1/11/2010 9:59:33 PM #

Perhaps it would help to adopt the premises of your opponents.

Children, you see, are blank canvasses to be socially painted.

Did somebody tell you they were individuals?

Roberto Sarrionandia

1/11/2010 10:48:04 PM #

Don't you just love commenters who do the 100 metres conclusion jump? You did nothing wrong, simply showed reasonable parental concern for the welfare of your two year old.

Bill Sticker

1/12/2010 9:51:39 AM #

If someone thinks something works for them, so IT MUST WORK FOR YOU. DAMNIT. Then they are violent and uninformed.

You respected your child's integrity, and stood up against the never-ending encroachment of state interference where it isn't needed. What your child may have taken from the experience is that her instincts were respected, and that you are on her side.

Stick to your principles. They're good ones.

Barry

1/12/2010 10:31:31 AM #

Don't let your detractors deter you from making legitimate comments. They rely on people like you and me to back down and keep quiet. As the old adage goes, "evil thrives when good men do nothing."

Our detractors do not want our thoughts to become "mainstream". They don't want the sheeple to question things or ask "why?" I must admit to giving the whole lot a very wide berth following my experiences.

Unfortunately, these children's centres come under the heading of "unsolicited support". Some workers can't grasp the concept that a parent may wish to attend the children's centre for straight forward simple reasons, such as for the purpose of taking part in a paid activity.

My experience, your experience and that of many others leads me to conclude that these activities are offered in part as a way to collect intimate information - let alone personal information. For example, I know of many people who object to answering questions such as "do you consider yourself as hetrosexual, homosexual, bisexual or other?" I mean, for heaven's sake, what's that got to do with a 3 year olds pottery class?

Your detractors are engineering their own demise. If they wish to keep their jobs, they would do well to consider and take note of people's comments. Government, of whatever hue, is desperate to make financial savings and to cut services. An unwanted and unpopular service is a sure canditdate for the chop, which may be why these people want to silence detractors and people who give negative feedback - it's an easier option, then say, provided a service which is actually liked and needed and cherished by its users.

Laura

1/12/2010 10:48:15 AM #

Just saying NO applies to your detractors as well. Take no notice, if they really need that level of clarification they're just fishing to support straw-men arguments to try and point score against you. Stick to your guns, you're aiming in all the right directions

bridd

1/13/2010 4:33:03 PM #

You are your child's mother. You are the creator and the protector. You would have failed if you allowed your maternal feelings to be over-ridden. You never fail, dear Renegade, and I, for one, celebrate and revere you for being such a marvellous example to all us creaking old bods who knew a world where your business was respected as being your business, and no one stuck their noses where their noses should not be stuck.

Outraged of Swindon

1/14/2010 2:20:09 PM #

I used to attend a mother and toddler group which gave out a standardised form for family details. Most I had no objection to - I can see why they might want my name and phone number for instance but at the bottom was a tick box, with something like 'I agree to my child being given medical treatment without my consent being sought if necessary' or words to that effect. I was very concerned by that as there was nothing in the statement to say this would only be if I was unable to give consent so it effectively amounted to a waiving of my rights over my child's healthcare during the toddler group time, giving legal permission for the group leader to overide any decision I might make. I was a bit surprised to see other mothers ticking it and handing the signed form in without concern! I actually asked about it, and the lady running the place did understand the problem. After frowning at it for a moment, she told me it was actually the same form they used for the youth club (where older children attend on their own and such consent could be necessary) and that of course it did not apply at the toddler group, so I could ignore it. I was very prepared to not use the facility if I had been told I needed to agree to the statement! I was pleased they understood and agreed with me that it was inappropriate for the setting, but I still wonder that they used the same form for parentally supervised under-5's as for pre-teens attending activities alone without checking it's suitability properly and that no one else filling it in seemed to spot the implications.
I back your questioning the validity of the questions being asked, you protect and stand up for the rights of your child if you see the need, because no one else is going to do so.

louisa

1/15/2010 11:57:17 PM #

I've read pages of your blog on and off for a while but never commented, but on this one I HAD to. I recently went to the doctors and whilst there got asked whether my 18 month old had had his swine flu jab. I wasn't there for the baby, and our doctors have a very strict "10 minutes - one problem - out the door" policy so I was a little surprised. I said no he hadn't and he probably wouldn't be. I got lectured on being irresponsible. However, he had swine flu in the summer and I didn't want it.

Then I meet up with my friend, a nurse, who informs me that he is only hankering after his juicy bonus, which he will get if 90% of preschool children take up the jab - and that in her surgery's small print it actually says that if a child has already had swine flu, then there is little case for giving them the jab.

Oh - and I donated a small TV to our Children's Centre (they had an appeal out) and when I dropped it off they wanted my contact details. Why? No one could answer, so I left it in reception.

Kellyi