A 3-year-old at Casino Royale!?

[Simplicity]

For the most part I agree with you. I hate new laws that take away my civil rights and my choices. I am a good parent and I think I make good decisions where it comes to my daughter and will continue to do so. On the other hand though, I have met some REALLY STUPID people. Who honestly, shouldn't even BE parents, let alone decide what things a kid should be exposed to since what they are exposed to helps shape what they will become.

This has spiraled into a truly "touchy" subject at times on this thread. LOL

I don't think you really believe that any government should decide which people get to have kids, and how those who do have children should raise them. Either everyone has the right to raise their children as they wish, or no one does. And I'm hoping it's the former.

 

[DonTadow]

I don't think you really believe that any government should decide which people get to have kids, and how those who do have children should raise them. Either everyone has the right to raise their children as they wish, or no one does. And I'm hoping it's the former.

I do. I'd love there to be some type of mandatory test of some kind. Trust me, some of these parents don't need kids. OF course this is my utopia idea of the extreme.

BTW, we do live in that society. The government has the power to take away your parental rights. I have a friend right now whom can never have children. She's had two since they took away her parental rights and they immediately had to realise them into the fathers custody. Did she deserve it. Yes. THe father of her first four kids was very abusive and broke 14 bones in the babies body while she looked away.

 

[Simplicity]

I do. I'd love there to be some type of mandatory test of some kind. Trust me, some of these parents don't need kids. OF course this is my utopia idea of the extreme.

BTW, we do live in that society. The government has the power to take away your parental rights. I have a friend right now whom can never have children. She's had two since they took away her parental rights and they immediately had to realise them into the fathers custody. Did she deserve it. Yes. THe father of her first four kids was very abusive and broke 14 bones in the babies body while she looked away.

Yes, but I already know that I don't agree with you on many things.

But now you are touching on a tender spot for me.

I agree that there has to be some protection for physically abused and neglected children.
That's a whole different world from stupid parents raising poorly behaved children. And it's certainly not letting your kids play video games or late movies.

I do believe that it is too easy to lose parental rights in the US. THAT became immediately apparent to me after my son was born prematurely, and I had to deal with child services. It's frightening to see how quickly you can lose parental rights when your child is in an ICU. The doctor knows what's best, and the insurance knows what they're going to pay for. Your new baby gets locked in a room, and you are given visitation rights a few hours each day. And you have little to no say about how the child is cared for. I once asked my "advocate" case manager (who worked for the insurance company) whether they would ever tell me if the insurance company and the doctor disagreed about a treatment. She said no, she wouldn't. Great advocate, huh? God forbid if you ever wanted to refuse treatment for something or switch to some other hospital. I think they'd taser you.

Meanwhile there's a social worker who just comes by to CHAT. You're in the hospital having a kid, and up comes the social worker who's there to make sure you're having a SUPER time. Hey, how's it going! Let's be friends and see if you get to keep your child! And when your kid is developmentally delayed, you get to talk to them again. Social workers ask the same questions over and over. You mean both parents work? Yes. So he's in daycare? Yes. Do you have family nearby? Somewhat. Do they watch him? No. Do you have friends to watch him? No. Both full-time jobs then? Yes. Are one of you going to quit? No.

My son is fine now. A little physical therapy cleared everything up nicely. But what a nightmare. Please don't tell me that's the way it should be.

 

[Aurora]

But now you are touching on a tender spot for me.
<snip>

I completely agree with you and do not think that anyone should tell someone else they shouldn't have kids or tell them how to raise them. Of course, there are some people that I wish wouldn't add to the gene pool That sucks about the problems you had with the hospital/insurance/childrens services. It is sad that the services that we do have set up to try and help kids, go after the wrong people a lot of the time. It's good that your son is fine now.

They have optional (birth) classes that a person can attend, but honestly I don't think they do jack sh*t for teaching someone what being a parent is going to be like or what you should and shouldn't do care wise for a baby/child. I wonder what the answer is to getting new parents to understand things like "Dont''t shake your effing baby!" If people were actually forced to learn this sh*t, maybe so many kids wouldn't get hurt like my nephew who ended up in the hospital at 6 weeks old with a boken leg, 2 broken ribs and shaken baby syndrome. Let me tell you about a child services nightmare for my poor sister-in-law. If her boyfriend wasn't thrown in jail before my husband got a chance to get to him, I don't think he would be alive. But then again, maybe education wouldn't have prevented it. I wish I knew the answer.

 

[Simplicity]

On the one hand, I wouldn't mind a required class in high school that teaches the basics of child care. Something more than: here take this egg and try not to smash it. See how it makes your life miserable? Now you understand parenting. Well, no. Not really.

I mean something like: here's how you bundle, burp, and bathe. Handling thrush, pinkeye, ear infections, vomitting, diarrhea, and fevers. How to change diapers. The differences between diaper rash, heat rash, and viral exanthum. Not shaking.

On the other hand, it would become the same stupid political football that sex-ed class has become.

 

[bodhi]

Something more than: here take this egg and try not to smash it.

