AIBU to wonder if a stay-at-home mum could become an MP?

[Questionsssss]

Do you think a degree educated, middle class 30 year old SAHM without any notable work history would ever have a chance at becoming a local councillor or MP? I feel like most MPs have either a local council or highly skilled professional background (law, finance etc). I’ve googled and I can’t find a single MP who has a SAHM background.

I don't believe you are a mother.

Every literate woman going through the pregnancy learns about prenatal screenings schedule and kind of issues that can be found there.
Even 24 weeks limit is troublesome, because it means that if bad news come at 20+week scans, there is little time to arrange additional tests, get them evaluated and decide based on the results.

If you really are a mother and somehow ignored this, just don't go to the politics. You seem unable to represent even your own demographic group.
The politics need more women, but those women should poses a basic knowledge about women's topics.

I've been with my partner and daughter's father for 16 years. Neither of us have any interest in throwing hugs sums of money away on a party, nor do we believe in sky fairies

What do either of those things have to do with getting married?

I must confess to not having read the whole thread. OP, if you're serious, I think you should begin by being active in your community. Volunteer in schools and hospitals and church groups. Volunteer to be on committees - local groups are usually crying out for people to take on committee roles. Be a school governor. Use public transport and have conversations with people at the bus stop. Listen to what people say about what matters to them. Maybe start a local (non-political) news blog or newsletter, if there isn't one already, or contribute to an existing one

All the above will develop skills you would need as an MP.

How much are you proposing to pay for parents to stay home?

Because you do realise that from the funded hours the nursery get is between £6 and £12 per child? (Depending on age). It's why so many of them are either closing or having to charge hundreds in top up fees each month. If you take the lower end of £6 an hour that would be £180 a week (Based on 30 hours) or £720 a month. Which won't even cover the mortgage for many people.

Possibly but they would be most unsuitable imho.

That 17-year-old Reform councillor - George Finch can't have had much of a work history . I would say though you need to start doing some political work.

Au contraire. It depends which question you ask as to what the results are. Plenty of studies showing the benefits to children of having working mothers.

Beware cognitive bias.

Several auto immune conditions
Fibromyalgia
POTS
Elhlers Danlos syndrome…….

You have a lot of time for someone so dedicated to her children. And internet access - can’t you google?

No, but given you apparently have a diagnosis of ADHD yourself your personal disinterest is interesting.

The OP hasn’t got a clue about how any of this would be funded. Or any evidence that it would lead to better outcomes anyway.

I suspect there’s a lot of bullshit in what the OP is saying. Seems likely she just doesn’t want to work so is trying to justify her choice and get paid for it! I also question whether she worked in publishing for 5 years based on her grammar….

I think in countries where the limot is lower, rape victims have a higher limit. At least I hope so. OP, what are your views on this?

Ideally of course abortion could be accessed as early as possible, but there can be situations like abusive relationships where this would be a barrier.

Absolutely. My 20 week scan showed significant brain abnormalities. Follow up scan with a consultant 21 weeks. Foetal MRI at 23 weeks. Results back after 24 weeks resulting in suggestion we consider whether to proceed with the pregnancy.

We continued based on our own beliefs, but feel that every parent in our position should be able to make the decision they feel best for them. It was without doubt the most traumatic time we have been through making that decision, and no one should have to also consider the legality of their decision as part of this.

.....had successfully run a huge and very publicised campaign to save a much loved local facility. As a result I was very well known locally. Following the successful conclusion of the campaign all the three main parties approached me to ask me to stand for them.

That's more or less what happened to a friend of mine. She was much involved with a residents' group campaigning about a local traffic issue and was approached by all three parties to stand for the local council. She chose the one best aligned to her opinions on local issues, but said that was not necessarily the party she would vote for in a general election.

Most families need two incomes nowadays … so yes, likely be penalising someone.

I wouldn’t vote for you, Op.
I can’t be doing with misogyny
@Questionsssss

Yes, they have, but they’ve worked their way up through volunteering, local council stuff etc.

@Jane379 the OP referred to SAHM (not SAHP) - clearly only someone with a penis should be earning money!

I haven't read the full thread but have read all of OP's replies.

@Questionsssss you said your only work experiences was a few years (5?) in publishing, which is usually an incredibly liberal/progressive environment, so the opposite of your politics. So I'm curious if you had these views while you were working in publishing, and if yes what was that like? Did you hide all your opinions from your colleagues? Or did you develop your views after having children?

Whilst I don't agree with many of OP's views I think they have some validity and she articulates them well. I hope that she does pursue her idea of becoming an elected representative, Reform could do with some 30-something women so that would be a good place to start.

As long as you appeal tI what people want to vote for you’ll be fine- good ideas, wanting progress, head not in the sand. Best of luck!

I would vote for a SAHM if my party put one up. Her being a SAHM would probably have little/no bearing on me voting for her though. If she had good community links that would help.

I definitely wouldn’t vote for you, but an MP/perspective MP of my part was a SAHM I wouldn’t really care either way and she would probably get my vote.

To answer your original question, I actually think SAHMs should be represented in politics. However, I do think part of the reason they are not is because of how unforgiving the job is. I was a staffer early in my career and my MP slept maximum 4 nights a week in the family home and worked minimum 6 days a week. He never had a moment to pause and missed seeing his kids a lot. He lived in the constituency and people would just approach all the time about things, walking from his house to the corner shop would probably involve at least 2 casework interactions. There is no turning off and when they finally do get a holiday the newspapers will report on any destination deemed too exotic 🤣

To answer the rest of your thread, agree for more parental leave, the rest of it is bonkers and it would serve society best not to stand.

Yes but it's a very intensive job so unlikely that SAHMs with small kids would choose to try to become an MP if they have chosen not to work. The campaigning beforehand is also a full time job. A councillor would be more compatible with family life.

Maybe for some not very active councillors, but several committees (those where the public can be involved, like planning) sit during the evenings, so the public can take part. It wouldn’t fit round school hours either, as you don’t have flexibility about when meetings take place.

Don't underestimate bathe amount of work that councilors do. It's exhausting and very time consuming for very little reward however if yuh have that commitment you can do anything. You will need good childcare though as there are numerous meetings and visits per week

Thank you 😊