I was pleased to read the bishops exhorting us all, mums and dads, to put children’s welfare at the centre of our lives. It was also nice, for a change, to see that they have taken note of certain criticism they have received, and that the emphasis is as much on dads doing their bit, as on mums.

We’re all quick to jump and criticise, but rarely praise anything as a country and as a culture, and I thought there was a marked difference in tone and substance in the Church’s latest homily which deserves acknowledgement. So many of us Maltese and Gozitans are still practising Catholics and the words of the Church do have an influence and power on us, and it is important that this power is directed towards the greater good and starts becoming more equal and respectful of us all.

Of course, there are problems in modern life for families and kids. But I am not remotely convinced that things are any worse now because of the amount of separations, or the staggering amount of births (700 last year alone) to single mothers. I think we should all also acknowledge that this is an incredibly child-centred culture and the majority of parents I know not only give their best, but more than their best to do as much as they can for their kids.

In fact I would suggest that this is in itself also causing problems. While the previous generations (like me) were almost of the “to be seen but not heard too much” category, with very little received in the way of praise or extra curricular activities or prezzies, this generation is probably being given too much. Not just materially, but sometimes also too much emotionally, as sometimes less can be more, even as far as our kids are concerned.

So I think the Church should focus not only on separations as the only barometer or indicator of our children’s welfare, but should also look deeper into society as a whole. It should also acknowledge that the vast majority of parents, whether married or the more modern half-family type, do a supremely good and self-sacrificing job of bringing up their kids.

There is a huge amount of effort and love going on, be it in families which are of the conventional type that the Church praises or of others. I think it’s also important to acknowledge the good parents, whatever form of relationship they are in, and perhaps this is not done enough.

Speaking of children’s welfare, I must go on to the subject of fireworks. Not the pretty displays, but the boom boom, bang bang of petards. The place where I live lies close to one of the most enthusiastic villages for these piercing bangs.

Last night, while trying to enjoy wine and good conversation outside, we simply could not hear ourselves think or speak. When younger, my daughter was petrified. What is all this being done in aid of? Surely the Church has the power to strongly discourage the use of these petards. After all, they call off festas when there have been silly fights between rival groups. Surely they have the power to direct these fireworks committees to only focus on the actual firework displays, and cut out these useless mind-blowing bombs altogether.

As my eight-year old commented, as she listened to another bout of these bangs tonight, about where her cousins live: “Mum, in Switzerland they have floods, in London they have bombs. And in Malta we have these bombs too.” The trouble is, ours are self-inflicted aren’t they?

There have been enough letters and articles on this subject. If the Church won’t order this insanity to stop, then the State must legislate against these horrific noise levels. Let this be the last summer of the petards, or is this beyond our compassion for kiddies at least, not least everyone else who is so disturbed by this nightmare every summer?