Protecting Our Children

[B00]

Did anyone watch this last night?

I watched it open mouthed, incredulous from beginning to end. Please tell me these kind of people (the parents I mean) are not becoming the norm for our future generations?

[ummmm]

I've caught bit's of it.

They can't be the norm. I don't know any people like that...

[B00]

God I hope not ummmm!

Watching that programme made me want to pack up my own family and emigrate to a tiny Scottish island or similar to get as far away from them as possible, if they were the norm.

[pastafreak]

I see couples like this at work....and several mums who do not have their children with them. Not being a support worker, I obviously don't know the details....but there must be plenty like this.
It's both heartbreaking and horrifying.
I certainly would not have known about any thing like this a few years ago.

[ummmm]

I'm half way through it. They are really damaged people. It would be interesting to see what their parents were like.

[B00]

Do you Pasta? Rather you than me! Think it takes a special type of person to deal with people like this, I know I couldn't handle it.

[B00]

It doesnt mention her parents at all ummmm, and not a lot is said about his upbringing, though he does say he was abused from 4 years old.

[EvianBaby]

What's it about? (don't think I can get away with watching an hour long clip at work)

[China Doll]

I watched last weeks one, I thought towards the end the mother made a very brave decision.

[B00]

Didn't see it last week CD, and frankly, not sure if I want to. I just watched it, with a growing feeling of horror that I'm bringing my own child up in a world filled with these kind of people.

Do I sound horribly snobby?

[pastafreak]

Like I said,B00...I'd never have known about this before I came to where I'm working now. But I'm sure every urban area has it's fair share of people like this who have only the worst ways to 'cope' with what life has thrown at them. And it's not uncommon to see pairings-like this one-where one is so controlling,and the other is drawn into that control...and it's not always the man who is the one doing the controlling either.

[ummmm]

I actually feel really sorry for them. It's a vicious cycle of abuse and neglect. This is what happens when children aren't nurtured.

[pastafreak]

True...children learn from their parents...that includes the skills they will need to be parents themselves. I don't like to see children taken away-I really feel for the mums...but I suppose that sometimes it's the only way.

[China Doll]

I thought the one last week was actually quite hopeful towards the end.

I've not seen this one to know what you're referring to and will probably watch it later. I would say that most of the cases we have have parents with horrifying stories as well, cycles get repeated and blah blah blah... I haven't a clue what the answer is other than 'break the cycle' but it's an answer that is easy to say but if you lack the basic life skills due to your own terrible upbringing then I fail to see how you can comprehend the wider picture for your children and the implications of your own baggage without a great deal of help from others. We deal with chronic abuse, specialising in sexual but also physical, emotional and neglect as well as just social difficulties of one sort or another. It would also be true to say that some parents who had a really tough time when they were younger are just stronger people and more able to cope than others.

The one I saw last week may just as well as been one of the cases that comes to clinic. They are interesting to me as it's the social services side of things where I mainly work for the paediatrician side. I thought the mother last week towards the end was incredibly brave and that's all I'll say in case you do watch it... and I was cursing her most of the way through it up until the end. Don't forget that these shows are more designed to get your juices flowing too than they are to necessarily show a picture of society and some of its more vulnerable members.

[hc4361]

It does annoy me when social workers get such bad press.
Not a job I could do.

[EvianBaby]

Maybe I'll try and watch it later to find out.

[ummmm]

It's sad :-(

[ummmm]

And my son thinks he has it bad because I shouted at him for staple gunning his school trouser to the coffee table....lol

[B00]

pmsl, was he in 'em at the time ummmm?

I couldn't do your job either CD. I'd get far too emotional!

[ojread2]

I saw last weeks - not watched this weeks yet
Fascinating stuff

[China Doll]

Some social workers get my sympathy hc, not all, there are good and bad. Have seen some horrific cases where social services were useless and some where they were wonderful. It often depends on the borough. There is one borough I actively shudder at when i get a referral from as it never anything other than 'complex'.

And my jobs not emotional Boobies, I don't deal with the kids, I just make sure they get seen and people do what they say they are going to do. By the time they get to me it is hopeful because whatever it is will hopefull stop and we will get them on the right track. It's a positive job, not an emotional one :c)