I'm not usually one for politics, you're more likely to find me hunting for the escapee hamster or knee deep in baking with the kids (OK, so three kids and three recipes at once wasn't such a good idea). Anyway, back to a spot of politics...

The UK government is developing an 'Every Child Matters' policy making it the governements business to makes sure and measure whether children are achieving the agenda's 5 outcomes - enjoy and achieve, be safe, be healthy, acheive economic well being and make a positive contribution. Authorites are expected to show that an increasing number of children are eating 5 veg a day etc. Child care is to be made accessible to every family.

 My problem with this is not that the government are trying to improve standards of living, but it's that while appearing to be 'pro' family, this policy and lots of others are stripping away the importance of parenting at it's very core.Their idea of providing for the family is to make child care cheaper so kids can be put aside while parents persue 'proper' lives. This cripples the family right at it's foundations. Numerous studies have documented the long term effects of sticking little ones in day care (eg penelope leach). Kids need the consistency warmth,security, inspiration of home. They need to know that their parents care enough to give them their greens and all that. Kids need home to be more than a pitstop and this starts right when they are tiny.

There. Got that off my chest!

My husband has just fallen asleep watching  match of the day so I'm off the the schoolhouse store (hsb home page)to spend, spend spend as it's FREE SHIPPING TO THE UK!

(OK so I might just compile a wish list and poke him awake first!)

love

Jane aka 'dearlordifeellikeawhale'