To think we’re lucky to be in Britain?

[BooomShakeTheRoom]

• Temperate climate with distinct seasons, all the more important and enjoyable as we see other areas of the world suffer with annual fires, floods, hurricanes etc.
• Basic protection of human rights and freedom. Yes, politically we’re in a strange place globally and nationally (yes, looking at you Reform and Trump voters 😑) but - generally - you can be who you are with minimal risks. That really isn’t the case in many parts of the world still.
• NHS - again, yes it’s stretched and not perfect but it’s still far better provision than most other people have in the world. I have friends and neighbours who have moved back to the UK just for the healthcare.
• Fantastic school system. We have it VERY good compared to many countries. Again, some of my friends have moved back to the UK to access our free school system. I feel very lucky to be able to send my kids.
• Pretty decent benefits and state support system. A LOT of people are housed and fed by the system who would otherwise be destitute.
• World class maternity rights.
• Good life/work balance for most. 35-40hrs per week is a lot less than many other countries expect.
• Beautiful coastlines, national parks, vibrant cities, shops, parks, kids entertainment. Again, lots of communities around the world don’t have all of that accessible.

We hear a lot of doom and gloom, but for me at least, I feel very blessed to have won the postcode lottery to have been born here. Could things be better? Of course, certainly. And life can throw us problems regardless. But it could also be a whole lot worse and I’m really thankful for everything I have access to.

Just wanted to post this as media plays a big role in depressing people and I hope this post prompts people to think about what they do have, rather than what they don’t.

(I appreciate people feel differently, just wanted to see a positive post!)

I love my country, but we've done significantly better than the UK over the last few decades.

Should you be humble? No need.but boasting about your brilliance as you keep going further downhill seems a weird choice

I do think it depends on where you live and how much you earn. Although I broadly agree with you @BooomShakeTheRoom . When I was considered to be low income, I was lucky enough to live in a time of low housing costs, free university and generous grants. And now things are harder, I earn enough not to worry about it. Where I live the GP is pretty good and I have a NHS dentist. The schools are decent too. We have a local whatsapp group where we share information and resources. But I know this is not the case every where.

I know the NHS has problems but we must retain it. If you've ever had a pet and been to see a vet, you'd understand what a truly private health care system would mean in terms of cost. I have used a private GP once and it was reasonable but I'm very aware that's because their main competitor is the NHS, without it private health costs would sky rocket.

It's so weird that I was just thinking this today!

I was looking at my dd and thinking just how fortunate we are to have been born in Britain.

Although things really are dire, and the NHS is on its way out, we're relatively safe and have a decent amount of freedom in comparison to others ❤️

World class maternity rights .... really? How so?

I think that's exactly the point. It's very unusual for a younger generation to have it harder than the previous, and to see life and services slowly slip to a lower standard. This makes people really angry and unable to accept it as a norm whereas another generation or people in another place would just accept and get on with it.

I don't live in the UK so can't have an opinion on it, but from an outsider perspective it seems that this is the problem, people didn't realise how incredibly lucky they were. Relatively, of course. Poverty always exists in some form. And now they no longer are so lucky, they are just like anywhere else. Plus and minuses depending on your circumstances.

I think the biggest hurdle British people face right now is pessimism. People sometime underestimate the effect of a collective optimism, the general psyche of the public is a major factor in our general well-being and MH.

In many countries there is no support at all for sen children though. European countries too - not just Arab nations either. Many are shamed and have zero support for their children born with profound learning disabilities. No DLA, no special schools nothing.

As OP says UK is not perfect but many are deluded as to what is available or what they are “entitled to” in other countries.

I also have no idea where anyone thinks the money is coming from to pay for all this provision? We have fewer tax payers than ever, no growth and increasingly many of the population have no incentive to work more hours or be ambitious or and “try to get on” as they culturally did a few decades ago as we all receive the same state support regardless and cannot improve lifestyle through a well paid job alone anymore and need bank of mum and dad gifts and or inheritance anyhow.

It’s great that your country is doing well.
The UK is not, but I still very much love all the British nations.
The people are brilliant as I’m sure yours are.
Weirdness is good when you live in the UK sometimes 👍

Yes, life threatening, and was very impressed

If you look globally, the average maternity leaves (paid and unpaid) are quite short. The uk isn't the only one with good maternity leave and some places have better but it is up there.

Which European country has no special education schools or support for children with additional needs?

@ByQuaintAzureWasp I don’t think I articulated it properly - I was referring to being able to have 12 months off work, which is rare and a privilege. Now having the option of shared parental leave too.

In America it’s not uncommon for women to be back in 12 weeks. In lots of the developing world, women can’t have time off work.

Cost of childcare is ridiculous here, but having protected rights and having so much time off is a luxury I feel grateful to have.

