661\">exhaustion and loneliness of new mothers<\/a>, and postpartum depression in fathers, still too little known.<\/li>\n<li><strong>All kinds of families<\/strong>: single-parent, blended and same-sex parent families, parents with disabilities, with more stories in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Family relationships<\/strong>: your bond with your own parents, toxic families, overbearing grandparents, sibling rivalry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Life choices<\/strong>: wanting children, or not, discussed without judgment or social pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you set limits for your child without yelling?<\/h2>\n<p>Setting boundaries without yelling relies on clarity and consistency more than strictness. Keep instructions short and positive (\u201cwe walk in the hallway\u201d rather than \u201cdon\u2019t run\u201d), get down to your child\u2019s eye level and look at them. Announce transitions ahead of time to head off meltdowns when an activity ends. Name your child\u2019s feeling without giving in on the rule: \u201cYou\u2019re angry because the screen is turning off. I get it, and it\u2019s bath time.\u201d When tension rises, stepping out of the room for a few seconds beats raising your voice. Some parents even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/giving-orders-to-a-singing-child-an-unusual-trick-to-avoid-shouting-428727\">sing their instructions<\/a> to keep things light. No parent is perfect: apologizing after you lose your temper also teaches your child how to repair a relationship.<\/p>\n<h2>Our take on parenting<\/h2>\n<p>Parenting doesn\u2019t rest on mothers alone: we also talk about dads, co-parents, blended, single-parent and LGBTQ+ families, and people who choose not to have children. There\u2019s no single model or \u201cperfect mom\u201d here: our articles share guidance without making anyone feel guilty. For any concern about a child\u2019s health or development, your pediatrician, family doctor or a child psychologist remains the best person to ask.<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/top-phrases-help-children-express-emotions-444372\">What to say instead of \u201cstop crying\u201d<\/a>: five phrases that help children express their emotions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/monster-under-the-bed-really-means-childhood-fear-428271\">The monster under the bed<\/a>: what this classic childhood fear really means and how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/eldest-daughter-syndrome-confirmed-by-science-study-reigniting-debate-430888\">Eldest daughter syndrome<\/a>: what research says about the responsibilities often placed on firstborn girls.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/be-a-mother-but-stay-slim-she-breaks-the-silence-pressure-weighs-on-young-mothers-432933\">The pressure to \u201cbounce back\u201d after birth<\/a>: one mother speaks out against the demand to stay thin.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/you-post-pictures-of-children-on-social-media-heres-something-you-probably-dont-know-428755\">Posting photos of your kids online<\/a>: what to know before you share.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Can fathers get postpartum depression?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Some fathers go through sadness, irritability or anxiety after a baby arrives, sometimes called the \u201cdaddy blues.\u201d When these symptoms last for several weeks, it may be paternal postpartum depression, a condition recognized by health professionals. Intense fatigue, feeling useless or withdrawing from others are warning signs: talking to a doctor is the first step toward getting support.<\/p>\n<h3>What is positive parenting?<\/h3>\n<p>Positive parenting, close to what is often called gentle parenting, guides children through listening, explanation and encouragement rather than punishment, yelling or humiliation. It isn\u2019t the same as being permissive: rules still exist, but they\u2019re set with respect. A growing number of countries have also banned corporal punishment of children, spanking included.<\/p>\n<h3>How can you tell if your child is being bullied at school?<\/h3>\n<p>Several signs can raise concern: refusing to go to school, repeated stomachaches or headaches in the morning, slipping grades, damaged or missing belongings, isolation, trouble sleeping, mood changes after using their phone. Start the conversation calmly, without dramatizing, then contact the school. Many countries also have helplines dedicated to bullying and cyberbullying.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a> on emotions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> to find your footing again after a baby arrives, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> to see your body with kindness, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/sante\/grossesse\">Pregnancy<\/a> for the months before birth.<\/p>","parent":6138,"count":705,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":6139,"category_count":705,"category_description":"<p>The Parenting section of The Body Optimist supports moms, dads and every kind of family through everyday life with kids: raising children, emotions, school, relationships and the mental load. Advice from child development professionals, explainers and personal stories approach parenting without guilt, whatever your family looks like.<\/p>\n<h2>What you\u2019ll find in the Parenting section<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Raising kids<\/strong>: teaching children to share, setting limits without yelling, praising effort over intelligence, with ideas drawn from positive parenting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>School and bullying<\/strong>: helping your child feel good at school, spotting the signs of bullying and knowing how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Postpartum for both parents<\/strong>: your body after birth, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/sleep-deprivation-fatigue-loneliness-the-reality-of-young-mothers-433661\">exhaustion and loneliness of new mothers<\/a>, and postpartum depression in fathers, still too little known.