I just want to thank you for elaborating on your earlier post Rachael..Again, sorry for the severe sarcasm, but that was a subject very near to me..
I have a little guy here, who's perfection itself, and who I love more than life itself..
The thought that he may never have existed because somebody would have me sterilized because I got really drunk and stole a car when I was a younger and stupider man, fills me with feelings that aren't wholesome, if you see my point..
However, the recklessness of youth doesn't effect my worth or ability as a parent these days, by any means..

Tis okay Falco - It was my fault - i didnt explain it - I was talking from experience also - but my little guy has a Dad that had been in jail once and had convinced me - that part of his life was behind him and all was good - this same man had a son previously to going to jail and I met him a good 4 years after his jail stint - and believed he was a good person just made mistakes.

But he obviously did not learn from his mistakes and after 2 years into a relationship with him (and I fell pregnant - whilst on the pill - yes it happens) he decides to abandon us. And has done the same thing again and again.

So yeah my compassion for him and love for him failed my clear thinking - now I have a son that doesnt know his dad. But luckily I am remarried and my husband is his dad now - but my son is a lucky one. His half brother however is 12 and repeating his fathers behaviours.

So I think that scenario happens a lot.

So my recklessness in my youth (ie falling in love with a moron) is also my fault, and like you I have turned it around and am giving my kids a good life to the best I can.

I am a very good parent with a good IQ - however my ex is not. So if we had to have a test to reproduce - I guess my little one would not be here either.

But I can't help but compare how wonderful my kids are compared to kids that have parents in incredible careers and heaps of money. Mine are much better behaved, more respectful and better kids. Yet wouldnt be here if a test had to be done.

So I dont think it is a worthy concept to prohibit the less intelligent from parenthood. Just those that have 'proven' through being complete social misfits that they cannot care for their kids - they are akin to those baby eating rabbits - lol.

I voted yes, but it's more an aptitude test than it is an IQ test. You don't have to be smart to be a good parent but there are certain qualities needed. But some form of test should be a must.

It seems to me that the only way this could be enforced is if everyone has to take an aptitude test, say at high school maybe as part of citizenship classes? What would happen if a person failed this test? Would they have to take compulsory retraining until they passed? And how would the state prevent them getting pregnant before they did? They could provide compulsory contraception i suppose; but as we've already said, that's not 100% reliable. What happens if someone gets pregnant despite precautions before they've passed the state parental qualification test? Would the state insist on termination?

It seems to me that this gets very close to the line of what's acceptable in what the state can or can't do in people's lives.

Simple. Pass the test, keep your manhood, (or womanhood?)....

Fail, there's a vasectomy just around the corner

Why do you think they have Parenting Classes?



My IQ only limits me to raise cats !

Hasn't something very similar to that that been tried? Germany, 1933-45 (if you didn't meet the standards of Aryan nationhood)?

I voted yes... I believe that you should have to obtain a goverment issued permit via rigorous testing.

Need I point out the obvious, a high I.Q. is not in and of itself an indicator of your effectivness as a parent. Example:
Ted Bundy is said to have had a very high I.Q.

Sounds like something from a movie.

Falco hit the nail right on the head with his explanation and twpdyp also with is comment "Need I point out the obvious, a high I.Q. is not in and of itself an indicator of your effectivness as a parent."

If you read my first post it would be an IQ test made up just for parenting, not to judge how smart you are on general stuff but on parenting and sorts like that.

I voted No..only coz some not so smart people have smart kids, and some smart people have brats. Becoming a good parents comes natural..

Yay, Necroposting.

I think that far too many stupid people have children, and from what I've seen, the children turn out even stupider. It's a downward spiral. I voted Yes.

Agreed. Common sense should be tested too. If you don't have any then you should procreate....

the people that need to take the test don't have time to.there too busy dropping babies like rabbits.

It's kind of a dumb idea. Only smart people can have children? They should have common sense and be able to finacially support them, though.

Then again children aren't always exactly "planned".

No, I meant to have a test for parents...a parent IQ test. Not on your actual total intelligence. So basically your common sense stuff.

Yes, definitely.
I hate to see parents with no Common Sense.
Super Nanny can't save all of them.