I'm still a parent when I'm in work....

[BeeInYourBonnet]

Thought I'd get some value out of the new topic by bringing up the whole full time/part time parent argument (stir stir ) - specifically the notion that FT WOHM are not parenting when they are at work.

What things have you done this week in work that involve parenting your children?

I have done the following:

Spent my lunchtime organising for someone to help out at Brownies.
Arranged for my DH to pick someone else's child up from Beavers as well as DS.
Started work at 7 so I could leave to go to my DSs assembly for an hour.
Skyped my DD from a business trip to help with homework.

Interesting that whilst I am in the office, I appear to still be a parent!!

Well these SAHP and WOHP topics are proving nice and divisive. Bad call, MNHQ

I don't think it's divisive gonk.

If anything, it's less divisive imo; this thread is only 52 posts after days - on a subject that would have had 500+ posts within hours on a main board,with heaps of bun-fighting.

I, personally, have no regrets about choosing to work ft - my boys were in childcare from 6 months old, they are proving to be independent and well adjusted children so far (currently 10 & 13) so I am perfectly comfortable in my choices.
Some working mums are not like me, they are crippled with guilt - some just have pangs of guilt and some are defensive about their choices when they feel that their choices wrt their children are being attacked.
Some mums didn't even choose to work, they had to, and they may feel attacked when it is implied or suggested that they are not 'parenting' their children as well as a sahm.

By having the separate boards, it means that working parents can voice their frustration at these assumptions without being perceived to be attacking another choice; similarly, a sahp on the other topic can voice their frustrations wrt their situation without being jumped on by a load of people who misconstrue what they are trying to say.

The only divisive or yawnsome thing is people coming on to contribute nothing more than trite observations about how the separate boards were a bad idea, without actually contributing anything further.

If you are at work earning money to provide for your children, you are parenting. So yes OP, you are still a parent whilst in the office, and you were parenting even when you were not dealing with child related admin. This is a vital element of parenting, though I disagree with wordfactory that it's difficult to outsource it. Anyone who claims benefits or tax credits for their children is fully or partially outsourcing the provision element of parenting. I include myself in that as I get child benefit.

I suppose if you were earning money solely to give away or spend on crack for yourself or something, you wouldn't be parenting at work, but I suspect most working parents are at least partially using what they earn to financially provide for their DC. As such, WOHPs are full time parents.