Fit or Flop Shoes

I understand the quest to avoid exercise and the gym (though I have to confess to being a gym junkie at heart) but the great surge of companies making shape up-get fit shoes are a bit of a rip off. New research shows they can improve ankle stability and maybe even improve posture but tone your legs and bum and sculpt your lower body - I THINK NOT!

Read here for more information from the real experts:

http://bit.ly/WtD8b

Teen Pregnancies

OMG how sick am I of hearing how single teen mums should be vilified by society! If it's not the Tories suggesting these underage girls have committed a criminal offence by getting pregnant (which they haven't by the way as it's not actually breaking any law to get pregnant, the age of consent is about having sex with a minor, not pregnancy)it's the Tories getting their decimal points mixed up in their teen pregnancy statistics.

Now the blog posts at a well known newspaper are suggesting we cut off all benefits to teen mums and let them be homeless with their babies as - 'That will teach them!' Or teach abstinence only in schools because that's worked so well in the States (NOT!).

Here's an idea why don't we all get involved and help improve the way we talk about sex in society and to our kids and teens in general. That way we can give younger people the tools to delay sex until they are ready and make safer decisions around sex when they do decide to go for it?

That's more talk about negotiating relationships, peer pressure, and contraception instead of slapping down those who need our help and making out we're all so much better than them.

Sex Worth Talking About

I've been working on the NHS _ Sex Worth Talking About Campaign and met with a group of great competition winners who had plenty to say on the subjects of sex, sex education and respec. See video of our chat http://bit.ly/dZ5tD www.bebo.com/bigthink

Good to have it reaffirmed that teens aren't stupid when it comes to sex and most have bright ideas about how to lower teen pregnancy rates and improve sex education in the UK. Now if only the papers would stop sensationalizing the topic.

Anita

Britain Voted Worst Place for Kids

According to a new report Britain has been voted the worst place in the developed world to bring up children. Rated the lowest of the six countries examined. The list, from best to worst, reads Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, the U.S. and the UK.

I find that hard to believe, considering in the United Arab Emirates freedom of speech and freedom of the press is restricted. As for the US,about 15 million children - one out of every four -live below the official poverty line and 25% of children under age 12 -- are hungry or at the risk of being hungry every day!

Yes the UK has its problems, but health care and education is free. Freedom of the press is taken for granted and while kids may watch more TV and get less exercise a quarter don't go hungry every day.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1257165/Britain-voted-worst-place-world-bring-children-Australia-best.html#ixzz0hxMKlPUM

Too much information folks!

It's a strange state of affairs, whenever I ask friends how they are, I usually get a one word answer. However, if there is a revolting, inappropriate or downright disgusting story to tell about an injury/illness or gaping wound, then I get the full director's cut. Maybe it's because I am an agony aunt, people think I want to know these things.

Which is why my favourite refrain is often -'Do not tell me if it's revolting' - not that this ever sinks in. So far today I know way too much about a relative's illness, feel sickened thinking about the infected 'spider' bite a friend showed me in Starbucks and want to hurl at the thought of someone's depiction of labour (the birthing kind, not the political kind).

Too much information everyone. Stop it right now!

Fan Mail

If you want to write for a living you have to have a sense of humour thanks to all the 'critical' feedback. My latest fan mail states:
"They published your article on an italian website about how a woman can manipulate a man to merry her.. after reading it i think youre a sad sad woman with very severe mental troubles.. go cure yourself!

I wouldn't mind but I haven't even written a piece on how to manipulate a man in marriage, however, good to know even my non articles elicit a passionate response from readers.

Mum's Behaving Badly

I witnessed a good old playground spat this morning on the nursery drop off, not between the 3 and 4 year olds I might add but the mothers!

Fueled by a disagreement over parking -'Why can't I park right in front on the gates and block off the entrance so everyone has to climb over my BMW?' - was the crux of the argument. It spiraled into a spat as the said offender indulged in some vile name calling at the complaining mothers and an eventual descent into racial slurs. All in front of 20 wide eyed children.

Another friend tells me of a mum in her playground who takes it upon herself to be rude to all the other mums as they wait for school to start, 'So why don't you wear make up/get your hair done/dress nicely?' she's been heard to say.

My question is why doesn't anyone challenge these mum-bullies? After all what hope is there for our kids to behave if the mum's won't!