AIBU, or rather, AIBa total idiot to have filled out the census for dd the way I did?

[chillichill]

it says to include everyone in your house. the only mention of how to fill it out for children is if they split time between households. dd is 6mo. when it asked if she spoke, wrote, understood or read English I answered no. AIBU? shouldn't they have asked the age of the individuals first before all these questions? or did I miss something?

There are some pretty silly errors in it - for instance, you can't say that you're retired until you've gone thru' a list of how actively you're looking for work!

You should have said DD had a perfect grasp of the English language - wonder if anyone would have noticed?

I think you've done the right thing :)

On this link (This is for the Scottish census but I assume English/Welsh will follow the same principle) it says;

"If you are answering for a child who is too young to have any ability in any language, please tick 'None of these'. We will be able to tell from a person's age whether their English, Scottish Gaelic or Scots ability is age-related."

You've put her date of birth in earlier in the form, so they will be able to tell she's only 6 months!

I actually thought it was funny saying that she did not speak English, but then saying only English was spoken in the house. also wanted to write in that her address the previous year was "person 1's womb" but dh stopped me.

I haven't done it yet - I'm totally putting that for DD2!! (sorry to nick it)

plantsitter - please do it! (stupid boring dh and his sensibility). I'm sure the census people will need a chuckle.

lol at OP

I am wondering about the language question: you have to say which is your first language. Which is a pretty absurd concept for my children who are balanced bilinguals. They don't have a first language: they have two languages which are equally the first. How should I remember who spoke first to them in the delivery room? Don't want to give the impression that English is something they have learnt carefully as foreigners, but then again don't want to ignore the fact that they do actually have another mother tongue too (and another nationality).

Yes, that's a complete flaw cory.

I said that my DS could speak English well, not very well as that would be a lie :o

It also asks if your DC cares for anyone, lol. For DSs address, I put "same as person 1". Couldnt really be a different address, being in my womb and all...

I was tempted to fill in the Welsh form, and for the "do you speak Welsh" question, answer "not at all"

What about my 16 year old who hasn't sat his exams, hasn't left school and isn't looking for work?

He has got 2 gcses but didn't feel it was a fair reflection of him in the census.

I felt it was a bit too detailed, eg. what sort of central heating have you got?

DP put 'In my mummy's tummy' for DD's address 1 year ago. I tried to stop him, as it's not even anatomically correct

My form has been posted, but I am sure that if you are preganant the baby does not go on the form........unless you know they will be born, what gender, name and location by the deadline (I think it was March 27th?).

VJ1983, my DH wanted to put that too but I wouldn't let him, why do men think they are so funny .

if the baby is born on or by 27 march it needs to go on the form though.

I feel a bit bad.... Im pregnant and my contract covering someone elses maternity leave finished end Feb.

Im not working, now (and dont intend to, as having a pretty difficult pregnancy and have been signed off from 6 weeks til 14 weeks)
NOT looking for work either.... (have hyperemisis, so really not feasable to work)
As im going to be a stay at home mum once baby is here, for a while it seems mad to look for a job for maybe just 1 - 2 months, with it being highly likely ill be off sick!

So i have no job, am not looking for a job.... it looks like i do nothing. I wish there was a tick if pregnant box, so my ancestors dont wonder what i am doing with myself! Have worked full time, and been employed constantly since finishing uni (until end feb 2011) so its not like i have not worked, it just feels like it on the form!