SAHM/SAHD in a better position with the Coronavirus

[Lycidas]

Elizabeth Warren’s argument in her book on ‘the two income trap’, summed up as follows:

When one-income. two parent households were more common, “A stay-at-home mother served as the family’s ultimate insurance against unemployment or disability — insurance that had a very real economic value even when it wasn’t drawn on.”

“While the addition of the second earner has not brought in much gain, it has created an increase in downside risk by eliminating an implicit insurance policy that families used to rely on.”

Are we seeing this downside now with working parents being in an impossible situation re: school/childcare closures? SAHM/SAHD families find themselves with more options re taking their kids out of school.

Not saying that the mum has to stay at home by default, but families with two working parents tend to be vulnerable to child sickness and this situation now amplifies it. Especially if grandparents need to practice social distancing too...

Yes, I see that. We'd be struggling if DD's school was closed. I carried on working PT because I enjoyed it and was at the beginning of a good career. I'm still the higher earner. In many ways it would be easier for me than him to take time off, but I work for a small organisation, so my absence for a prolonged period would be a real problem, and our most senior people are over 60 so in the vulnerable group. If the shit really hits the fan I could end up with no job to go back to. We could cope on DH's salary but it would mean significant cutbacks.

I'm a SAHP as a carer and yes, I can see how we have an advantage. DH can work until it's impossible, 3ven if schools close and I can respond daily to any imminent threat of isolation and work on keeping us well stocked.

The downside is that the boys are in special schools which are likely to close before mainstream schools.

Yes. I feel strongly we shouldn’t be investing in childcare as a country but should be heavily investing in part time working as the norm and in reducing the cost of housing. So that normal for most families is two parents working part time (or a single parent working part time and paid decent child support).

Children need their parents and not just when their school gets shut. Feminists did a hugely important job in getting women to be recognised as being of equal capacity to work and have a career. We now need to recognise the need and value of caring and ensure men take on their fair share.

But (depending on the disability) the disabled parent may not be able to look after the children, so I'm not sure how it helps (my DP doesn't work due to disability but won't be able to cope looking after a child full time so we'll still need childcare). At least if you're working and then become disabled you have a better chance of getting a payout to ease the financial situation.

Yep, I'm a SAHM and kids all off this week. Not sure how what we would have done if I was working. I am the implicit insurance policy on a regular basis.

Nothing against the concept of having one SAHP btw, I just don't see how it's insurance against disability.

I don’t understand how having only one income is insurance against unemployment.

And you can’t generalise about the Coronavirus and working parents. We aren’t all the same. FYI, DH work already issued a work from home recommendation a week ago and mine also last week. Both of us are going to be at home next week onwards. The problem we have is now just buying another desk and monitor, keyboard and mouse so we don’t have to work with the laptop screen and keyboard.

In our meeting with the senior management team last week. The question about school closure and childcare was specifically mentioned. We were told the company will be supportive of any necessary childcare arising from closure.

@worldgonemad2020 simples, we work from home! DH and I took turn whenever that happens. There are jobs that you can work effectively from home. It was only when the kids were very little, like toddler and baby age that was a problem. My youngest is 5 and is perfectly capable of nursing a sick day in front of the tv. We work from home and kept them fed and give paracetamol and dioralyte.

@NotGenerationAlpha Those are great working arrangements.

I guess it’s the idea that if you’ve become dependent on two incomes for everything - housing, living costs etc - then one parent losing their job risks tipping the family into financial precariousness. But if the sole earner becomes unemployed, the other can step up and fill that gap.

A working single parent is in an even worse position than two working parents. At least with two working parents you can generally share some of the load with emergency childcare (50/50 for example).

@Lycidas I can’t see how it would be better for disability as really if you only have one income, it’s hard for the SAH parent to step up. It’s easier to cut your cloth when you drop down to one income.

However I do agree it’s easier for the working parent if you have a SAH partner. During the school holidays, everything is easier for me when DH have the kid the next day. No rushing around trying to get lunch packed or laundry done. This is compared to when DC go to the childminder for the day. I haven’t got a comparison with school days, but I can imagine it will be less stress too. Just having someone else organising all the costumes, homework, school bags.

@NotGenerationAlpha : DH works long hours and travels. Unfortunately it's not possible for him to work from home. I am on my own with 4 DC's a lot. Have done some part time work from home in the past but strangely seems busier now that they are a little older (youngest is also 5). I think working from home would tip me over the edge! :)