Love to know what mum's think of the Scottish Baby Box poem

[toomuchpink]

Love to know what mum's - especially those in Scotland - think of this poem. It is going into the Scottish Government's new baby box of freebies for parents of newborns.

Tempted to ask for alternative suggestions which truly capture the experience of having a baby. But perhaps for some people this is what it is like?

Jackie Kay
Welcome Wee One

O ma darlin wee one
At last you are here in the wurld
And wi’ aa your wisdom
Your een bricht as the stars,
You've filled this hoose with licht,
Yer trusty wee haun, your globe o' a heid,
My cherished yin, my hert's ain!

O my darlin wee one
The hale wurld welcomes ye:
The mune glowes; the hearth wairms.
Let your life hae luck, health, charm,
Ye are my bonny blessed bairn,
My small miraculous gift.
I never kent luve like this.

Or you could use leave it to the poet to decide what language she wanted to use. It is after all, a poem.

I shudder at the idea of 'all inclusive' poetry written by committee. And the managers and civil servsnts and communications people who would get the red pen out and have a crack at 'inclusive' poetry

I mean - if it all rhymes, it's a poem, innit.

But BogQueen, it doesn't rhyme.

Also the poet seems to switch between languages and spellings as if she couldn't decide. She uses my and ma. And ye and you. And can spell miraculous but not moon. It does read oddly to me.
There must be better poems. At least, I hope so.

Its interesting the sheer number of poets on this thread who know how to write poetry properly. One assumes all are suitably published and were also contenders to be the Makar.

I am not a published poet but I dont have to be one to read poetry and form a judgment. Your comments seem to veer between 'this is diversity in action so you can't judge' and 'you can only judge if you are an expert'.

I don't actually care about the dialect aspect of the poem or who speaks what, where in Scotland. I just don't think it's very good.

If any poem looks as if it was written by a committee, it's this one.

But I think we should have a Mumsnet poetry competition.

That's actually a great idea. A poem to share with new mothers?

Backingvocals thank you. I haven't decided yet whether to appoint a committee or just be sole judge.
Do you want to write the poetry or judge it? And should entrants be allowed to vote at all?

I think it's a lovely poem and the boxes are a great idea. You do to have to accept one if you don't want one. But it needs to be given to all to normalise them, like free school meals.

If it's your first born then it means you have most things there to start your baby off. What a great idea. People who have a problem with giving children generally from poorer backgrounds getting a decent start in life are usually toffee nosed twats.

People who have a problem with giving children generally from poorer backgrounds getting a decent start in life are usually toffee nosed twats.
That's about the height of it zippey

People who have a problem with giving children generally from poorer backgrounds getting a decent start in life are usually toffee nosed twats.

Actually maybe we would prefer to give people a real decent start in life (and ongoing decent life chances) rather than a tokenistic one-off gesture.

If you think giving a cardboard box of baby clothes is giving a baby the best start in life and will promote equality then you're a thick twat.

Universalism takes money away from those most in need and distributes it to the better off.

As that will inevitable be deleted....

If you think giving a cardboard box of baby clothes is giving a baby the best start in life and will promote equality then you're very mistaken.

Universalism takes money away from those most in need and distributes it to the better off.

It's quite an eye opener to me how easily some obviously otherwise intelligent people are being manipulated just by the inclusion of a tokenistic poem written in Scots.

Just by the closed-mind thoughts being articulated on this thread, it's obvious that the poem (and the box) is feeding that inward looking chip on shoulder attitude epitomised by extreme nationalism in Scotland.
Whae's like us? Damn few. Thankfully.

This thread is about the poem, not the box itself.

I was very happy with my Bounty boxes, which was obviously a product of marketing from the companies who contributed, as well as health/social advice.

The prudence of giving clothing and mattresses to all new mothers is more questionable. I think a lot of the contents will be binned, tbh. It would be very easy for midwives to assess who needs baby basics and give them the full boxes. For more sorted mums just give them the product samples and leaflets.

Agree Bizzy - proportionate universalism for me every time.

The greatest example of 'universalism ' is the NHS surely.

I do think scotland has been cushioned from the worst of the uk government policies. When I'm in London, family talk of the struggle fur housing and NHS services, of the break up of long established London communities to make way for wealthier people and luxury housing. I experienced what was available from the NHS for a close relative and it was horrendous - she was discharged two days after emergency section in which baby had been resuscitated. She had not yet managed to properly breast feed baby. She could not stand due to epidural headache but was still booted out because they needed the bed. A midwife did not visit until 3 days after discharge. She now has post natal depression.

Now the Red Cross is going into
A&E.

The baby box may be a 'gesture' but I really feel that at least everyone is treated equally with this...so often means testing means cuts. So many people who are struggling are actually in work, they have what were once reasonably paid jobs. A box like this is welcome for them but they would not necessarily qualify if It were means tested.

I do think scotland has been cushioned from the worst of the uk government policies. And there are free prescriptions, free parking at hospitals, free university education, less over crowding, empty roads, a unified education service i.e.exam boards are the same, no grammar system, academies, free schools etc etc. Parents aren't fighting over school places. Housing is more affordable Scotland has an altogether less stressful way of life.

Moving away from the poem for a moment...

Proportionate universalism is more than simply means testing though - in terms of addressing health inequalities it's an approach that is being taken more and more. What we have to consider is whether this box is a gesture which is going to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalites, or whether it's just a nice but expensive gesture. I would be very interested in knowing more about their outcome measures and how they plan to evaluate.

To address your point about the NHS in England, please don't think it's a bed of roses for the NHS and emergency services here. I've worked for the NHS for 25 years and I am very concerned for its long term future, as are many of my colleagues. Don't forget that health spending is falling in Scotland, health and social care integration is fraught with problems, performance targets are being missed in 7 out of 8 key areas, there are shortfalls of millions across the Boards, use of agency staff has increased massively and there have been cuts to acute services.

Empty roads??! I'm guessing that you don't live where the majority of Scots live then?

Anywhere near the M25 radius is gridlocked at rush hour. Nothing compares to that. Or a hellish commute into London at vast season ticket prices.

I quite agree - but our roads aren't "empty", now, are they (unless you mean in areas with low population density and associated lack of employment etc). You'll also find oversubscribed schools in Scotland (numbers are proportionate) and budgets which are being cut elsewhere in the NHS to pay for free prescriptions. Free uni places? Capped for Scottish students, with higher ed places slashed to pay for them.

Now - back to the poem...

Further education

So much projection/status anxiety on this thread!

In what way?