To think this petition is actually ridiculous?

[SkaLaLand]

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/306691

Oh yes because that’s a priority
What shite

Ridiculous. We don’t have to support stupidity just because they are women.

Maternity leave is usually hard work and not remotely up to expectations. But I suppose first time mums will assume it’s due to coronavirus and things being closed. I think it’s generally just knackering.

I'm so glad I've seen this thread. Someone in a Facebook group I'm in shred the petition and all the comments were full of support - I thought I was the only one thinking it was ridiculous!

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile We'll just have to agree to disagree. We did a shitload of classes up until lockdown from when DD was just a few weeks old and I'm sure she enjoyed them to some degree towards the end, but she also enjoys throwing peas at the dog, making loud shrieking noises and climbing onto the windowsill just as much, if not more. They made zero difference to her 'social development'. Babies don't play with other babies. They need a consistent caregiver to give them attention. They don't need to lie in a circle of other babies while you wave a scarf over them and sing about the sun. No babies are going to be disadvantaged in life by not going to a few months of baby sensory. The mothers might be, of course, but that's not really what this petition is claiming, is it?

Having other women’s backs doesn’t mean supporting lunacy. Unaffordable lunacy at that when we’re about to go into economic meltdown.

I'm in two minds about it.

Asking for an extension of paid maternity leave, owing to the current circumstances, isn't a particularly outlandish idea. There will be a huge difference between my first maternity leave a year ago, and mine starting in 4 weeks. My newborn won't get to meet family for months at this rate, nor will she get to go out more than once a day in her pram, get to go to baby-friendly activities, etc. While I'm sure she'll be fine (I am lucky to have a garden and plenty of baby toys in my home so I can make up the short fall in her being out and about less), I'm not so sure I will be.

My mental health took an absolute battering last time (TLDR: traumatic birth experience contributed to PND for 6 months post partum). And that was with me being able to get out and about, see family and friends, etc. I think a lot of mums, especially FTM's, will struggle with their MH this time round because when their partners go back to work, they won't be able to access other forms of support/coping mechanisms. Therefore, extending maternity leave at least gives these mums more time to recover and have a few enjoyable months off if they do develop PND/PPS.

However, I think proposing the extension of maternity leave purely because baby groups are cancelled actually takes away genuine valid concerns a lot of mums may have, and dumbs the whole thing down. It makes it laughable. Instead of explaining to people the consequences of lockdown on vulnerable and struggling mums, it makes the whole thing look like a bunch of mums are mad because they don't get free coffee every Tuesday.

Well it’s just about to hit 100k in 3...2...1...

Plus, surely having other women's backs when it comes to maternity rights, no matter how silly you think they are, is never a bad thing right?
If they were trying to take anything away from maternity rights I'd be all over it. They have had their right to maternity leave, there is absolutely no need for "at least three months" extra. And where is the money supposed to come from to fund it? We will most likely be on our knees as a country after this.

I'm currently on maternity leave and my baby is perfectly happy at home. Of course I'd love to be going to groups but I'd prefer any spare cash to be supporting the NHS and people who aren't fortunate enough to have jobs to return to when all this is over.

It isn't just babies who was missing their groups . The whole country is in lockdown . Those with babies aren't special we all can't see families and go to parks.

A debate on the socialisation of patents? Whose job would that be? Department of trade and industry?

I'm incredulous at the number of signatures this petition has achieved. Three months extra for coffee mornings and play groups paid for by already struggling businesses.. bonkers

I'm so old that baby groups hadn't been invented when I had babies. They seemed to manage and don't bear any signs of damage.

I’ve never been to a baby group when another parent has actually said anything other than hi or just completely ignored us in their already formed
Clique.

I'm pregnant and think this is a load of shit, and I have zero intention of taking my baby to any of this stuff, I'm sure they'll turn out just fine without 'socializing' with other babies

I’m on maternity leave and feel sad it is in no way home I imagined it or would have planned it. Sadly that’s life and I feel grateful I don’t have childcare issues or other problems others have. The people signing it need to take a good look at themselves if they think this is the priority right now .

I've just been asked to sign it by a friend who works in a school and we are not having a debate.

Absolutely mental. I though this this morning.

Also, do some of these people realise that this is a middle class pet project really? I mean, mat pay for the last 3 months is not a big amount, unless they are expecting this to be on full pay?!

Lots of women economically have to return to work waaaaay before a year and don't get the time to swan around attending baby groups (and I say this as someone who got to swan around, though I felt far more like a duck pedalling furiously under the water at the time!). So really this is a bunch of middle class women asking working class men and women to pay more tax over their working lives (because all of us will need to pay tax to pick up after this mess) and/or accept shittier services as a result. Regressive and deluded.

And yep, I did also have PND. It was aided by going back to work and having a bit of a break to be "old me".

I would sign.. My mat leave started March 1st, I'd love an extra 3 months mat leave. 😂

bored mothers with no imagination

GlummyMcGlummerson Why should women be viewed as a homogenous whole that need supporting whoever batshit the proposal? The petition was garbage. If it had been something that was well-written or logical I’m sure people would support it. The logic of the petition is ‘I’ve not had enough fun on my mat leave therefore the government should pay me to stay at home for longer’. There are very real discrimination issues facing women. This rubbish does nothing to enhance rights of new mothers.

Yes some women will find it harder. I would have much rather finished my mat leave under normal circs but I still had my mat leave. That hasn’t been taken away. There is no statutory right or requirement to go to coffee mornings or baby groups.

TBH it may be different for mums of older babies but the majority of brand new mums I've met recently have actually said even though they are sad their extended family members haven't met the baby they've actually liked having time just them and their partner and spent time getting to know their babies and growing in confidence

Also although the term babymoon seems to now refer to a final holiday before the birth it used to be that period AFTER the birth where you stayed home, with your partner, not hosting visitors and just resting, doing nothing more energetic than feeding your baby and tending to their needs - this pandemic is forcing women to do that in many cases

Do those people missing maternity/baby groups realise cancer patients are actually missing chemotherapy?

So full of self impotence.
God. Poor teachers, in a few years time the people that sign this are going to be “that parent”

My little girl is 12 weeks, was waiting for 8 week jabs to even attempt baby groups but lockdown came before those happened. Either way it was a miracle if I could get showered in the morning before OH left for work let alone leave the house! I’ve spent the first 12 weeks with a clingy baby who probably would have stayed glued to me at these things anyway.
I did get upset when having a hard day that my maternity leave isn’t how I’d imagined it -my parents met baby once, my sister hasn’t and neither have OH family but in the grand scheme of things none of that matters. People are dying - much more important things going on!
And actually I’m grateful I’ve got my OH working from home to help with said clingy baby as when he was back at work before lockdown my MH was taking a battering and I hadn’t left the house in days!

Hahahaha. No. If any petition to do with maternity leave it's worth signing, it's that it can be extended for those who had lengthy stays in NICU. FFS.