Resurfaced Reports Have Brought up the Parenting Decision Jackie Kennedy Made That Made the British Press Go ‘Up in Arms'

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Jackie Kennedy found herself in hot water for a few things, including one of her parenting decisions. She was known as a very hands-on mother, which was quite uncommon for someone of her status at the time. But, as we said, there was one decision that she made with her kids’ activities that really upset the British media?!

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As many Kennedy fans know, Jackie taught her children how to horseback ride, but that wasn’t all! She taught them a love for the finer things in life, philanthropy, the arts, and even water skiing. Three guesses on which one made people upset.

Former Secret Service agent and the author of Mrs. Kennedy and Me, Clint Hill, gave Phantom insights into not only the activity that caused a media frenzy, but how Jackie herself responded to it in private.

“She enjoyed things like trying to teach Caroline how to ride, things that she liked herself,” Hill said, via People. “Mrs. Kennedy taught Caroline how to water ski. She got in trouble because in 1962 in Italy she had Caroline on water skis with her, one pair of skis. Caroline was in front of her and there was no safety apparel at all.” (At the time, Caroline was five years old.)

Hill added, “Some of the British press were really up in arms. They said that she risked the safety of her daughter.”

Per WakeBreaking, they reported that the optimum time to teach a child to water ski is around 5 to 7 years old, and it can be earlier if your child is confident with their swimming abilities.

And Jackie’s response? “I think she laughed,” Hill said.

For those who don’t know, Jackie and John F. Kennedy had four children: Caroline, born in Nov 1957, John F. Jr, born in Nov 1960, Patrick Bouvier, born in Aug 1963, and Arabella, who was born in Aug 1956. Tragically, Patrick and Arabella died within days of being born, with Arabella being born stillborn. John F Jr died in 1999 after a plane crash took his life, along with his wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauren.

Before you go, click here to see the best presidential love stories in U.S. history.

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