Is success the worst thing for children?

Well I read this article in the Guardian. Apparently our selfishness is ruining childhood for children today. Whilst I agree with the point about Mothers going out to work whilst the children are still babies and toddlers is wrong, and that there are too many tests in school, I disagree with the rest of the article. I am also very skeptical about the motives of this charity. They are allied with the church of England, I distrust anyone who is allied with a Christian organisation, and is promoting the institution of marriage which I don't believe in. And is now come up with the idea of civil "non-religious" birth ceremony, which is just the same as a christening. It seems to me they are trying to preach religious way of life and pretending it's nothing to do with religion.

So lets look at the facts children are pressured to do well in school. Yes they are and tragically some of them take their own life because of this pressure, there may be other factors involved. After speaking to a few middle class teenagers I get the impression that they are pretty depressed, stressed and feel pressured. But all teenagers go through alot of emotions and are well known for being grumpy. I do think the testing in schools is over the top, that was one of the reasons I am home educating my children. As well as the schools being pretty bad where I live.

Women are now more financially independent so they don't need men and many children don't live with their Father's. Also many women are going out to work whilst their children are still babies.

I think women should have to look after their own children for at least until they are 2. I think it's bad for a child to hardly see their Mother. I think Women should have the choice of either having a career or a family I don't think they should have both, at least not when they have very young children. I also think that mother's who choose to stay at home to look after their children should not be made to feel like a second class citizen, and should be valued in society. It seems that only working Mum's get any praise, but what is worthwhile about leaving you're 1 year old with a childminder, or at a nursery whilst you are working in an office or a call centre, or some crappy service industry job. What a waste of time that you will never have back with your children. I have never spent any time away from my children apart from when they are in bed at night. But I do not trust the schools to look after my children let alone a childminder. Who knows how they are treating your children , or what ideas they are giving them.

I thought the idea of no advertisement for under 12's was very strange. How are they going to put that into practice? Ban advertisements on telly before the watershed. Never put adverts on billboards again. Or do they just mean advertisements aimed at children? I still don't see how that helps. If my children see something advertised that they want. I say NO, simple. Unless I decide they can have it. But I have never had to, since we don't have TV.

I think the biggest problem is that parents do not talk to their children or give them any guidance. Also children don't seen to be able to have any fun anymore because of a million safety laws and curfew's. They are saying children are suffering, but it seems to me that adults are suffering too. The pursuit of money is put above everything even happiness and love. Everyday I see miserable faces. And that's usually the adults, the children seem alot more lively. But they must think I wonder if I'm going to turn into a sour faced workaholic like my Mum when I grow up?