There's an episode of Buffy where they do that. Xander toughens up his progeny by hard-boiling it.

 

[DonTadow]

I completely agree with you and do not think that anyone should tell someone else they shouldn't have kids or tell them how to raise them. Of course, there are some people that I wish wouldn't add to the gene pool That sucks about the problems you had with the hospital/insurance/childrens services. It is sad that the services that we do have set up to try and help kids, go after the wrong people a lot of the time. It's good that your son is fine now.

They have optional (birth) classes that a person can attend, but honestly I don't think they do jack sh*t for teaching someone what being a parent is going to be like or what you should and shouldn't do care wise for a baby/child. I wonder what the answer is to getting new parents to understand things like "Dont''t shake your effing baby!" If people were actually forced to learn this sh*t, maybe so many kids wouldn't get hurt like my nephew who ended up in the hospital at 6 weeks old with a boken leg, 2 broken ribs and shaken baby syndrome. Let me tell you about a child services nightmare for my poor sister-in-law. If her boyfriend wasn't thrown in jail before my husband got a chance to get to him, I don't think he would be alive. But then again, maybe education wouldn't have prevented it. I wish I knew the answer.

But the parents who need the classes aren't going to them voluntarily. As a matter of fact those whom need them aren't going to them unless they are forced to by court order and by then it is too late.

I would hate the government to inact these rules on their own. But I'm a fan of a village to raise a child and if the community decides as a whole that there should be laws like this, it isnt the government. Its up to the community to protect itself. Why should the community pay for the end product by building prisons and juvenile halls instead of nipping it in the bud from the beginning.

 

[Aurora]

But the parents who need the classes aren't going to them voluntarily. As a matter of fact those whom need them aren't going to them unless they are forced to by court order and by then it is too late.

I would hate the government to inact these rules on their own. But I'm a fan of a village to raise a child and if the community decides as a whole that there should be laws like this, it isnt the government. Its up to the community to protect itself. Why should the community pay for the end product by building prisons and juvenile halls instead of nipping it in the bud from the beginning.

If you think about it, it is mandatory to have a car seat in order to take your baby home. (They actually come out and check). That is for a child's safety. So why not a class for a child's safety? How about mandatory, in hospital - parent classes. And I don't mean make it a law. I think hospitals should start it. "If you have a baby here, you are required to spend 1 hour learning this". Heck you are stuck there for a couple days anyways. Or maybe hospitals should just have a nurse take some time with the parents and run over a few basics? Something would be better than nothing. I have no idea, but something has got to be better than the nothing that we are doing. Even if it saves 1 child from dying needlessly at the hands of some moron parent.

 

[DonTadow]

If you think about it, it is mandatory to have a car seat in order to take your baby home. (They actually come out and check). That is for a child's safety. So why not a class for a child's safety? How about mandatory, in hospital - parent classes. And I don't mean make it a law. I think hospitals should start it. "If you have a baby here, you are required to spend 1 hour learning this". Heck you are stuck there for a couple days anyways. Or maybe hospitals should just have a nurse take some time with the parents and run over a few basics? Something would be better than nothing. I have no idea, but something has got to be better than the nothing that we are doing. Even if it saves 1 child from dying needlessly at the hands of some moron parent.

I don't want to sound like the guy whose for big brother govt i'm not. I"m a fan on giving the gov't back to the people.

Sadly, a lot of people won't do something unless there is a law or unless they are forced and even then they still don't. I know people whom would ride with their 1 year old on their lap or in the front seat if it wasn't against the law. Heck, my brother-in-law asked us once to drive my newphew home while he sat on his lap. When i asked for the childseat he waved it off and said that there arent any cops out on the holidays. (sorry brother in law is an idiot).

I don't think a class is going to do it, I think there should be a series of classes. maybe up to a month before the baby's born. Heck you're going to the hospital (or should be) for check up s anyway. The problem is if this isn't a law, lower income families on medcare won't want to fit the billfor something extra unless they have to. And that is primarily where a lot of problem children and households are coming.

 

[Aurora]

I don't want to sound like the guy whose for big brother govt i'm not. I"m a fan on giving the gov't back to the people.

Sadly, a lot of people won't do something unless there is a law or unless they are forced and even then they still don't. I know people whom would ride with their 1 year old on their lap or in the front seat if it wasn't against the law. Heck, my brother-in-law asked us once to drive my newphew home while he sat on his lap. When i asked for the childseat he waved it off and said that there arent any cops out on the holidays. (sorry brother in law is an idiot).

I don't think a class is going to do it, I think there should be a series of classes. maybe up to a month before the baby's born. Heck you're going to the hospital (or should be) for check up s anyway. The problem is if this isn't a law, lower income families on medcare won't want to fit the billfor something extra unless they have to. And that is primarily where a lot of problem children and households are coming.

I see your point. I think it is a shame that everyone would have to go through such rigamarole for a few stupid people. Unfortunately, though that is why many laws come about. Not that I would be against such laws persay because they would help, I just hate to invent new ways for the gov't to control us more than they already do. It's just one step closer to them running our lives for us.