Little M's political phase

Little M has had a big week. He’s been a busy guy. He’s developed his own signature crawl. It’s a cross between a belly flop and the worm. He expends a lot of energy in this endeavour but he seems to think he’s really on to something.

He’s still got no teeth like. He’s become partial to pulling a series of faces in homage to the late Les Dawson for which it is quite useful to have no teeth. I think he’s just decided to sack off growing them now.

I think he’d also want you to know that he is no longer sporting a Bobby Charlton style comb over and now rocks a resplendent head of blonde hair. He’s wisely sprouted a lovely pair of eyebrows to match.

He did all this in time for his first protest as he thought there may be press around. As I was in work, he took his Daddy down to Calderstones School to join a group of staff and parents in a demonstration to raise the profile of a campaign against the proposed closure of Church and Mossley Childrens’ Centre. The plan was to present a letter from the Parents’ Forum to Minister for Education Michael Gove (who was actually substituted by Schools Minister Nick Gibb on the day) which pointed out the need for and benefits of this Children’s Centre and to request the ring fence on funding to be re-introduced.

Parents & toddlers stage Bob the Builder protest against Sure Start closure - Local News - News - Videos & Pics - Liverpool Echo

He is a very politically aware 9 month old. He thinks its pretty ridiculous that an over-subscribed, brand new, purpose built centre (which is even newer than he is!) should be under the threat of closure.

I mean, he didn’t actually have to say this, but I can tell he’s outraged by the fact that if we take out the money allocated to Liverpool’s schools, Government Ministers have decided to cut the money for children and families by 35 per cent. In the city with the greatest needs this is a reduction of one third of the budget for children and families.

I reckon he’s fuming. It's probably what all the Les Dawson face-pulling is about.

Through the Children’s Centre we’ve accessed safety equipment for our home, First Aid training tailored to parents of babies and young children, family passes for Lifestyles gyms, baby massage classes, baby club and more. But most importantly, we’ve had a place to go to, to get out of the house, meet other new mums (and new babies!) and to share the experience of life as a new little family. In those first few months it is nice to know that ‘you’re not the only one’.