You can't be a good parent because you are Irish.

May 24, 2008 9:39am CST
That is what was applied.My partner is Irish. An official questioned his parenting skills because he was Irish living in England. He also has an strong Irish accent and they said that my children would have trouble understanding him which they never have. As far as i am concerned he is a great dad he took me on with my 4 children who all adore him. He loves them just as much as he loves our child we have together.We get people out on the street saying our children are a credit to us. What does it matter what nationality you are or accent that you have as long as the children are loved, respected and taken care of. Have you ever been judged on your parenting skills because of your nationality or your accent?.
2 people like this
5 responses
• United States
27 May 08
Those people are obvously steryotyping and pretty much as shallow as an empty well. Ignore them, your husband is doing great. What are they to say how everything will turn out, they don't and for that they shoud really just keep their comments to themselves.
3 people like this
27 May 08
Thank you. I totally agree they are very shallow people.
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@beamer23 (92)
• United States
26 May 08
Personally, I don't think that official knew what the heck he / she was talking about. I think the amount of love you have for the children and the amount of time you can spend with them is a lot more important than what your speech sounds like or what country you come from when it comes to being a parent. I wonder what that official would tell some one that is deaf? That is such a crazy idea that you can't be a good parent because your Irish living in England. I have never been judged as a parent, at least as far as I know. I've raised 3 children. beamer23
26 May 08
I have to agree as soon as i suggested that that could be seen as racism she backed down.
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@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
24 May 08
That is very judgemental, I guess parenting or people's success has nothing to do with the accent and nationality! Well, I guess your husband will be a good example in your community to let them stop judging people like that!
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25 May 08
I agree it should not matter. Thank you for your reply.
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@MichaelJay (1100)
4 Jun 08
I find this hard to believe specially as Britain has becom a dumping ground for all nationalities many of whom do not have a word of English! At least this man speaks the language natively no matter how strong his accent. Officialdom never fails to amaze and confound me. At the library here one of the most requested items is the driving tst requirement in Urdu or Polish! Surely people shouldn't even contemplate driving if they can't understand the road signs? Thsi is NOT a racist view - I would expect the same restrictions if I went to live in say, Russia where I would not understand the road markings or signs. Disregard this stupid official opinion is my advice.
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@welshdai (77)
27 May 08
i argee with does not matter what nationality or what accent you have,you cannot based parenting skills on that,my great great father came from chille and my other great great grandfather and grandmother came from ireland and the stories hear there were really good parents, and my relatives then there taught them a lot,i mean how can parenting skills be judge on nationality or accent,okay each nationality maybe believe in some different and an accent just an accent,but it does not mean that people are bad parents because of it. that my view on it really and does sound like you and your partner are good parents
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