To think this misses the point about costs of childcare?

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"Critics have complained that homes where one parent stays at home to look after children will not benefit."

This is in response to the new scheme where parents will get 20% of childcare costs paid for by the government.
I'm a CM and all for subsidies of any sort to help out parents, but other than the odd day when you might need to go for an interview etc. I can't see why a stay at home parent needs to get childcare subsidies or am I missing a major point here?!

Really looking forward to seeing DC attempt to smarm his way into the affections of the female electorate a few months nearer the election.

I keep misreading DC as 'children' and getting confused

Easily confused in more way than one!

No comment

It's his freakishly smooth skin maybe.

Dont forget the jumpers -swoon not

I prefer him when he rolls up his sleeves

So he looks like he means business working class stylee

Hello all
such beautiful weather today, have been enjoying it but mostly pegging out washing.

Just picking up the comments up thread about women working and skills of sahps.
I don't mean to imply this is normal but there are many women who besides sahp help their partners with their business.
I know a plumber electrician and my dh to name a few whose dw help in the office etc. It isn't always possible for them to employ book keepers, admin, receptionist etc and their oh does it to help without pay.
Ok, they aren't contributing by paying tax but the thought they aren't working is misdirected. I think many se and small business owners rely on unwaged partner to help.

Don't forget his mug of tea with those rolled up sleeves.

Oh yes, and when he wipes his brow ... Gah, unnecessary!

This thread has moved on...

I really dont understand those women who are saying them staying at home allows their partner to work. They are also putting a huge responsibility on the working parent and I sincerely hope that they don't keep reminding them of this. I work with lots of men who will say their wives are constantly spending their money and that the don't understand the pressures they are under.

And when two people are working, say one earns 100k and the other 50k they are surely spending and contributing to economic growth more than if one wasn't earning.

60k for a single earner is a lot, way above average earnings. If you're going to compare like with like, then compare that earner to the guy next door earning 30k. Now, 30k still isn't bad, it's above average but it's only half of what the first guy earns. So Mr 30k may have a wife who also earns 30k, so yes the overall family income is the same, but there are two people working full time, not one, and there are likely to be extremely high additional costs- childcare, commuting, maybe 2 cars... (And yes, we've covered the fact that some people get free childcare from relatives but you can't hold that against them; that's the prerogative of the family, just as some people get gifted a house deposit, or given an interest free loan from family.

I can understand that on a surface level you might feel a bit resentful if you are a SAHP with a HR tax paying partner, but... I'm pretty certain it's been calculated that it would cost more administratively to put the cap on CB for combined earnings. So basically it comes down to do we want the govt to spend more money on administering a system just for the sake of a perceived unfairness? It's not going to put any more money back in the pockets of the SAHP family anyway!

When it comes to the examples people give on two earners on almost 100k between them getting CB, my own feeling is that there needs to be some consistency. We hear constantly about these high income husbands whose work life is so demanding that they need their wife at home, so we must therefore assume that two high earners probably means a hell of a lot of outsourcing, perhaps a nanny. All the families I know with two high earners have invested huge amounts in childcare over the years. And they are unlikely to have granny living around the corner... High earners have often had to move around and work their way up the career ladder.

Anyway. This is not a personal issue for me- no CB or freebie childcare here. And there is a lot to rightfully criticise in govt policy. But I think priorities need to be sorted. The UK is moving out of recession way quicker than other European counties and a big part of that is making work more accessible. Therefore childcare for SAHP is rightfully going to be low on most people's list of priorities. Those who work, or have children with complex medical needs have got to come first

I'm a high earner and I can tell you now that we are not all golden tongued socialites - it's a sweeping statement to say we are all über confident

You really don't see if do you. A lot of men feel immense pressure in supporting their family especially when their partners are claiming they are earning it too...

Is that a very wise move though morethan to essentially do unpaid work and not receive any benefits for the work they do?
So no pension or NI contributions not to mention no CPD that might look good on their CV at later date ( if they want to return to the workplace)
It does beg the question -is the business viable if it cant afford paid employees ?

Im not an experton thisbut the women seems to be missing out ... again.

I think most men would still be earning what they do regardless of their marital status, they wouldn't see it tat their wife enabled them up earn what they do as they most likely trained/studied/worked their way up prior to marriage and kids

I also work with blokes who do moan about the missus staying home and basically shopping their salary away and these are big earners, they really don't see the wife as enabling them to earn, she looks after the kids yes but they see their career planning as being the reason for how well they earn

We have nothing left over for me to spend thanks.Dp can cope with the stress as he has me supporting him.Without me the stress would humongous because make no mistake if I was working we would be sharing what I do when he isn't here.

Oh and two x £30k get 2 tax allowances and are taxed at a lower rate on top to go with their CB.The fact remains an awful lot won't have sky high cc bills as only a quarter of mothers work full time and an awful lot have kids in primary or secondary with clubs until later alongside using friends,family and juggling.I know because I help out some of my working friends.

handcream

I think women who say that mean that because the dp does not have to think about taking time off for sickness, inset days etc that they can progress quicker and further in their careers and therefore earn more money

And yes quite obviously it's possible for both partners to do that but it can be very hard work and involve give and take that some family's believe would be difficult for them

As someone mentioned earlier long term SAHP are few and far between and are in a minority

I know several wives who've done the admin for their dh's business. And usually they are very competent women. But they would be the first to admit that they are making a choice to do that, rather than the alternative of using those skills to find a paid job in an office. Presumably there are lots of upsides to being able to work the hours that suit, at home, and not having to compete against other candidates at interview, meet appraisal targets etc
Nothing wrong with doing it all, but it's a little disingenuous to imply that there is an army of women sacrificing themselves somehow.

I do have concerns about women telling everyone that they earn the salaries of their partners too. Do they really think the men agree 100% too.

I also worry about the 50% divorce rates. Of course all on here will say it won't happen to them....

As a woman in a family with 2 kids in two settings, with a DH that also works full time like me, both with commutes and zero family and friend assistance - I can tell you, it's NOT that difficult, it's whether you desire to do it

Seagulls- presumably you worked pre children and you and your husband each had a tax allowance? Or did you beg the Inland Revenue to take yours away?!!

arsenic