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unhealthy children to working mums debate!

i have just read a news report on the latest research and i just thought a healthy debate on it might be interesting.

these reports make me so angry as im a working mum, i work 30hours a week and i dont have a choice. if i had a choice i wouldnt work but in the current economic climate, my partner was made redundant last year, has even created a job as he couldn't get 1 and even that has dried up so im the only one bringing in a regular wage to put a roof over our heads and pay the bills and little treats for lo. surely it would be more unhealthy for lo if we lost our home!!?i feel incredibly guilty about having to work, 1 day a week i work a 14 hour day so dont see lo at all that day, i certainly dont make it up to lo by giving him sweets and watching tv, i make the most of it by taking him out to play and to socialise, even when im utterly shattered. i was brought up by 2 parents who both worked full time and im not damaged, more independant but not damaged.well in my opinion.lol. i do think it is very interesting when these reports are highlighted as usually they happen when they need the jobs for the menfolk and to create gaps it would be easier if women stayed at home- they did the same after the war.

just wondered what you ladies thought.xxx

Replies

  • I think it's crap! I'm lucky enough to be able to stay at home, but if I did go to work it wouldn't make any difference to the way I parent my kids! They would still get the same home cooked food they do now, and I'd want to play with them when I was at home so they certainly wouldn't be plonked infront of the tv.
    The only thing I did think is that maybe children who go to nursery are more likely to catch colds etc as they are exposed to germs from more children, but long term that is good for their imune systems anyway.
    Off now to read the report!
    xx
  • I think what the report should say is "Parent's who feed their children rubbish, are more likely to have unhealthy children" as the whole crux of the report seems to be that working mums are more likely to rely on convienience/processed food/take-aways rather than home cooking. So really it has nothing to do with whether you work - just how you feed them.

  • Exactly Bedhead and nikkiandneil! Daisy-Mae is 6 months old and I've been back at work part time for 3 weeks now. I don't care what anyone says, Daisy doesn't get any less attention or home cooked food etc. Yes, she goes to Nursery and gets colds, but like Bedhead says, that helps her immune system in the long term anyway.

    To be honest, this kind of report really pisses me off!!! I think it's bloody hard enough bringing children up in this world and having to go to work (let's face it, most of us would prefer to stay at home, but it's not always an option..) and then to have some people writing crappy reports to make us feel even more guilty is a bloody joke.

    I don't believe that Daisy-Mae will be any less healthy than other children whose Mum's stay at home. I am a good Mum, give her all the love and attention that she could ever need and would do anything for my baby. I think there are advantages to both being at home and going to work, and we all make our decisions based on what is best for our own families. I think the numptys who write these reports should get out of their bloody ivory towers and think about the harm they are doing to young Mum's like us all on here... Maybe come up with something useful instead like some new quick and easy recipes that we can cook for our children to keep them super healthy.

    And, breathe..... I feel better now!

    C xxxx
  • This report riled the hell out of me. Ive always worked, never been on benefits apart from the standard child one and ??10 pw from family tax credits. Theres nothing I would like more than to not have to work and spend all day with my children, but there is no way on the planet that we could afford for me not to. Would the government (If its them that has done the report) like to give women like me enough benefits to cover my bills and living costs until my babies are say 11? I dont think so. My children are no worse off from me working, they are looked after by their grandparents when I am in work, and they eat the same food regardless of what I work. My little boy is a brilliant talker but not as advanced as his friend who goes to nursery for things like dressing himself and toilet training and I think being wih other kids really helps bring things like this on. Yes my children do watch some tele, but its normally just background noise - the only programmes my little boy actually watches properly are Show me Show me and Something Special. There is nothing constructive about this report that I can see.
  • This report riled the hell out of me. Ive always worked, never been on benefits apart from the standard child one and ??10 pw from family tax credits. Theres nothing I would like more than to not have to work and spend all day with my children, but there is no way on the planet that we could afford for me not to. Would the government (If its them that has done the report) like to give women like me enough benefits to cover my bills and living costs until my babies are say 11? I dont think so. My children are no worse off from me working, they are looked after by their grandparents when I am in work, and they eat the same food regardless of what I work. My little boy is a brilliant talker but not as advanced as his friend who goes to nursery for things like dressing himself and toilet training and I think being wih other kids really helps bring things like this on. Yes my children do watch some tele, but its normally just background noise - the only programmes my little boy actually watches properly are Show me Show me and Something Special. There is nothing constructive about this report that I can see.
  • I also think the report is a load of crap! It really annoyed me. I work part time and my little man eats healthily. Are they just wanting more people to give up work to get benefits and claim its better for the welfare of their child?
    I would be a stay at home mum if it was doable with partners wages, but at the moment its not.

    oooo it really annoyed me!
  • Here's a thought, it would be interesting to see a similar report comparing the health of children from working families with those who's parents were not working but living on benefits. Now I am not for one moment suggesting that people on benefits have unhealthy children, or than they are worse parents, but it occured to me that many of the 'stay at home' mums in this report would be in the situation where there partener earned enough to support them. It is likely then that they have the luxury of being able to afford to raise their children exactly as they want, rather than having to cut corners to make ends meet iyswim. I wonder if this study actually give a true comparison, it's hard to know without seeing the original research.
    xx
  • This report really irritated me. Talk bout makin wokring mums feel even more guilty than they already do! Most mums have to work to make ends me. i'd love to be a SAHM or work part time, unfortunately I haven't managed to find a money tree yet so I have no choice! The fact I work makes me want to make sure my lo gets all my attention when I am home, hence y the house looks like a bombs hit it a lot of the time. I'd rather spend time with my lo and makin her healthy meals and trying to eat them. x
  • gatecrashing here! hope you dont mind image i think this report is the biggest load of bull i have ever read, and I wouldnt listen t it as you all say its all aload of rubbish! just another study done by a university or something!
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