[WillowTheWhisp]

I do wish I'd seen this myself because I'm getting lots of different impressions now about the whole thing.

I will modify my views based on what I've read in this thread.

IF the care of the younger children was solely the responsibility of a 12 year old and a 9 year old I believe that is too much for them to have on their shoulders and they need help. I have a 12 year old daughter and she is perfectly capable of doing most housework and of changing a nappy or two if the need arose, but to have the responsibility of the whole family is more than I would expect of her. Aren't there laws about how old a child has to be before they are allowed to babysit?

IF the younger children/babies are left unchanged and unfed when their older sisters are at school this is neglect.

IF neither parent can see then I would worry about what happens if a toddler gets into danger - how well protected are they from drinking bleach for instance? Or from poking their fingers in an electrical socket? My friend said one of the children fell and his/her lip was bleeding but the mother didn't react to the crying until prompted to do so by the film crew. Even if she could not see does she never wonder why they cry?

IF the parents had indeed said that they plan on having more children to share the work between them and to look after them in their old age then I would say they need to be taught that is not what having children is about and they should be discouraged from having more for those reasons.

IF Social Services has not previously been involved with this family I would question why and feel that they need to be very closely involved from now on to make sure that the whole burden doesn't fall on the children and to educate the parents about things they can and should be doing for themselves.

I would also question whether there is any extended family who could help and if the parents have any sort of social life where they interact with other parents.