The headlines for the report say:
- Number of stay at home parents in the UK drops 21% from 2.8 million in 1993 to 2.2 million today
- Parents say their household would need an average income of £31,731 for one parent to stay at home, yet the average annual income for a male is £28,464 (10% less) and a female is £18,047 (43% less)
- Over a third (36%) of families with children under 2 have both parents at work, and 1 in 3 (38%) working parents spend less than 4 waking hours a day with their children
- If money was no object, 7 out of 10 (71%) working parents would have stayed at home to raise their children[9]
I guess the first question they'll ask is does this reflect Mumsnetters' experienec? Are Mumsnetters feeling the pinch financially and is this making folks who might have considered staying at home - go back to work?
What would be your ideal?
The Gov giving you money to either :
Pay for childcare
Pay grandparents/extended family
Or do you think it should be left as is - personal choice but dependent on financial circumstance?
Any other pithy thoughts and insights gratefully accepted. Will only have about 3 or 4 mins so won't be able to completely set the world to rights, but be good to know what you think.
Thanks in advance