Cutting Edge: Pram Face

[VanishingLadyAppears]

Monday 9.00pm channel 4

I'm definitely watching this and I hate to admit it but years ago i was infact one of those ignorant people who thought young girls had babies to get houses, benefits etc etc. I saw the clips for the show and felt so sorry for the girl who was upset about her child living in a cold house, but i suppose there are going to be folk who say you made your bed lie in it. This is going to be a very interesting and sad watch

It's such a shame that people are focusing on the fact that these obviously determined young women were smoking. It must be hard to give up something so addictive when in such a depressing situation.

It is also shameful that in our rich society it is accepted that children are brought up in such poverty. I hope this programme will make one or two people think next time they fill up their 4x4 on the way to the shopping centre.

its not acceptable at all shar. the programme made me sad and angry. yes i felt anger that she couldnt afford to heat the flat but was smoking, but i know how addictive smoking is, and have been in a similar situation myself. my kids had a wonderful collection of indoor jumpers when they were younger.

i mean not accpetable these kids are living in poverty.

seeing that girls breath in the flat, cant belive it was that cold in there, her whole body must have ached, and ehr poor ds must have been cold all the way through

I said they were smoking real fags!! If they must smoke rollups are cheaper

fuel poverty will become increasingly common, unfortunately.

It must be very hard to contemplate giving up smoking when you have to cope with that kind of stress every day.

I was a single mum at 17 but I'm a 30 year old teacher now. I thankfully had the support of my family and I can only imagine how hard it must be for these women to cope. I wish that I could do something to change the way young single mothers are viewed. I know many people that were young single mothers who have gone on to benefit society in a variety of ways. It makes me sad to see lives like this as both of the women featured were obviously intelligent; I really hope that they have a change in their luck.

yeah but bubblerock ,i am shite at rolling

i hope those 2 girls do move on up IYKWIM.

I watched and it did make me sad, sad for them and sad for knowing that we've sometimes been in those situations and that was as a couple not single parents.

Regarding the smoking, I also thought it was a bit off that they couldn't afford heating but could afford fags and to go out. Dp used to smoke and I made him give up because even though he worked full time it was just something we coldn't afford.

They were both nice girls and great mums I thought and I hope they both have great futures ahead of them.

Forgot to tape this does anyone know if its repeated?

Polgara ... it might be on More4?

The two little boys in the programme were so well behaved. There was no winging or whining and they weren't running around mad like my lot do. Felt she was a great mum and FAR more mature than I was at her age.

They might have been bought the cigarettes (maybe C4).
I thought it was sad that she had to take a loan out but didn't end up using it on the flat. Although I can understand why they went out clubbing.
Alla got herself a job didn't she,I wonder how that went.

she did use it on the flat, she bought new table and chairs, and redecorated the living room.

I must have missed that bit I thought she said she'd been silly with the money.

she didnt use it all on the flat, but the table and chairs did change, and she painted the front room with amber.

Thanks misdee

I expect that the show bought them the fags.

It's a shame they didn't do a close on Abby as well.. got the impression the girls fell out.

Felt sad for them.

It was very sad. Lots of my family have brought children up in similiar circumstances but have had family around them which definitely makes a difference both for the mother and the child.

One thing that made me sad in particular was when Alla said that she would be ashamed for her children to bring friends home as the flat was such a tip. A lot of the housing is really shabby and difficult for a single mum to decorate and if you hate living in your home this has an impact on your overall wellbeing. I think it would be a good idea if single mums were given some sort of diy credit that they could exchange in return for a number of decorating hours.

I think they were doing a fantastic job in an awful situation. Terrible that anyone has to live like that. The girl with an alcoholic mother was amazing - that she's such a good mother herself with such a negative experience of parenting (although I expect her own mother had problems that led her to drink).

As for smoking, I think there's always been a tendency to blame people for being poor and see it as some sort of moral weakness, right back through history. We love to create a division between the 'deserving' and the 'undeserving' poor. That's why the Victorians made the workhouses so appalling, to avoid 'encouraging' people to see relief.

Smoking is today's handy stick to beat poor people with. I smoke and I know it is well nigh impossible to give up when you are at the very bottom. Smoking is a crutch in bad times - yes, I know it's a bad idea etc. etc. but that's how it works psychologically.

From what I saw, they were only going out when they got a bit of extra money and when they had a father around to do some babysitting. Which was unusual. They are only young, it's not so awful to go out once in a while, especially on your 21st!

How much would it cost councils to paint the walls white. Or if they wanted other colours pay something towards it.

Very sad especially Ala. I'm not sure I really understand why she had a second child knowing that her circumstances were so bleak.