To think db and his gf should put thier children above saving the planet???

[lillycat]

My db (32) has always been a bit of a drifter, he has never really held down a job or anything and travels a lot round the country. It was never really an issue for me, he is an adult and can do what he likes, but he fell out with our parents years ago over it. He has recently been trying to make things up with then and has been to visit, and brought his new gf who has two ds from two fathers. She is younger (24) and has a council flat but spends most of the time living in a van with her ds who are 5 and 3.
Her and db are now traveling around together and seem to be spanding most of their time on road protests (I didnt even know there were any anymore but they have found some) and things like that, and doing anti war and anti nuclear campaigning - db gets arrested every now and then which can't be good for young boys to see as an example imo.

Anyway me and my parents are a bit concerned about her ds - they don't go to school obviuosly but they dont get taught by their mum either it seems - the 5yo can't write his name even. The children are filthy as well, dressed in tatty old clothes all the time and have quite long hair which does look lovely but needs washing and brushing which doesn't happen really. Both db and gf have a dog so the children are sharing their beds in the van with two dogs. They are lovely children, really bright and sweet but they swear a lot which the mum doesn't seem to mind and they have no routines at all- they get taken to parties and kept up late. Thir mum still has a double buggy that they sleep in if they are out late. Also they are vegan and are both quite small, but they do get fed healthy food and she doesnt let them have sweets and fizzy pop. She seems to worry about strange things - I'd be more worried about my dc getting an education than being vegan iyswim?

Dh thinks its none of our business to say anyhting as the kids are obviously loved and looked after, just not to the same standards we keep . But I just cant help thinking that once you ahve kids its time to grow up and put them first?

5 and 3 is not especially old to still be in a buggy. 5 is also not especially old to not be able to right their name. many children don't learn to do that until they are 6 or 7 in other countries. how do you know she is not teaching them things? you can learn plenty by just going about your day to day life. at that age there is no need to formally sit down and have a lesson as such. there are many people who don't wash there hair at all. the hair self cleans if you don't wash it for long enough. and the worst that could happen about tangled hair is she might have to cut it all off if she leaves it too long cos it will be impossible to detangle. i know plenty of people that take their DC on protests and to festivals (where this is looooooooads of drug taking going on - i'm sure DWP will confirm this - but they don't take drugs themselves and make sure their children are well looked after) although i don't think any of them have been arrested with the DC there. i think they tend to stand back a bit and only get really into it if the dc aren't there just incase.

I live in JApan (education capital of the world!) and here kids don't start school until 6, so don't worry about their schooling- 5 is too young, really.