Right then, I'm going to out myself and respond to some of this.
By the time I chose to leave my teaching job, I was 2nd in charge of (a very large English) department in Newham with other whole-school responsibilities. So fairly established, despite my tender age. The beauty of teaching is that you can return to it as teachers are always in demand. I believe that being at home will only enhance and add to the skill set I have already developed as a teacher. When I return (which I will be doing in 5-ish years), I'll be 31 - the same age many teachers are when they begin their career.
We claim no benefits (bar child benefit which I believe everyone with a child currently receives), so I have no guilt whatsoever about that. I don't "live on welfare, and probably rely entirely on it in their old age, as they are probably not contributing to private or work-related pension funds since they're not working outside the home." I am financially savvy and have put other things into place to make sure that I will not be at a disadvantage when of retirement age (which, lets be honest, is a long way away for me). Teacher's pensions freeze when you take a break and then you pick right back up where you started. From the looks of things, that will still be 38 years of pension that I pay into. At least.
My comment about not spending my husband's money on clothes was removed from the context of the conversation. I am a horrible spendthrift and find it much more difficult to justify purchases when I know that I am not 'earning' the money. My husband has always highlighted to me how much we would have to pay someone to receive the care Isaac gets from me and encourages me to think of all money as 'ours' that I'm free to spend as I see fit. But I can't and that's my issue entirely. I've had financial independence since I was 14 and I find it hard not to be. But, it's for 5 years.
My son was very much wanted and planned. As is the daughter I'm expecting in September.
"Settling down at this age to being a housewife and mother is a sure fire way to single parenthood, penury, loneliness and regret" Such optimism. As someone who watched my mother make a series of bad choices with men, I would argue that there is no guarantee that any marriage or partnership will work, regardless of whether you work or not, are young or old. I didn't enter into marriage lightly and I'm married to a wonderful man. I thank my lucky stars I met him when I did - all the more time to spend with him. I'm not going to be a housewife forever, this is merely a 'career break'. And I don't really like the term 'settling', it implies that there was something better out there. And I know there will be eye-rolling and everyone will think I'm naive, young and foolish. And so be it.
And as for the cupcake comment - it was intended to poke fun at the idealised image of the 50's housewife and highlight that my life is nothing like that. Because it really isn't.
And as for the styling of the shoot, clearly not down to me. But, hell, how often am I going to get photographed in Vivienne Westwood?
I made it very clear to the journalist that this was my choice and I am an advocate of freedom of choice. I wouldn't judge any other mother for the decisions that they have made regarding childcare. My friends find themselves in many different positions - working full-time, part-time, from home etc etc and they're all fantastic mothers.