It was chaos at lunchtime in the town centre today.

My lunchtime walk was spoilt, indeed positively ruined, by hoards of youngsters marauding through the town centre thanks to the school closures.

It's shameful that the teachers decided to put their own self interest and financial gain before their jobs thus putting the education of the youngsters in jeopardy.

With parents having time off to look after the children those of us still at work had to work even harder to make up and get the work done.

Even the complex was busy today mostly with parents taking their children out and with gangs of youngsters with nothing better to do who were hanging around in a menacing manner.

Being a parent must be extremely hard work.

After years of changing nappies and working hard to feed and cloth the youngsters now the parents of the town are having to take time off work to care for their children when they are supposed to be at school.

Before anyone complains I should make it clear that sadly my good self has not been fortunate enough to have any children so just for once on this blog your humble servant is unable to speak from my own personal experience.

I do feel that parents, especially the good ones, should be more rewarded for the love and care they show to their children.

What recognition does society place on good parents?

The civil servants and do gooders in society get honours names named after the now non-existent British empire but what do outstanding parents get? Nothing!

There are even awards in Wycombe for those who do good in the community but nothing for being a good parent.

In my day at school there was a yearly award for the best boy and girl in the school but never for the best parent.

Every year there is mothers day, fathers day and a day to remember the fallen in the wars but is there a national parents day? No there is not.

Oh, how forgotten the hard working parents of the town are and what a dreadful shame that more recognition is not bestowed upon them.

It's days like today when the teachers are on strike that the good parents of the town come forward and potentially give up a days pay to stay home and look after their off spring.

Society should start to recognise the important role good parents play rather then just letting them be forgotten.

What do you think?

*Don't forget to read my regular column in this Friday's edition of the printed version of the Bucks Free Press!

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Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here