Did anyone listen to the Jeremy Vine discussion on childcare today?

[emkaren]

He had a woman from a SAHM organisation there who said children should be at home with Mum - don't agree with that, I think children can grow up happily or unhappily both at home and in childcare, it's the quality of the care that counts. Then there was a guy who said women, esp. middle-class ones, wanted to stay at home because they were just bone-idle - couldn't even take that seriously. But then there was another woman who made it sound as if no woman would possibly CHOOSE to stay at home with the children - and that kind of attitude really annoys me, because it makes it sound as if, as a SAHM, I must be a bit simple-minded to enjoy being at home with my children. Sorry, just needed to get that off my chest! Otherwise a really stupid discussion really - didn't really put any new points forward.

[zebra]

Was this Radio 2?

[emkaren]

yes

[blumberg]

I didn't hear it but it sounds just like the kind of thing that would make my blood boil. I am a sahm and dd is 6 months - am not returning to job as have CHOSEN to stay at home - anyone would think i have chosen to be dole fraudster, or am complete simpleton. constant barrage of information, stuff etc about how is not normal from friends & press. even mother! (who was sahm herself). world has gone mad - why can't people just accept is ok to do what suits!!!!!!!!!!! - sorry for rant - am just having hard time.

[Tinker]

I can identify with wanting to stay at home because I'm bone idle - whilst my daughter is at school of course

[handlemecarefully]

This used sort of thing used to bother me - but now I dismiss them as fecking idiots!

[handlemecarefully]

I hope 'fecking' is not too rude!

[bundle]

just goes to show what the radio 2 audience is like
I count my days working outside the home as my 'days off', because it's much easier than being with my daughters!!

[Blu]

Hey Ho: sounds like another 'women can't win' opportunity. When will the media get off their lazy butts and stop using the same old issues in the same subjective, shallow ways?

Didn't have time to raise the outbreak form a couple of weeks ago...the 'researched' story that went : Working Mums damage children emotionally and educationally, whereas the working pattern of fathers makes no difference. Headlines: well, from that story it could have been 'Dad's Irrelevant to Childrens Emotional and Educational Development' OR 'Working Mothers Damage Children'...Guess which one they chose???? AND there was no commentary about the research..a small sample in which the older children were from the 70's, far fewer SAHD's, and NONE in the sample, economics different etc etc.