I'm sorry but I can't understand how people who say they do care about the wellbeing and future of our children can then make remarks to the effect that it is the fault of neglectful or inadequate parents that children go hungry and that, that being the case, it is the responsibility of those parents alone and nobody else.
Suggesting that inadequate parenting would be better dealt with by social work intervention does not seem to take into account the current situation where child protection teams are already under-staffed and over-worked and many are at breaking point. Even in the most severe and intractable cases, care home/foster placements are very limited and very expensive.
I don't think measures, such as providing free breakfasts and lunches for young children, are an ideal or desirable state of affairs. But in the current economic climate where many families - even those with two people working - are struggling with housing costs and other basic bills and may be working irregular shifts which impact on ordinary family life - surely it is better that these sorts of measures are used to help ease the strain?
I think it is wrong to assume that all parents who are not coping well are lazy or uncaring. Some parents - for any number of reasons, including their own difficult childhoods, poverty, depression/mental health issues, lack of parenting role models, etc., - find it difficult to manage. Sure Start Centres were opened to address these issues and to help those people who were trying to be good parents but who just needed some practical guidance. Sadly, many of those centres have now been closed down.
Police launch an investigation into Ann Widdacombe death
If you are dealing with narcissism, let’s all help each other.
