So you think you've seen some bad parenting?

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by Sundae

Sam the reason not everyone lives their lives on benefits is because it's a miserable life. You have no self-esteem, you are bored, you can never better yourself (ie work harder for a couple of months to get something special) and the majority of people are simply not born that way.

A safety net doesn't make people lazy. It allows a minority to fall to the bottom without actually killing themselves. Most people want to be up on the high-wire or the trapeze.

Thanks, Sundae. I suspected the truth was more along the lines you describe. I loathe being forced onto SSDI (disability). My stipend is very, very low; and I would far rather be making a contribution of some sort than surfing the Internet all day. I just called my voc-rehab counselor for about the 5th time in this past month. I was told she out sick. Big surprise. I have not been able to schedule a meeting with that woman since last spring. She is like the watch dog I have to get past before being considered for ANY voc-rehab assistance be it state or federal. The woman who handles my evaluation and potential training at the Federal level is mad at me because I haven't sent her the paperwork from the state lady. Round and round we go.

Originally Posted by Dana

There have always been a handful of girls who took that attitude. Somehow most of them seem to end up in the Sun or the Daily Mail to bolster the latest economic assault on lone parents. The vast majority of young single mums, in my experience as a councillor, working with this particular demographic as part of the Children and Young People's services directorate, are either flailing about in panic and need help and direction, or even more likely are single-mindedly focused on building a life for their little one.

This kind of shite really muddies the water. This becomes the picture most people have of young single mums and it's really, really, not representative.

Thanks for taking time to explain all that. It would seem that things are not so very different no matter which side of the pond you are on.