*************************aged 12 and looking after the family*******************CH4 NOW

[Nemo2007]

looks interesting.

i really don't think that they were portrayed as in any way enblematic of all blind parents, so i wouldn't worry too much on that score. seemed to me their learning difficulties and the parenting they probably both received (dad definitely physically abused) left them ill-equipped emotionally and practically for parenthood. (although for the record both parents seemed to wilfully manipulate the facts to suit themselves, thinking particularly of 'the doctor has encouraged us to have another baby' and 'if the eldest doesn't help out she'll be kicked out of Young Carers'. both sounded like crap to me. Bicester SS should be pretty ashamed of themselves.

so if you'd gone into that family expecting to see a tale of everyone mucking in and being heroic and found that, you'd have put down the camera? and would you have been right to do so?

Had to switch this off.

I have a 13-month-old baby and couldn't bear to watch that little 8-month-old crawling around in filth and sleeping on the floor like a dog.

Just too disturbing.

These parents had other things going on besides inability to see.

I was shocked and in tears like most of you lot.

There is one thing puzzling me. How did she not know she had miscarried a couple of months before. When I miscarried is was very messy (sorry tmi) and painful.

Agree speedymama..i thought the parents were lazy selfish b*t*ds.It makes me sick thinking of the pussy footing around by social services.The eldest daughter was probably suffering depression and was/is deeply traumatised..as was her sister.
The parents also said 3 times that the hospital had 'advised'them to try again for a baby[i find that hard to believe]
I am totally shocked and really hope that social services insist on mmore help.

Disgusting, Im considering conating bicester SS to complain.

I was HORRIFIED to see the children crawling under bins and lying around like dogs.

I went into houses of families with children on child protection register recently on placement with Health Visitors and school nurses recently. This family last night were far worse than many of the families I visited.

Their children are being NEGLECTED. SS should be ashamed.

I just googled MP and Bicester and emailed the MP.

The mother appeared to have a sort of attachment disorder, which Louise also seems to have had - or maybe that was just Louise's way of surviving.

She looked like she was going to bolt the second she turned 16.

Didn't see this but read that the reason the parents want lots of children is so that there are plenty of them to look after them, the parents, when they are older! What a life for those kids.. their whole lives too!

Lovely boy looking after his mum. She should pay someone else to do that ironing.
No need for him to be spending his time doing that. AT ALL.
The blind parents were just bloody lazy, and mentally impaired, how could the dad pour a beer but not change a nappy?
And noone seemed to acknowledge baby crying in the background.
Awful

Maybe the reason they chose this family was to cause public outrage and make social services act. Perhaps it was done for the children.

The bit that got me was the part where the minute the girls got home from school the parents f*cked off outside with their fags & booze and let the girls do the babies' nappies, make the tea etc.
As for "can't cook" - microwave anyone? OK - it's not ideal but it's got to be better than cheese sandwiches eaten off the floor/table "to save on washing up" or chips eaten off the highchair. The dad had a magnifying glass to read his daughter's report so surely he could read microwave instrcutions?

New here, but feel moved to comment about this programme - which I wasn't actually intending to watch, but was drawn into.

What got me the most was the fact that the mother referred to what the girls were doing as "helping". So she was coping quite OK without anyone else, thank you, because her girls were helping. They weren't helping, they were doing it all themselves ! It really irritated me. Which made a change from the utter horror I felt at most of the other things shown.

So sad.

I feel awful that I turned this off, I couldn't stand to watch it - which is such a lame reaction considering that these kids have to live that life and can't turn it off like I can.

Well done to those who have contacted SS or the NSPCC, will you keep this thread updated with any response, or let us know whether anyone has promised to investigate? Because I really really think this needs taking further.

I wonder if the programme makers contacted SS, and if not, why not!

The parents are certainly neglecting the children, both their physical and emotional well-being. I agree with others that there are certainly attachment problems on the part of the mother which have transferred to the children meaning that they are very emotionally detached: this has clearly hindered their emotional development.

This family has school age children, you would think issues would be being picked up via teachers, education welfare - I simply can't believe that services aren't involved in a family with so many needs as this, it's terrifying.

Those nappies!

Forcing children to sit in dirty nappies all day.

Social services ARE be involved if the girl goes to a young carers group. I understood the family had refused more help than the bit of cleaning. This isn't good enough. That's why I contacted the MP.

What a thoroughly nasty, selfish couple those two were. I didn't once see them show the slightest affection towards any of the children. They appeared 'able' enough when it was for something that suited them, like being able to pour a beer or ride a mobility scooter (and what was all that about? bit of exercise would have done him good). They sat in that grotty house all day with the younger kids while the older ones were at school and took no notice of them whatsoever. Being blind doesn't stop you talking to your children.

My dh had a friend who was completely blind. I've seen him bathing his baby daughter, feeding her, changing her nappy and playing with her. I've seen him taking her to the park with the buggy handle in one hand and his guide dog's lead in the other. He has a ball with a bell in it so he can join in games with his two sons.

I can't bring myself to feel a shred of sympathy for the couple on that film, they would probably be the same if they could see. I bet the reason they haven't got a guide dog is because they wouldn't be allowed to keep a dog in those conditions. But of course social services think it's ok for their children. What makes me really is that they seem so pleased with themselves!

This programme was extremely upsetting. The two older girls clearly need emotional support as well as having some of their responsibilities taken away from them.
The relationship between the two of them was sad to see. And an 8 year old attempting suicide? Her parents didn't seem to understand the seriousness of it all.
The babies falling asleep on the floor, and the dirt on their clothes was sad to see.
The mother with the son seemed all too aware of the impact her illness had on her child.

I was amazed at the parents who were visually impaired. I can't direct all my anger at them though, I feel they have been let down by social services. The mother clearly had other issues besides her sight. I feel they need support and guidance, someone to show them that it isn't acceptable to wait until the older kids come home to change a nappy, that it is something that can be done without your sight. Surely someone should be giving them guidance, showing them how to cope better on their own.
Those poor older girls, it was heartbreaking and equally as heartbreaking to see the younger ones sleeping all over the place and the fog on the camers when they went into the kids bedroom But I also felt sorry that the parents don't seem to have been gioven the support they need.

I have a child with special needs and I've had tons of support, people showing me how to be her mum. Why isn't the same offered to these parents? Why haven' they been shown how to cope better?

is it going to be repeated,didnt realised i missed it. or is it just to sad to watch

it was awful and so shocking.i cried throughout.
teecee it said they refused more help other than a couple of hours cleaning aweek.

TeeCee
The parents had refused all support offered excepting 2 hours a week cleaning.

In their case, however, I think Social Services should have used hte court system - their refusal meant the children were in a neglect situation and therefore the courts should have forced them to take on more help.

Or else.

but will ss have to act now its been made public

It's terrible that they refused more cleaning help but I don't think that they should be goiven up on. They should be made to have parenting lessons on how to do certain things or frankly have their children put into care. They need to realise that this isn't accepteble, they have to be made to accept help.