Feckless Fathers?

It has been a busy month since I ‘retired’ from my role of Head of Service for Fathers Plus and I have come across some interesting people, practices and information.

In the Sunday Times yesterday I found the following “If Britain had an award for the most feckless father, Keith Macdonald would be a prime contender, at just 24, he has fathered eight children by eight women – and he pays almost nothing towards their upbringing” (Sunday Times. 7th March 2010. P.16) the author notes that Macdonald and all of his ex partners bar one are unemployed. The article focuses on the economic cost and states “Unless they find work, Macdonald, the women and all his children will cost taxpayers about £2m in benefits by the time the children reach adulthood”. Macdonald is quoted as saying “None of the mothers will let me see any of my kids for some reason...if I can’t see them, why should I pay a penny for them?” This article, telling the story of this man and his children reaffirms to me why the work I do and that others do is essential. The financial cost is truly astonishing but the issue the article does not recognise is the horrendous social and emotional cost to the children involved. The children of these men and women are the victims in this tragedy, they are paying the emotional and social price for the adults feckless, irresponsible and unthinking behaviours and we as a society will carry the burden of these damaged children for many years to come.

I now know that my ‘retirement’ must wait !