Debate: compulsory national childcare service for teenagers

[Tortington]

i like a good debate and most people can debate well without taking offence - anyway mumsnet is full of advice and probles at the mo, and i want some adult conversation other than "how have the kids been today" this is my suggestion for a debate today. i wanted to steer clear of the usual politics, class, religeon stuff and think of something more off the wall so hows this.

it occured to me that we seem to have somewhat of a problem in this country with teenage pregnancies and we have a problem with high cost childcare- now without going into a holy cow about poverty in this country - i cant actually believe teenagers really want babies.

so heres my solution
remember national service - where everyone was called up? - how about all teenagers at the age of 15-16 have to take 6 months out to look after someones children for 6 months - easing their childcare problems?

Tinker - how about infant economics? Would that be a better name?

Misdee - I hated the way child development was so restricted at GCSE too. That's why I thought it should be in the same class as Home Ec, CDT etc because they're all the 'hands-on' subjects and most people aren't that bothered about doing any of them, so wouldn't miss them if they wanted to do Child Dev.

I think I was lucky.Since becoming a mum I've sung in a youth opera with the WNO and have got quite a few poems published.I only have to try and get my short stories or book published and I can say I've achieved all I wanted.I was told in school that these things were out of my reach as my parents didn't have much in the way of money.Having my children has spurred me on as I want them to know that I did something with my life.I want them to be proud that I'm their mother.
I found that my mother(although prob a bad example as she wasn't the bestm in the world) never really did anything when we were kids and now she seems resentful although starting to do things she also is in all honesty leaning towards an age where she would have retired.I however when my youngest is 18 will be 42 and able to enjoy the peace while I'm young enough to enjoy it.

Having babies is great and hard in equal measure at any age, when I had my first dd as a teenager I had lots of energy to give her, now I have my second dd as a 40-something I have lots of patience to give her. I must be completely mad as just I had gotten the first off my hands, I met dh No.2 and started again - I'm looking forward to my freedom in my dotage!!