Grandparents who lend a hand with the childcare might be forgiven for thinking they're doing the family a favour.
Indeed, they might even allow themselves a little pat on the back for helping to raise the next generation, offering vital support and saving their own grown-up kids a fortune in childcare costs.
Fools! In fact, they're 'fuelling the nation's obesity crisis' via their 'outdated beliefs' — or at least that's according to a new study of families in Birmingham and Edinburgh, which found that children who are mainly cared for by their grandparents are more likely to be 'obese and consume more snacks'.
Grandparents who lend a hand with the childcare might be forgiven for thinking they're doing the family a favour
Even worse, grandparent carers had a tendency to leave children to their own devices while carrying out daily chores like housework, which, the 'experts' claimed, would not happen in a nursery.
Hang on a minute. Are grandparents now being classified on a par with professional child-carers?
Are we seriously expecting them to provide an Ofsted-approved level of care? And can it really be true that granny's biscuit tin is to blame for children being overweight?
Or might that also have something to do with the decline of sports in schools, sedentary lifestyles, lack of opportunity, anxiety — or any of society's other ills?
I am perfectly willing to concede that some older people indulge their grandchildren to their detriment.
But the majority make a wholly positive contribution to the young generation's wellbeing. Do we really want to risk their goodwill over a few extra custard creams?
Besides, it's nothing new. My own paternal grandfather, now long gone, spoiled me terribly. Whenever we stayed with him and my grandmother in Wales, I would wake early to find him having his first fag of the day outside the back door.
My grandfather would make me instant porridge with condensed milk and then send me off to the shop for bread and a sherbet dip dab (pictured)
He would make me instant porridge with condensed milk — and then send me off to the shop for bread and a sherbet dip dab.
It used to drive my mother mad. But then he'd take me off to the beach, or walking along the cliffs, or play me the violin, and all would be forgiven.
And although he had a difficult relationship with my father, he and I had a close, special bond which I treasure to this day.
My other grandmother, my mother's mother, was even more of a pivotal figure in my life. She and I were incredibly close, and it's no exaggeration to say that if I have made anything of my existence, it's thanks in large part to her.
She was there for me when my own parents simply couldn't be — and her wisdom and understanding of the ways of the world (not to mention her Army wife training) taught me invaluable lessons.
She, too, liked to spoil me occasionally — with her it was trips to London for tea at Harvey Nichols. And yes, we probably had one too many scones — but those are some of my most precious memories.
Today's grandparents are a practical solution to the modern struggles of working families
The idea that I might have missed out on either of those relationships on the basis of unauthorised treats is unconscionable. And as for 'outdated beliefs', I sometimes wish there was a little more of that from today's parents.
After all, people like my grandparents weren't the ones who brought up an army of snowflakes, or shaped all those hysterical millennials who can barely cope if their soya latte is two degrees hotter than it should be. No, they gave us the baby boomers — the toughest, most indestructible breed of human alive on the planet today. So they can't have been all bad.
Today's grandparents are just as important to children's lives as mine were to me — and as my parents are to my children. And they are much more — so much more — than simple child-carers, a practical solution to the modern struggles of working families.
They are a source of wisdom, love and experience. They are a substitute for parents when things go wrong or communication is hard. And they are a vital link to the past and the family.
So what if they spoil the kids a little? It's a small price to pay.
The man who stabbed three people in Manchester on New Year's Eve reportedly shouted: 'Long live the Caliphate!' Yet in a statement the authorities said they were keeping an 'open mind' as to his motives. Now, I'm no Hercule Poirot, but …
This hidden poison
The average child now consumes 18 years' worth of sugar by the age of ten
The average child now consumes 18 years' worth of sugar by the age of ten — that's the equivalent of eight excess cubes of sugar a day.
The problem for parents is not the obvious stuff — sweeties, soft drinks, biscuits — but the hidden sugar in everyday childhood staples. Ketchup, baked beans, 'healthy' yoghurts, breakfast cereals, smoothies, pasta sauces, even bread — so-called 'ordinary' foods that contain very high quantities of the stuff.