<\/li>\n<li><strong>All kinds of families<\/strong>: single-parent, blended and same-sex parent families, parents with disabilities, with more stories in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/societe\/lgbtqia\">LGBTQIA+<\/a> section.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Family relationships<\/strong>: your bond with your own parents, toxic families, overbearing grandparents, sibling rivalry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Life choices<\/strong>: wanting children, or not, discussed without judgment or social pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do you set limits for your child without yelling?<\/h2>\n<p>Setting boundaries without yelling relies on clarity and consistency more than strictness. Keep instructions short and positive (\u201cwe walk in the hallway\u201d rather than \u201cdon\u2019t run\u201d), get down to your child\u2019s eye level and look at them. Announce transitions ahead of time to head off meltdowns when an activity ends. Name your child\u2019s feeling without giving in on the rule: \u201cYou\u2019re angry because the screen is turning off. I get it, and it\u2019s bath time.\u201d When tension rises, stepping out of the room for a few seconds beats raising your voice. Some parents even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/giving-orders-to-a-singing-child-an-unusual-trick-to-avoid-shouting-428727\">sing their instructions<\/a> to keep things light. No parent is perfect: apologizing after you lose your temper also teaches your child how to repair a relationship.<\/p>\n<h2>Our take on parenting<\/h2>\n<p>Parenting doesn\u2019t rest on mothers alone: we also talk about dads, co-parents, blended, single-parent and LGBTQ+ families, and people who choose not to have children. There\u2019s no single model or \u201cperfect mom\u201d here: our articles share guidance without making anyone feel guilty. For any concern about a child\u2019s health or development, your pediatrician, family doctor or a child psychologist remains the best person to ask.<\/p>\n<h2>Where to start<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/top-phrases-help-children-express-emotions-444372\">What to say instead of \u201cstop crying\u201d<\/a>: five phrases that help children express their emotions.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/monster-under-the-bed-really-means-childhood-fear-428271\">The monster under the bed<\/a>: what this classic childhood fear really means and how to respond.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/eldest-daughter-syndrome-confirmed-by-science-study-reigniting-debate-430888\">Eldest daughter syndrome<\/a>: what research says about the responsibilities often placed on firstborn girls.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/be-a-mother-but-stay-slim-she-breaks-the-silence-pressure-weighs-on-young-mothers-432933\">The pressure to \u201cbounce back\u201d after birth<\/a>: one mother speaks out against the demand to stay thin.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/vie-de-maman\/you-post-pictures-of-children-on-social-media-heres-something-you-probably-dont-know-428755\">Posting photos of your kids online<\/a>: what to know before you share.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Can fathers get postpartum depression?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Some fathers go through sadness, irritability or anxiety after a baby arrives, sometimes called the \u201cdaddy blues.\u201d When these symptoms last for several weeks, it may be paternal postpartum depression, a condition recognized by health professionals. Intense fatigue, feeling useless or withdrawing from others are warning signs: talking to a doctor is the first step toward getting support.<\/p>\n<h3>What is positive parenting?<\/h3>\n<p>Positive parenting, close to what is often called gentle parenting, guides children through listening, explanation and encouragement rather than punishment, yelling or humiliation. It isn\u2019t the same as being permissive: rules still exist, but they\u2019re set with respect. A growing number of countries have also banned corporal punishment of children, spanking included.<\/p>\n<h3>How can you tell if your child is being bullied at school?<\/h3>\n<p>Several signs can raise concern: refusing to go to school, repeated stomachaches or headaches in the morning, slipping grades, damaged or missing belongings, isolation, trouble sleeping, mood changes after using their phone. Start the conversation calmly, without dramatizing, then contact the school. Many countries also have helplines dedicated to bullying and cyberbullying.<\/p>\n<p>Keep exploring: all our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\">psychology topics<\/a> on emotions, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/confiance-en-soi\">Self-confidence<\/a> to find your footing again after a baby arrives, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/psycho\/bodypositive\">Body positive<\/a> to see your body with kindness, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/sante\/grossesse\">Pregnancy<\/a> for the months before birth.<\/p>","cat_name":"Parenting","category_nicename":"vie-de-maman","category_parent":6138}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8375"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=434099"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434099\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":434127,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434099\/revisions\/434127"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/434101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=434099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=434099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ma-grande-taille.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=434099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}