Single Parents

[Eulalia]

I don't want to start yet another message board so will tag on here as it is relevant.

I wondered what the parents here thought of the case in the news of the father who is fighting to prevent his partner from having an abortion. He says he will bring the child up himself. As the current law stands the embryo is said to belong to the mother but an abortion can be refused. However in practice it rarely is and we effectively have abortion on demand.

So who is right? Are some women becoming to lax with getting rid of unwanted babies (and unwanted partners)?

Should a father have the right to force a mother to go through pregnancy and then take the child away? What about breastfeeding? Is it right for a child to be knowingly brought up single handed?

I feel that abortions are too easy to get but as for this individual case I don't know enough details. I do know that there was a case similar to this recently and the woman did go ahead with the abortion and regretted it afterwards.

I am not a mother myself, but as a degree student I'm doing research about childhood in today's society. I would really appreciate any help I can get from you the 'real' parents!

I recently read an article highlighting the fact that social isolation is growing in the UK. It claimed that families are about a third less likely to eat dinner together, take holidays together or even to watch television together.

Furthermore, it argued that communities with more social capital have lower crime rates, and that children in such communities are at lower risk of teen pregnancy, child abuse, drug use or juvenile delinquency.

How do you feel about these arguments?
Do you feel as a parent yourself that you're not spending as much time with your child as you would like, or have you noticed that your child is spending a large part of its time isolated and on its own?

Also, do you feel that the constant analysis throughout the media of whether we are treating our children right, and who's to blame for the rise in violence and abuse among children, is actually turning your child's first years in this world into a nightmare of constant worries and pressures?

Any comments would be of great help!

THANK YOU