JK Rowling and lone parenting

[velvetrabbit]

This is an interesting article by JK Rowling about being a lone parent

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article7096786.ece

Very good indeed

Thank goodness I read it, thanks for the link.

I was starting to believe old Davy boy...not that labour are fantastic but at least they MEAN well towards us lot.

She is a total hero. JK for PM.

I was going to start a thread to bow down to her. I' ve just read this article.

She is so right. "The fact that the average single mother is 36 gets in the way of a good story". I agree completely. It's so easy to demonise us. So tempting even. So cosy, from the position of a smug marriage, knowing that even if the marriage breaks up, the father won't be the one who's demonised and pigeon-holed.

I was 37 when I left the children's father and their tory-voting father would be the first to slag off 'single mothers' whilst not contributing a penny. He mocks me for being on benefits whilst not contributing a penny. He would get along fine with DC.

She also mentions that a large number of single parent families have a child with a disability, so that is a contributing factor to the breakup in the first place. My son is on the spectrum.

Good for JK for writing this article. I agree, JK for PM.

ps, also very interesting that despite ALL the childcare difficulties, more than 50% of single parents DO work.

The role that should be vilified is that of the 'dead-beat' father such as my x. He holds his head up high. Now obviously an unemployed 19 year old can't provide much, but there are thousands and thousands (??) of men like my x with excellent salaries and qualifications who manage to get away with not paying maintenance.

great
she should seriously stand, we need politicians with a mind and a conscience

Very good article and I agree with her completely.

WOW!

Brilliant article, and so true and brave of her to write it.
Let's hope the votes do us all justice.

Brilliant article. Personally I can't wait for the Conservative candidate/representative to turn up here so I can ask some pertinant questions...

I heart JK and would like to be her friend

I am not a single parent and I do not live in poverty BUT I could be. Death, divorce, illness could turn my life upside down in an instant. If it does I would need that safety net and that is why those who earn pay taxes on their income. I do not want to rely on living in an area where there are enough people with the time and money to volunteer to provide the services.

fabulous article, well said JK Rowling

Wow. Very well written and, well, true.

YY, JK for PM.

• Another thread here full of JKR love