Hush, Little Baby....

I'm not a fan of summer. It means overly warm weather, which in turn leads to far too much pasty flesh on show, sweaty people in sleeveless tops and flip flops, flies, midgies and, worst of all...children. Lots and lots of children.

Work is like a creche at the moment. There must have been some sort of aphrodisiac slipped into the local water supply last year, because people have been popping brats out left, right, and, aptly enough, centre! You can't hear yourself think over the noise of screaming babies, impatient parents and squeaky pram wheels.

I'm not comfortable around the children type things. It's well known that I have an intolerence for them. You would think I'd be used to them considering my mother used to co-run a playschool for the majority of my childhood, but no, I'm not. I just don't know what to do with them.
I've tried talking to them. I tried having a discussion with a two year old about the current economic climate the other day, but all I got in response was a blank look and a line of drool (imagine the result I got with the eighteen month old and the election discussions..)

I can just about deal with the younger ones. A wave and a smile keeps their simple little minds happy. It's the older ones that I can't stand. The precocious (CHECK SPELLING) little brats who prance around, demanding attention while mummy and daddy smile indulgently at each other (and everyone else around them) marvelling in what a little prodigy they've created. Eh, yeah...you're gifted little darling probably spends half it's time snacking on whatever if pulls from it's snout...real winner there!

Ummm..unintentional rant over!

So anyway...I suggest a petition to ban all children under the age of eleven from all public places. (When they reach twelve, they should be tested to see if they can be accepted into society with minimal distress for everyone else...)

Who's with me??

Fail? I'm not so sure...

Seems like a brilliant idea to me...no?

Rock-a-bye-baby...

Having children when you're younger is becoming increasingly popular. So many people in their late teens and early twenties are popping 'em out left right and centre (if the amount of squalling brats running around my job are anything to go by anyway...) I see it everyday in work, people my own age, a few years older, and scarily, a few years younger with one and two children trailing behind them. But it's not shocking anymore, it's the norm.

But where do we draw the line? How young really is too young? Sixteen? Fifteen? How about thirteen?

Because that's the age of one of England's newest fathers, Alfie Patten. His fifteen year old girlfriend gave birth to their daughter Maisie four days ago. Let that sink in.

Now...he was twelve when this child was conceived. She was fourteen. What are children this age doing even thinking about sex, let alone having it, and in the process, spawning a child??? Shouldn't he be too interested in his Playstation, or Xbox or whatever it is twelve year olds are interested in?

He claims to want to be a good father, and I quote: "I didn't know what it would be like to be a dad. I will be good, though, and care for it." but he also doesn't really know how to afford it, saying, and I think this is the most telling of all : "I don't really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10,"

I think it's safe to say that this child will be raised by the grandparents, who, sadly, are still trying to raise her parents at the same time. Not very successfully if this is anything to go by...

Read the article here...