To think that people shouldn't have children if they can't afford them?

[ideamummy]

I ask this as I'm dealing with a case at the moment of a woman who for various reasons is being charged for her health treatment. She is 21 and on her third pregnancy, she has no employment, no means of supporting these children and yet seemingly does not use contraception. It makes me so mad. We've waited three and a half years to have a second child because before that we just couldn't afford it. Why do some people think it's okay to have kids with no means to support them?

Although being on the Champs Elysee on New Years Eve I found frankly frightening being as they were teenage boys throwing firecrackers into the crowd for 'fun' apart from that I love Paris, even the snooty waiters are so authentically Parisian!

I have been in full time employment since the age of 16 (I am now 33). I have never signed on and have always paid tax and national insurance. I had my first baby 7 months ago and after the basic 6 months maternity I decided that due to my dd health issues I was not comfortable going back to work yet so I resigned. My dp is still working full time (13 hour days most of the time.) I have just been told that I am not entitled to any working family tax credits or any other benefit as I earnt too much last year. If I claim next year then I will be entitled to it then. I fully plan to be working again next year so this is of no use to me....

I know someone who has just had child 5. She has not worked in 10 years so has not paid tax or national insurance. She is taking more money home a week in benefits than her partner who is working... When I asked what she was having she replied "I hope it?s a boy then the council will have to move us to a bigger house." She viewed the baby as a means to get a bigger house and I find this disturbing.

People do often fall on hard times and the benefit system should be there to help them. However there are people who abuse the system and give people who genuinely need it a bad name.

Just have to share what DH said last night - he asked what we'd been debating about on MN yesterday - told him it was the "affording to have children" business......his response....

"THAT debate - that's an ANCIENT debate - can't you think of something more current to chat about"