[Ammi]

Originally Posted by the truth

lots of people I know who gets child benefits smokes like a trooper in front of their kids at home. many smoke during pregnancy too... at £8 a pack thats an expensive hobby. a lot of them drink too. no sign of a proper oven either, its usually microwave meal too....theyd be better off with tokens I dont care how much it upsets the parents

..ok, that's your own personal experience and fair enough if you know lots of people who's priorities are themselves and not their children...but my experience couldn't be more different to that...there are parents like you say, I can't deny that but for me they are very much the minority..I come into contact with many families..(in the hundreds at any one time..).. through my work and I'm also aware of their circumstances and if I kind of multiply that by the amount of years I've been working then that's a lot of familes..and I can honestly say that maybe there have been a small handful of parents who haven't prioritised their children..and thought about their own needs more...

..maybe you're right and 'lots of people do' but I still don't think that 'lots' of people represents a very large percentage... as the majority are loving and nurturing parents, who try their very best.... no matter what their financial situation..this is not about upsetting parents at all..it just doesn't seem necessary and in my view is quite a demoralising thing to do....