Until we find a way of removing this poison — and it is a poison — from our day-to-day diets, we will never successfully tackle the obesity crisis in this country, which is leading to an epidemic of Type 2 diabetes and the thousands of amputations that follow.
Song and dance over Les Mis
The fact viewers were horrified to discover the BBC's new adaptation of Les Miserables — starring Lily Collins (pictured below) and Dominic West — contains no songs is one of the most depressing things I've heard.
Apparently without the addition of soapy numbers, Victor Hugo's epic novel of revolutionary France is 'depressing' and 'dull'. What next to appease our shallow age . . . War And Peace: the Musical?
Viewers were horrified to discover the BBC's new adaptation of Les Miserables — starring Lily Collins (pictured) and Dominic West — contains no songs
No surprise that London mayor Sadiq Khan seized the opportunity to politicise the New Year's Eve firework display by turning the London Eye into a giant EU flag.
What I don't understand is why we have to have such an extravagant firework display at all.
We never used to. It was only after the Millennium celebrations that this notion took hold. Back in the day, we were happy with a few sparklers.
And at least we didn't have to put up with self-aggrandising politicians muscling in on our fun.
Less boasting, Becks
Why do celebrities such as Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham persist in flaunting their lavish festive arrangements on social media?
Don't they realise that for many, this can be a very difficult time of year, and that being constantly reminded of other's people's success isn't helpful?
As for widower Ferdinand's fiancee, Kate Wright, who addresses critics of their conspicuous consumption in the Maldives by reminding her Twitter followers that 'money doesn't make looking after three children that have lost their mum easier', all I can say is, no it doesn't. Still, she seems to be having a good go at it.
The Beckham family from right to left: Romeo, Cruz, Victoria, David (above), Harper and Romeo
Tana Ramsay is very brave to have another child at 44, especially when her four are already in their late teens and early 20s.
At a point when most women might well be thinking 'job done', she's signing up for another 20-year stretch of late nights and worry. I wish her every success; I'm not sure I'd have the strength myself.
Dear Waitrose, I know you are keen to be down with the vegan kids, but may I say that a Fishless Finger is almost as much of a crime against the English language as 'Veganuary' which, as well as being a distinctly unappetising concept, is also offensive to the ears, since unlike 'Stoptober' it doesn't even scan. Hamuary, by contrast, works a treat.
Momoa muscles out Leo!
You know you're getting old when the 'most handsome man' in the world (according to an online poll) is not only someone you've never even heard of (Jason Momoa? No, me neither) but also a fellow who's starring in the latest superhero film, Aquaman.
Meanwhile, Leonardo DiCaprio only just scrapes in at No. 100. How times change.
Jason Momoa (pictured above) stars in the latest superhero film, Aquaman and was named 'most handsome man' in the world
The collapse of 'hipster' slipper brand Mahabis is a cautionary tale for our times. Slippers for £69 may be all the rage among the craft-beer drinking classes, but to the rest of the world it just seems like an awful lot to pay for something to slip your feet into when you go to the loo during the night.
New Year's Day, and I pass a pub with a sign reading 'Dry January'. Just when I think this is akin to a turkey voting for Christmas, under it I spy a list of appropriate drinks: dry gin, dry martini, dry white wine. Now that's my kind of detox.
Link hienalouca.com Interesting to note Looking for an investor or sponsor for a project to grow dinosaurs and relict plants. Requires the sum of investments from 400000$ to 900000$. The exact amount can not say because there are many nuances. It will be necessary to build a small laboratory with certain parameters. To all interested persons please write on an email angocman@gmail.com . It is the scientific project and I do not know whether it is possible to earn on it. The probability of success of the project is approximately 60%. That will be very interesting.
https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/02/no-granny-wont-ruin-your-little-darlings-with-one-sherbet-dip-too-many-says-sarah-vine/
Main photo article Grandparents who lend a hand with the childcare might be forgiven for thinking they’re doing the family a favour.
Indeed, they might even allow themselves a little pat on the back for helping to raise the next generation, offering vital support and saving their own grown-up kids a fortune...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/02/00/8031618-6545791-image-a-1_1546388732172.jpg
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