From a parent to a teacher friend who complained that one of her Reception class (3-4 yrs old) was still in nappies and couldn't pull up his trousers: "You're the teacher, you teach him to do it, I don't have time."

For a lot of parents, they get to spend very little time at home after the birth of a baby. Most working women who get pregnant, go back to work afterwards - in many cases they have to, because they are the sole or greater wage earner. Children are left in the hands of childminders and nurseries whose priorities are not always the single child. It's only in the last 40-50 years that we've had working mothers as a majority. My mother didn't work until I was 4 and then no more than 6 hours a week until I started school at 5. These days, some employers want mothers back 3 months after giving birth.

I feel very strongly that it is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children that violent behaviour is not the answer, that good deeds should be done for themselves, not in the hope of rewards and that there are certain things that we just do not do ever... anyone of us, regardless of provocation or peer pressure.

Of course, anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a terrible parent and Limpit will grow up to be a mad axe murderer.

LTS