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Working mothers lambasted again!!

266 replies

Missmibaby · 04/10/2005 11:26

Has anyone seen The Times today? Yet more articles telling us that wokring mothers are bad for their kids development. Isn't it funny how all the examples they use are middle-class women who left well-paid jobs, who are married to husbands with extremely well-paid jobs: bankers, lawyers, media-types. One of the headlines was that a woman didn't go back to work until her children were ten years old. The article then went to explain how she worked from her attic whilst employing full-time nannies! Real world? Not for most of us. I am the main wage-earner in our house. My DP is on £20,000 per year and our mortgage is c.£10,000 per year. What little luxuries would anyone recommend we cut back on if I were to give up work. Beleive me I do nothing but think about my son all day, I would love to be with him. I have another on the way and am trying to think of ways that I can work less. My son has always been cared for by well-chosen loving people. The childcare arrangements have changed very little inhis short life and I think he is a well-balanced, sociable, well-advanced little boy. I think the most important thing that he has in his life is that I love him to bits and I make sure he knows it!! Sorry for the rant I know it's not mumsnet faultbut but these generalisations make me so

I don't think women who stay at home are better or worse than women who go to work. It's how they treat thei kids that matters.

OP posts:
Bugsy2 · 04/10/2005 13:38

Ok Lacrimosa, the thought of being with my children 24/7 brings me out in a nervous sweat. I can do it because when I was made redundant I had to, but I don't enjoy it. I love working it brings me a valuable source of income and I enjoy the mental stimulation I get. I work part-time because I can afford to and the field of work I'm in allows me to. The days I'm with my children are lovely & I am far more giving and tolerant than when I am with them all the time.
However, I knew NONE of the above before I decided to have children!!!!!!

Enid · 04/10/2005 13:39

oh please dont justify why you all had your children

its beneath you all

just dont rise to it

Lacrimosa · 04/10/2005 13:40

Ok I would just like to send all my apologies to everyone who I have offended,you could probably understand that as a SAHM I have this as one of my only ways of talking to the outside worl. So... I most whole heartedly apologise to all of you, I will refrain form posting my very strong views and please let me know if I fall into the habbit again. Sorry Everyone

Fangache · 04/10/2005 13:41

I think you'll probably find that the poster named Lacrimosa is deliberately inflaming this. As Enid says.... don't rise to it.

I wonder if disabled people who need help to care for their children should be allowed to have them..... doesn't seem right, does it?

Enid · 04/10/2005 13:41

no we like strong views

come on everyone its just an opinion its not a personal attack on you

Blu · 04/10/2005 13:42

Lacrimosa - I have a child and work because I really love DS, really wanted him, enjoy the parenting - but it is a parenting which involves being apart from him during the day on weekdays. I wanted to be with my DP, but I haven't asked myself why i want a partner when I also work so don't see him in the daytime either!I work because a mortgage in London isn;t necessarily possible, however much downsizing ghoes on, but also I WANT to work.

I enjoy my job, it is part of my identity, it gives me lots that mothering doesn't (and of course, vice versa). Of course, DS comes first - any crisis or special events and DS comes before work. DS knows very well how much he is loved, and is a hapy secure child in excellent childcare, which he enjoys.

I love my time at home but full-time SAHM-ing would drive me mad.

Aside from the stress of juggling, everyone wins, in our household.

ThomBat · 04/10/2005 13:42

I think it's fine that you post any of your strong views on here, but I thik that on this particular topic, when you say you don't get why women have kids and then go back to work, well people are going to try and explain it you tou in their own way. You've not offened me, I'm just letting you know how I feel back, that's all.
And having a debate, which hopefully won't get too heated

Fangache · 04/10/2005 13:43

Lacrimosa - You are lucky you can stay at home. And you shouldn't imply that working parents don't look after their children. You knew that would cause major offence, and I just don't buy the innocent posts apologising for offending. Some might.

beetlejuice73 · 04/10/2005 13:44

Agree with Enid. Good for Lacrimosa for expressing her opinion.

It's the articles that depress me, not individuals who do what's best for them.

Lacrimosa · 04/10/2005 13:45

All I can say Fangache is that Im sorry . I can only learn through mistakes and I am very sorry that you feel this way about my opinion, again sorry

Blu · 04/10/2005 13:45

Fangache and Enid - yes, you are probably right.
But it is an old chestnut that gets re-heated quite a lot on this site, and everywhere in RL!

Fangache · 04/10/2005 13:46

Enid - Why is it okay to slate WOHM on here, dressing it up as an opinion.... yet if I were to say something like.. "I cannot understand how any woman in any circumstance could abort her child.... I think its wrong no matter what the reasons behind it"

I would be ripped to shreds about that statement..... really don't see how that could possibly not offend people.... and many would take it personally!

NB: Not saying its my view BTW!!! Just using it as an example.

Blu · 04/10/2005 13:46

Why DO men have children if they are going to disappear to the office?

Beats me, every time...

gossifer · 04/10/2005 13:47

blu, i like it!

Fangache · 04/10/2005 13:48

lol Blu!

beetlejuice73 · 04/10/2005 13:51

Ask David Attehborough - it's all about spreading the genes as widely as possible.

Eaney · 04/10/2005 13:54

It's a wind up.

gossifer · 04/10/2005 13:56

beetlejuice, you mean sewing them seeds ?

motherinferior · 04/10/2005 13:58

Thank you, Blu. And ThomCat.

I wanted children, for all the complex biological and social reasons that most of us do (and I suspect I interrogated my motives rather more than some other women, as it happens, as I was 37 and had come to terms with the fact I was unlikely to have children when I did find out I was pregnant). I didn't want a career change.

Enid · 04/10/2005 14:01

I dont think its Ok to slate people fangache but I do respect peoples right to say their piece (as long as not a perv/troll obv) - we all have to accept that people dont have the same views as us.

I know there are lots of people who think that abortion is totally wrong - i dont think they shouldn't post either. I dont agree with them but I think it is healthy to realise that not everyone agrees with everything you do all the time.

expatinscotland · 04/10/2005 14:11

You know, Lacrimosa, sometimes - incredible tho it may seem - unforseen circumstances can occur and both parents must go out to work or starve.

Take people who were suddenly informed that their tax credits were overpaid and they owed thousands of pounds to the Inland Revnue? Small percentage? Not really, this actually happened to some 1.8 million families.

What are those people supposed to do? Put their kids in care b/c they have to put them in nurseries to keep a roof over their heads? Have abortions - if they were pregnant, as I was, when they found out about their 'debt' - b/c they knew their child would have to go to gasp nurseries after their mothers' paid maternity leave was over?

How about going back to the era when the working poor weren't allowed to marry? Yeah, those were some days, eh?

Let's only leave procreation to rich, white people in their 30s with mortgages and high-flying professional types! Sure! Then we can only slate those women for 'defying nature' by waiting to have kids b/c they 'wanted it all'.

Gimme a break.

ThomBat · 04/10/2005 14:18

I just want to shout it proudly from the rooftops okay - not to prove a point or to shove it down anyone's throat, i just want to take seixe the opportunity to prodly and happily say:

I love the fact I have a beautiful, happy daughter.
I love that I'm pregnant again and I think I might want a third.
I love my job.
I'm lucky, I'm happy.
Life is wonderful

TheRtHonBaronessEnidOBE · 04/10/2005 14:19
Grin
dillydally · 04/10/2005 14:20

What is good enough for Cherie blair is good enough for me

Caligula · 04/10/2005 14:30

EOC has commented now

"sexist and wrong"

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