<p>I just found out something pretty interesting here in London. There is a free drop-in supervised playground in the middle of London. No adults are allowed in, unless they are accompanied by a child. Any child can attend, any time from 9am to dusk, all year round. They have preschool programs, supervised sports activities, arts and crafts, etc. It is a huge facility - tennis courts, sports fields, an adventure playground. And it is all free! It is supported by a charitable foundation. I think it sounds like an awesome benefit for working parents. I wish I had had something similar when my kids were little. </p>
<p>Great concept, megpmom. </p>
<p>And calmom, I think your points are very good. Even on this thread, there is substantial disagreement – certainly no generally accepted consensus.</p>
<p>I’d personally rather a little less law enforcement mentality and a little more let’s get some safe places in place mentality in the solution of this issue, personally. Good enough parents who need to work are far preferable to putting kids into the system, any way you look at it. JMO</p>
<p>“But, if you look at the ways the laws are heading in this country? You’d be surprised to find how difficult it is anymore for a poor woman in the south to obtain reliable birth control. It limits choices. There is a war on Planned Parenthood down here anyone from NYC would be shocked to see. I’d read about it in chicago, but I’m absolutely stunned, even here in a mid atlantic southern state.”</p>
<p>I live in NY and am well aware of what is going on with PP all over the south and in many other red states. Mississippi only has one clinic left and that would have been shut down if the courts hadn’t intervened just this week. I am also pretty confident, Mississippi will pass another law and see if that one flies constitutionally. The fact is there is a wide swath of this country where they seem to only care about a kid when it’s in utero - after the kid is born, forgettaboutit. And then they go after the moms who have very little choice once the kid is born. If they stay home because they can’t afford to work they are called lazy moochers. If they work - they are called negligent parents when they leave their kids unattended at home, or someplace like the park as in this case. </p>
<p>If anyone believes people in this country are going to pay more in taxes so the poor can get more services, I have a bridge to sell you. They don’t even want to pay for food stamps, fgs. </p>
<p>I’m a big government person and even I can’t go to where Oldfort suggests. </p>