I simply can't be arsed to continue to refute the adverse spin put on my comments by Lox et al. I will just say that I consider parenting to be the job of bringing children up so that they are quaified and capable of dealing with the world as it is as they get older. Wrapping them in a protective shield will not do that, thay have to experience life as it really is in able to be able to deal with it. A work colleage treats his daughter as some of you seem to think children should be treated. She is now fourteen and will not cross a road without someone to help her - is that right do you think? A bit of common sense goes a long way when dealing with children (or life for that matter)and the near hysterical reactions from some of the posters on here really makes me question the mental state of some of the them.