My child

I'm not sure that this is universally true and can only speak from my own experience, but one of the profound changes that occurred to me when I became a parent was that my perception of the world shifted. I have always valued and cared about children: they are one of the most vulnerable parts of our society and need the most care and protection, so when something happens to a child it is somehow more tragic or horrific. I am sure that many millions of people who aren't parents are also moved by stories of abuse or atrocities that happen to children in the world.

However, there is an extra dimension added by being a parent, I have found. Added to the "it shouldn't happen to (anyone let alone) a child" sentiment, is the horror of "what if that were my child?". It really doesn't bear thinking about in some cases but I suppose to fully appreciate the horrors that happen in the world (and I feel we have a duty to try to appreciate them so that we can care enough to try to change things), it is a sentiment that needs to be felt.

Like everyone with any ounce of feeling, I remember being horror-struck and deeply saddened by the tragedy at Dunblane ten years ago. But this week when I started to read about the father of one of the five-year-old victims, I found tears in my eyes as I imagined his loss: my elder Dragonet is only four. Equally difficult, this morning, was an article in an old LEPRA News about HIV/AIDS in India and the cases of transmission from mother to baby: the statistic that struck me was the fact that most of these infected babies don't live beyond the age of five.

Sometimes I wish that I had the power to be a mother to all children who needed me. I feel so privileged to be able to pick up my Dragonets and comfort them when they are ill or unhappy. I wish I could do this to the many millions of children who have no-one. Being a mother has changed me profoundly.

So you can imagine my shock and disgust, this morning, upon reading this article about a withdrawn advert by lastminute.com featuring Gary Glitter. I am relieved that the ASA has found them to be in breach of the decency clause but, as my brother and I commented this morning, one has to wonder what sort of person would propose such an idea in the first place, and what sort of person would approve it. Clearly, none of those involved were parents.