Editor: Brenda Anderson’s opinion piece on children not belonging in the pubs she likes to go to (The Times, Dec 31), is the very unwelcoming, unloving, anti-life sentiment that is discouraging our world from being open to the wonderful gift of children and contributing to Canada’s all-time-low fertility rate 1.5 children per woman (we need 2.1 if we’re going to replace ourselves).
Do we really want to join Japan, Italy, China, Spain, Germany and dozens of other countries contending with fertility rates well below replacement levels?
Yes, kids are disruptive and distracting, but you were once one, too, and the only way for any of us to learn how to behave like a grown-up is to be offered opportunities to practice it, not to be relegated to “Chuck E. Cheese” and “Go Bananas”, like she’s suggesting.
Pubs are just as good a place as any restaurant for families to practice good public behaviours.
If she knew anything about children and families, she’d understand that children belong near the protective and teaching arms of their parents and should be welcome in all areas of society, not left at home with “a babysitter.”
I’d far prefer to live in a child-loving culture who welcomes even their youngest members at all their parties, restaurants, and special events (ie: South America, Philippines), not a barren one that views children as a necessary inconvenience.
Julie Lornie
Langley
