Charlie O'Brien: Off-grid parents Adele and Matt Allen on ITV's This Morning

As a writer and a mum – I’d like to think/hope I’m fairly non-judgemental.

But when I saw 'off grid' parents Adele and Matt Allen joining Ruth Langsford and Eamon Holmes on the This Morning sofas discussing their family choices – I flinched. A lot. Then I judged.

The main principals of 'off grid' parenting are shunning modern medicine, birthing without assistance, un-schooling, not imposing discipline, not vaccinating, natural term breastfeeding and not using suncream, amongst other things.

Before I get all high and mighty – I do get some of it. I get the desire to distance yourself and your family from systems and conventionality. I understand not wanting to pump your child full of paracetamol every time they so much as moan. I empathise with concerns about education and a system that is perhaps sometimes a bit 'one size fits all'.

But I can’t help but feel that essentially ostracising your children from society, opportunities and medical help is just cruel.

Here’s the moment that things got a bit out of hand on This Morning – thanks to a one-year-old peeing on the floor mid-show

Let’s start with education. Un-schooling is not to be confused with home-schooling as there is no curriculum followed. The Allen’s simply follow the desires of their children. Foraging in woods for bugs and beetles and playing in the garden is all very lovely but what about numeracy? What about learning to read and write? Surely even their world is one that requires skills in order to survive and navigate?

'We are beyond lucky to live in a society where we have access to healthcare, medicine and science'

The part about shunning modern medicine is where I start to get a bit angry. I am all for complementary therapies and have used many things in my life including acupuncture and herbal medicines. But they are 'complementary' for a reason – there to be used alongside modern medicine.

We are beyond lucky to live in a society where we have access to healthcare, medicine and science. I could never, and will never, deny my child that right.

Yes, a parent has instincts – but unless you’re a qualified medical professional there’s only so much you can possibly know about how to treat your child’s illnesses without putting their health at risk.

As for rejecting sunscreen and vaccinations – don’t even get me started. That’s one for another blog.

When I watched the Allen’s on ITV’s This Morning part of me wanted to be able to connect with them in some way. I think there is a bit of a hippy in me deep down. I am a lifelong vegetarian and breastfed my son for 16 months.

Does that make me a bit 'off grid'? I’m not sure! But all I saw was two children who had no boundaries whatsoever and parents who seemed totally dis-engaged with what was going on.

Then I learned that they are trying to raise £100k through public donations so they can move to Costa Rica and suddenly it all seemed to be a bit of a scam. A bit of a media circus to make money.

Let me just reiterate that so we’re all clear – they’re not raising money for a life-saving operation for a sick child. They want to move abroad. I’d love to go and live carefree in Mallorca myself – perhaps I’m missing a trick by not holding out my begging bowl.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this? Do you agree, or am I being too harsh?

Charlie X

Here are what people on my Facebook page have been saying...

Natalie from Canterbury: I have no issue in whatever lifestyle people choose to live (as long as it is not intentionally harmful towards others) but expecting others to foot the bill takes the biscuit!!! I do also wonder what the kids will make of all the media furore in years to come when they can Google themselves and see footage of them weeing in front of the nation!

Lisa from Gravesend: I think it's unfortunate that 'off grid' parenting had been shown in such a poor way. There will be plenty of parents who chose to home school or want a more self sustaining lie style but also raise their children rather than leave them with no respect or understanding of decent behaviour. As for expecting other people to pay for them to have a self sustaining lifestyle... Errr shouldn't they be self sufficient and not want others to do that for them?!!

Corrine from Margate: I cannot believe what I am reading! Personally I would never not have my children vaccinated. I could never live without myself if they were to get poorly. I try to lead my life with a 'live and let live' attitude but asking hard working tax payers to pay for them to move abroad? How cheeky!!!

Linnea from Thanet: The only part I don't agree with is not vaccinating their children, living 'off grid' may lower their risk of contracting anything as children but what about when they are adults?

Natasha from Sittingbourne: I really respect people's choices to parent as they see fit however I think at some point there has to be a line. I find it really difficult to understand where their justification for doing this sort of thing comes from.

'There are children all around the world suffering from horrific diseases and illnesses that we are fortunate to have medication and vaccinations for, why would you not let your children have them?'

We are so fortunate that we live in a country where we are entitled to free education, healthcare and a very wide range of health advice and yet these parents choose to ignore and go "off grid". There are children all around the world suffering from horrific diseases and illnesses that we are fortunate to have medication and vaccinations for, why would you not let your children have them? To me it does not seem like it's in the best interests of the children, it's in the interests of the parents to draw attention to themselves for not following the "norm".

Christine from Maidstone: think it's abysmal to ask people to donate money when all those people are starving in other countries and to subject those kids to no schooling and no medical intervention.

Stephanie from Rainham: I'm slightly confused by this story, asking strangers to pay for them to fly abroad is just cheeky. I wouldn't even do that myself whether money was tight or not. They should concentrate on life they have here, all four sharing a bedroom I don't think is correct I only have the onr child and she has her own room. And allowing the son to climb over sofa on TV and daughter weeing on floor too whether was an accident or not they should of reacted to it differently.

Amy from Cranbrook: I think shunning medicine is a bad, bad, irresponsible idea but the rest? Each to their own. And a one year old weeing is hardly shocking.