I just don't know how they could do that all in the name of a quick 5 minutes of fame.
Sure they might have the "I'm doing this to give my child a better life" excuse all pencilled out but I don't buy that for a second. They ate doing it for themselves.

I instantly lose respect for a HM if I learn that they have young children and just left them.

Leave a crying, shiti/g child for a month or three? Heaven.

What is wrong with spending a few months away from your kids if it get's you £150k at the end of it ? It would improve their lives greatly.

The child may very well benefit from the absence. Though sadly Lea's lad did not. "Sorry son"

Yeah a few weeks in the BB house away from my daughter's tantrums sounds ideal to me

Quite honestly I couldn't be away from daughter for that length of time. I struggle to understand why someone would want to but I don't know her situation so can't judge. Perhaps she does feel it will benefit her daughter in the long run and that's fair enough.

Nope, sorry. You are not telling me that these attention-seekers think "I know, I'll go on Big Brother because it might benefit my young child's life".
Not buying that at all.

It'd have benefitted me if my mother had naffed off for a few weeks on many an occasion

Isn't that what Sarah's little disagreement with Cristian was about? Sounds like she may have got a bit defensive when he questioned her about it.

Even if they aren't doing it for that reason then big deal. You don't have to spend every minute of your life with your kids.

Obvious question I know - have you got any kids OP?

As long as they remember that they've locked their kids in the basement, and don't leave them down there once they get out of the house, I think it's OK.

In what way is that an obvious question?

I don't have a problem with containments leaving their kids to come on the show, but the ones who then spend every waking moment crying and talking about how much they miss them, is really kind of annoying.

My son is a teenager and I still wouldn't do it now but I can understand why somebody might though. If I'd had the chance to win £150k when he was small it would have paid off the mortgage and meant I could be there at the school gates to meet him every day instead of at work.

Let's not forget also that many parents (eg those in the forces) don't see their children for months on end.

I have 2 beautiful children , 3 in all but just 2 beautiful ones, and a few weeks away wouldn't kill anyone, people should get a bit of perspective

We are all different OP but I agree with you.....I couldn't rest in that house knowing I had left my kids....maternal instinct is stronger with most women but some have no problem leaving the kids with other people

im sort of torn on this. I do understand that it is an once in a lifetime experience but 10 weeks is a long time and also if the kid is at school then all their friends will be talking about it etc.

For me it depends on the child's age as well. [Before I say this I do wanna point out that I absolutely HATED Helen] Helens son was 10 which OK is young but im sure she must have sat him down and discussed it with him. And OK she might have been an absolute bitch in there and im still fuming she bloody won, but im sure she must have sat down and discussed it with him and if he got really upset about it then im sure she wouldn't have done it. People like Sallie Axl whose daughter was like 2 or 3 years old, I don't agree with at all. its completely unfair as she would be too young to understand where her mother went and then probably forgot who she even was

Are you inferring that it's okay for fathers of young children to do the show?

All the examples I see, of parents leaving young children, on this thread are of women. Is the subject even raised in regard to male contestants?

As a mum of a 5 and 2 year old a few weeks of peace would be lovely for me! However, I think I'd miss them too much, as much as they drive me mad, it's not so much missing more the fact that I wouldn't just be able to pick up the phone andspeak to them or even ask how they are. Simple things like just knowing they've ate their dinner and had a bath and what my eldest has done at school etc.. I couldn't go that long with no contact whatsoever.

My children are 22, 19 & 17 and I would worry about leaving them for that long. Mind you they are boys, helpless creatures.

My parents put me in boarding school and buggered off round the world when I was a kid, and I survived.

I'm not sure about this. My 'middle' child is 10; same age as Helen's and also a boy. He is by FAR and away the most sensitive of the three (I've also got 13 and 7). This boy is mortified if I sing in the car. If something happens at school and I even mention contacting them he actually has a minor panic attack; tears, red eyes, heavy breathing - the works. I wouldn't dream of leaving my three for that length of time. I once had a four day trip abroad and I was on Skype every evening, the phone every morning and texting through the day. My husband AND my sister were in situ and I was riddled with guilt.

I accept that I'm probably at the other end of the spectrum and I'm also of the controversial view that the mother's absence - certainly in our case - is more acutely felt than the father's. I'll explain why; my OH is more than capable of matching me on feeding and clothing and cleaning them. But on the emotional side of stuff, on picking up if they're under the weather; on knowing if and when they need a chat - that's very much my forte and I, personally, and no credit to me for it, struggle big time when I'm away from them.


The bit in bold is a very important point; people on the thread have mentioned the forces. They still have contact with their families.

Do you hang around your house twenty four hours a day with your children?

Or don't you have any?

People do all sorts of things to improve the lives of their children. Working full-time for example. One of last year's HMs turned to prostitution. Mothers often leave their children in the care of others. It does them no harm in the long run. If they happen to be appearing on TV their children can see them.

Agree with this. I'm sure they make sure the kids are looked after and will be perfectly fine. If they are satisfied about this before they go in then no need to go on and on.

Mothers who want to cling on to their children and never let them go are crippling them emotionally. It's more to do with the mothers ego and her belief that she is indispensable.

Does your third child know you think they're uglier than the other two?