Exactly. Us Brits are very good at self deprivation and collective pessimism. We’re not great at celebrating success. And any sign of patriotism is made out to be akin to racism - it’s just crazy.

The “we’re all in it together” doesn’t exist here anymore. Let’s bring back optimism and gratitude! If not for us, then for our kids.

I’ve lived in a few different countries in Europe and travelled quite a bit too, yet I chose to move back to the UK. It could do with being a bit warmer and sunnier but honestly there isn’t any country I’d rather live in.

But what success? Things are, objectively, much worse. How about doing better for your kids, rather than fake optimism and celebrating the deterioration of the country?

@OrangeYaGlad well, everything I put in my original post. I feel very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and have and for those my kids have too.

Im sorry you don’t feel happy where you live or in what life’s offered you - I do appreciate that some people luck out more than others, despite where we live.

Faking til you make it works - it’s not a fad. If you think positively, you will feel better. If you think negatively and feel pessimistic and down trodden, it’s not surprising to know you’ll feel worse. For me, I choose to be gracious and it’s probably the most important quality I’m instilling in my children. To feel grateful, fortunate and humble. But we’re all different and if you don’t want to look at the world optimistically that’s absolutely your choice.

I hope all the youngsters out there feel an element of hope for the world and our country, like we did growing up.

Have left the UK for Italy 6 months ago and have been more depressed than whem my ex left me for another woman.
I think weathwr food and the NHS in the UK are really bad actually. I came back for a weekend d and couldn't understand how I lived so long with such bad quality food.
Having said that I think the UK has an excellent school system and the reason why there is such a liberal society is partly due to education. The BBC is brilliant and miss it hugely and the arts society and mentality. I have no family left in the UK but it feels like home and I miss it loads.

France has far less provision than the Uk and society there is culturally a lot more negative and has far less empathy for parents/guardians/families of send children in general. Just a look on here: families sharing horror stories of taking their autistic child to France on holiday etc and being scolded and judged etc. We are kind and supportive.

Yes, Nordic countries have more provision but their numbers are far far smaller for the amount of sen children living there AND they pay more tax than us AND have completely different cultural attitudes to many aspects of life, society, tax systems than us. Cannot compare. We seem to want to pay very little tax, minimum NI and then demand first rate services for everyone all the time. It’s surely not possible.

Someone on here a few months back had disability figures in uk vs Germany and France and was striking the difference. I’ll try hunt out the data/figures on my watch list.

Anyhow, it’s my lived experience many with disabled children seek to come to the uk due to the send education, provision and support offered. We do a lot to support Children with learning disabilities in this country and have always been proud of this.

like anything at the moment due to lack of money - there isn’t enough for everyone to have everything all the time but it’s still all free to us all as most don’t contribute much to the services they receive.

We live in Sweden, we pay less tax than we did in the UK. Numbers is just economies of scale, theres no reason it can’t work for bigger or smaller populations.

The Netherlands is also not a scandi country and has a tad more than 12 people.

480 days here, and about £120 a month for fulltime childcare.

@BooomShakeTheRoom
Thank you for posting this thread.
UK is not perfect, but what country is ? And relatively speaking we are very fortunate.
The one thing we really could do without is the people who constantly moan about living here.
That would make it an even better place to live😉

Your post is a wake up call OP and actually I agree with you. I have had some pretty ropey experiences with the NHS over the years, but also plenty of good ones. My kids state comprehensive school is amazing. And I live and work in a multicultural area which has crime and problems but where, despite all the noise to the contrary, people coexist peacefully and respectfully.

YANBU OP
I think there are better places to live with better public services but there are many more worse places in the world. The world is a scary place right now and a lot of working people in the UK are very, very poor. Me and my family though, in our little bubble, we're living in a Hallmark movie.

@Kendodd are you saying (like other pps) that because you and your family are alright that it is a good place to live?? Even you acknowledge that a lot of people are very very poor, is it a good place for them? What's that saying about judging a society by the way they treat their most vulnerable? We are not doing very well by that standard (I'm wondering if your post was sarcastic? It was very "I'm alright Jack", it's hard to tell on here)

I presume the posters going on about having a positive attitude making life better don't have disabilities or chronic illness or a precarious housing situation etc and have enough money to pay their bills.

All these anecdotes don't mean anything, look at the statistics: we are shit in many different ways. We shouldn't be, we are a rich country but nobody seems to mind that the money is being Syphoned out of our pockets by oligarchs and their pals

I have three very senior healthcare professionals in my family. We are all insured privately with the highest level of cover for all family members. I would prioritise it over a monthly car payment or sky tv in terms of how important it is now to be covered.
When you actually know what goes on in the NHS it’s shocking. The NHS is so horrific it is actually dangerous now and likely to get worse. Those with good experiences are now mostly lucky exceptions.