I have just watched the programme Age 12 and looking after the family and my anger just grew. I am 60 this year and the youngest of five children - my parents were blind - mother totally and dad an albino classed as blind. Dad worked as a basket maker & pub pianist while mom was at home successfully raising the family and keeping the home with no help. She kept a clean spotless house, spotless whites & boiled towels & sheets, hung them out of the line. I can still not iron as well as mom and her knitting was so neat it was thought to be machine knitting. The only cooking she did not do was frying and cake baking - but never fear that was tackled by dad. The only job done by us children was to look over the peeled potatoes for 'eyes' and to make sure that doors were left fully open or closed (easier to sense) and nothing was left on table edges or the stairs. It was a wonderful loving childhood and so to see this programme tonight where two people were using blindness as an excuse to bad parent made me so angry. All those children were suffering from neglect and the inactivity of social workers, young carer assoc and teachers is astounding - more so when you heard that Jenny the younger sibling attempted suicide last year. My heart cried out to her and I was in tears at her quiet suffering. Please please believe me - having no sight (these two even have a small amount so they are not totally blind) does not excuse the conditions here. The parents failed to respond to the children on every level - basic caring and basic loving.... My homelife lacked wealth in money as dad's pay was a pittance and the piano provided a week at Butlins and Christmas as he played six nights a week, but we had love and laughter in abundance as well as a carefree childhood. If you watched the programme believe me ... it doesn't have to be like that!
Well that just goes to show that blindness is no excuse and anything is possible. My heart goes out to you as you must have been so shocked and angered after your own childhood. I have never seen anything so heart breaking, and will take a long to to calm down after this. WHERE ARE SOCIAL SERVICES?
hi i have to say i have also just watched the programme and have to agree these poor children why is this aloud to happen leaving a child in the same nappy all day breaks my heart,they are being neglected and i am so angry,upset and concerned that no one has steped in and removed these poor kids from this terrible enviroment.please someone do something.
Hi. I too have just watched this programme and am appalled that this is allowed to happen.As you rightly say they are using their blindness as an excuse! The younger children are totally neglected - dirty does not even come close to describing some of the clothes they were wearing! The older girls need to be enjoying their childhood and not doing the job that is their parent's responsibility. I have three young children of my own and to think of leaving them in a dirty nappy all day is disturbing. I was hoping to hear at the end of the programme that something had been done - instead I am here feeling desperately sorry for these poor, wonderful children. Please can someone help them????
It was all reminiscent of Dickensian England; babies crawling aound in filth. How can Social Services sit back and watch it happening? They are as much guilty of cruelty and neglect as the parents. I'd willingly offer some of these children respite if I only knew how to go about it. But no child should be expected to sacrifice his/her childhood to an adult. It's just criminal. All the couple's children appeared emotionally if not physically damaged. It's so, so sad.
Hi, i'm a (dare I say it?) Social Work student, and I am carrying out research for a dissertation on what it is like to be a young carer. I am very interested in your views and opinions - would you please use this forum to contact me if you give your permission for me to use your posts. kind regards.
Originally posted by lisahannah: Hi, i'm a (dare I say it?) Social Work student, and I am carrying out research for a dissertation on what it is like to be a young carer. I am very interested in your views and opinions - would you please use this forum to contact me if you give your permission for me to use your posts. kind regards.
Hi there have you contacted your nearest princess royal trust for carers centre or carers uk? They would be able to put you in touch with local young carers group where you will find that last nights programme is far from the norm for young carers. That last night was quite simply child abuse and nothing else. Good luck with your dissertation. My daughter was a young carer and she is still very passionate about the subject and has spoken at a conference about being one.
I felt I just had to add my comments too.... that programme last night had me totally infuriated - disbelieving - and horrified - I tried to find it in myself today to pity and sympathise with the parents - I couldn't. I have a granddaughter slightly older than the youngest child - and to think of her crying for cuddles, food, attention and love is just impossible. The parents obviously see nothing wrong in the way that they are "bringing up" their children - all of them - not just the four younger ones - but the girls too... they should still be allowed to be children. I only hope someone in the social work department in their area is brave enough to stick their neck out and make a difference for this family - before it is too late.
