Should people need a licence to have children?

[Dave650]

However well educated people are on the matter it doesn't stop them making stupid mistakes

[Savannah2]

However well educated people are on the matter it doesn't stop them making stupid mistakes

 

No. Maybe they should drink less. Just a thought.

[muckynees]

No. Maybe they should drink less. Just a thought.

 

LOL, if only it was alcohol that caused stupidity!

[krooner]

education and effective contraception that they have consented to ideally and understand why they are having it.

 

Also it comes down to aspirations....and wanting to do something with their lives, seeing that there is a world out there other than having kids at 15/16

There parents (in alot of instances) were young when they had them and the cycle continues...

 

Also they think it makes relationships better and its someone to love them unconditionally, something alot have never experienced.

 

Fine! But as things stand, and are likely to stand for the forseeable future, surely chemical sterilisation remains the most effective means of contraception.

[Dave650]

No. Maybe they should drink less. Just a thought.

Maybe I they should....

[mel77]

You can't teach someone how to be a parent!!!

Now if you had said "better education on consequences etc" then I could have half agreed with you but to say that someone should have a GCSE in parenting is very impractical.

As I say the only way to learn to be a parent, good or bad one is by your own experience, I consider myself to be a damn good parent (got 8 GCSE's, none in parenting though) and I had my eldest at 18 (doesn't seem so young these days but was when I had him). I still don't profess to be the BEST parent as I probably still have a hell of a lot to learn.

My point is, who would have taught me how to be a parent? Would I have passed the test or got my license? Would I have my kids now if someone had to decide if I was "allowed" to have them or not? What if the examiner was in a bad mood that day?

 

my idea of a parenting GCSE, would be "life skills"

 

the concequences of being a parent, what it means to be a parent, costs, time, stresses, how to budget, working and childcare....

 

of course you dont know how to be a parent until you have kids but you can try and prepare them for it, make them aware of all involved.

You dont know how to drive a car until youv'e passed but we still have to learn about the car and the rules of the road.

 

I dont beleive in just 'sex education' it has to be holistic. What it means to be a mum, a dad, being a positive role model, how much do babies cost, what do you need to buy, pressures on relationships, the pros and cons of waiting until your older.

Not just 'parenting' but life skills.

[mel77]

Fine! But as things stand, and are likely to stand for the foreseeable future, surely chemical sterilisation remains the most effective means of contraception.

 

i agree but there are too many 'do gooders' in this country for it ever to happen. but it will be better for society

[StarSparkle]

my idea of a parenting GCSE, would be "life skills"

 

the concequences of being a parent, what it means to be a parent, costs, time, stresses, how to budget, working and childcare....

 

of course you dont know how to be a parent until you have kids but you can try and prepare them for it, make them aware of all involved.

You dont know how to drive a car until youv'e passed but we still have to learn about the car and the rules of the road.

 

I dont beleive in just 'sex education' it has to be holistic. What it means to be a mum, a dad, being a positive role model, how much do babies cost, what do you need to buy, pressures on relationships, the pros and cons of waiting until your older.

Not just 'parenting' but life skills.

 

Personally, I believe a class of this type should be taught to ALL teenagers. I'm not saying it would necessarily cut down the number of teenagers having babies, but it's basic 'life skills' information that every child has a right to know, in my opinion.

 

StarSparkle

[muckynees]

OK, then yeah, I agree with you on that Mel, as well as cutting benefits (if in receipt), not giving top spec accomodation and as I said before maybe by giving vouchers rather than money to be used for shopping etc

[Savannah2]

LOL, if only it was alcohol that caused stupidity!

 

True.

I wonder how many pregnancies are cause from consuming excess alcohol?