Eminem said it: be a parent

Now Eminem was interviewed a few months back and when he was asked about parenting and society, he said something that made me smile: 'if you're a parent - be a parent.' It was like poetry, so he's not just a good rapper after all.

I mean when you hear about the state of British families you begin to wonder what on earth happened to society's values, respect for self and most importantly parenting!

How can parents not be interested in their child's safety and well being? Or proud of the fact that their child cannot read or write? Ok, some might have learning difficulties but granted, not the entire country.

To me, people call them 'old fashioned' values, I call them universal. The idea that having respect for yourself and children is something to shy away from is nonsense. Children need care, love and parental guidance. Why? Because they are children..

It is really quite a simple thing to understand. Yes tough love is important. Yes government can do more to eliminate the criminal activity that directly targets young children. But when it comes down to it, if parents don't look after their children. If they don't stand up for the values of decency and integrity then we as a society have to ask the question why?

Media probably doesn't help. But the reality is it is up to the individual. If I can do it so can you. Make that decision and stand up together, for if all the parents in Britain today decided to unite and say no more abuse. Then I think we could all hold our heads high knowing that we are fighting back.

10 months paternity? Are they going mad?

So Deputy PM Clegg is on a mission. A mission for dads, fathers and men in the UK. Yet, is it just a gimmick or is there really some substance behind this? At a time when the British economy needs all its employees to be giving their all, it is hardly 'good business' to allow new fathers to have 10 months paternity pay, especially if employers have to pay for it?

The point is, as businesses struggle to survive and keep staff on their books, is all this paternity/ maternity leave just 'politics' or should we really be pushing for this kind of thing?

Recently Baby & Father reported about Chinese parents and how they raise their children, some say, better than western families. The reality is that in the 'East' i.e. Asia, parents raise their kids strictly, not because they are mean or nasty, rather, they understand the importance of family.

Now family you say? In the UK, people up and down the land may be used to 'handouts' and 'having it their way'. In the rest of the world it is survival of the fittest and competition is something that is a daily occurrence on a truly epic scale.

Can we really take Deputy-PM Clegg's proposals seriously when those very economies and families that want to succeed and perform well encourage hard work, discipline and unity. Something that many western families and parents are losing.

Why? Well, some may say it is about cultural value. Whereas western parents have become 'too soft' Chinese families even in the West are highly motivated, would they want 10 months off? Hell no, they value their jobs and want to achieve and survive in their jobs. The idea of taking 10 months off means that they are out of the fast lane for too long.

So if you ask me, parents in the 21st century yes have a hard time, both probably need to work to provide, the idea of one parent working and one at home is an ideal, and I'm sure is far more beneficial to the children. Yet, the financial implications of a family where only one parent works, well, we all know what that means.

So there you have, politicians sometimes tend to want to grab headlines, being rich and wealthy with their many advisers and servants, they don't have to worry about the real world. Whilst some credit should be given, I think Mr Clegg would be better off focusing on stimulating the economy, creating new private sector jobs and most importantly cutting the colossal public sector pension liabilities - that would be more use.

2011 here we come..

So after a few weeks of turkey, food and more food, are we any closer to understanding the universe? Probably not. It seems that the earth is round.

You may wonder what it is I'm trying to suggest? Well, when you take for example the state of the UK economy. It is in fact heading in the right direction, or at least so we're told?

As a parent, father or dad, you are probably wondering, now where do I get all this extra money from for my family? You are probably saying, what money are you on about? Well, the extra VAT, the increase in the cost of food and fuel, the potentially increasing interest rates, you name it, prices are going up - wages aren't. So something has to give.

When you read about government Minister's trying to 'save' Ringo Starr's old house you begin to wonder if they are spending our money on the right thing?

To me, I just don't understand how hard it is for a government to 'manage' the finances. I mean we all know the boom and bust of the previous lot, and yes, it does take time to 'balance the books'. However, just where we spend our tax money should be of interest to parents.

Ok, there's not much you can do about it, I mean, politicians do as they like. Parents do as they must. If only things were different.

When you hear about soldiers dying in foreign lands, you begin to remember Kipling and his stories from over a Century ago when Britain was last in Afghanistan - things didn't end much better then..

So as 2011 starts with a bit of sun, perhaps father's have a role to play in saving a little more, being a little more thoughtful and most importantly thinking about the 'long term', not just today, rather tomorrow.