Oh, !!!!!! Please help!

lkmc01

I would get the ex to take 2 full time jobs. One working days, the other nights and clear him out of one of the full time job wages. The cheek!

seven-day-weekend

I agree that the childcare problem is not the same if there are two parents, as , as you have said, there are two lots of annual leave.

If the worst came to the worst, most of the school holidays could be covered by this.

Could you not hook up with another single parent and share the leave between you???

donny-gal

Well just one other thought, if DH is a director, then will probably be looking for another job? Then the CSA mone would kick in again, in the mean time if you get a job he could cover child care couldn't he? It may speed up his desire for getting another job? or am I being naughty?
DG

mumoftwins

donny-gal wrote: »

Well just one other thought, if DH is a director, then will probably be looking for another job? Then the CSA mone would kick in again, in the mean time if you get a job he could cover child care couldn't he? It may speed up his desire for getting another job? or am I being naughty?
DG

The trouble is that he was a Construction Director with a housebuilding company and construction firms are the ones that have been hit so badly by this recession - he has been scouring the internet and job agencies for work and there is nothing to be found in this country. I think he has even been thinking of looking abroad, but whether he would actually move abroad is another thing!

He also lives a long way away from us so its impractical for him to cover childcare really - also I don't think he really wants to as he doesn't contact the children in between visits - sometimes for up to a month! He never rings them for a chat . He just does the minimum that is expected of him.

I agree that it is harder for a lone parent to cover the holidays - even when we were together it was always me that had time off from work to be with the children, he only ever had time off when I was off! Actually, I don't even think he took all his holiday entitlement - workaholic springs to mind;) .

justthisonce_2

Just a very quick question and tell me to mind my own business if you like.

You don't seem to work or claim benefits so how do you manage?

Gemmzie

Elle83 wrote: »

The government did promise us that 70% of schools would have wrap around childcare attached to the schools by 2010 but this doesn't look likely to happen.

I really don't know the answer to this one. I don't think it's been thought through enough. It'd work fine if they either stopped giving children such ridiculously long holidays or attached playschemes to ALL schools for said holidays bar 3 or 4 weeks a year - but they won't listen.

It'll be ready in most LAs according to this summer's reports. I'm not sure it'll be classed as "childcare" in Secondary schools but there will be a provision - the form it'll take will be worked out shortly.

That's been argued for years, it makes good economic sense now we don't need children to bring in the crops in August. Guess who won't let it through? Teachers, TAs etc - they like their long holidays :rolleyes:

mumoftwins

justthisonce wrote: »

Just a very quick question and tell me to mind my own business if you like.

You don't seem to work or claim benefits so how do you manage?

Hi justthisonce,

I have been receiving maintenance, child tax credits and child benefit. Just recently I applied for and got housing benefit of £119 per month to which I have to add £181 per month out of the maintenance, CTC and CB.

Maintenance was £654 per month
CTC £82.00 weekly
CB £125 every 4 weeks.

By the time the rent, utilities and all other bills were paid I was left with the CTC and CB to buy food and cover all the rest ie: clothes, petrol, car maintenance, tax, childrens activities (very limited!) etc etc.

I haven't worked for over a year due to a near nervous breakdown but ideally would like to do something workwise which will mean that I can be at home in the holidays and after school for the children.

justthisonce_2

As you were working until a year ago you might be able to get Incapacity Benefit. have you looked into this?

mumoftwins

justthisonce wrote: »

As you were working until a year ago you might be able to get Incapacity Benefit. have you looked into this?

Yes, tried this but they said I had underpaid my NI contributions when I had a year off when the twins were about 5 years old! I thought that until children were 16 a mother's NI contributions were covered as she is the main carer of the children?

mumoftwins

mumoftwins wrote: »

Yes, tried this but they said I had underpaid my NI contributions when I had a year off when the twins were about 5 years old! I thought that until children were 16 a mother's NI contributions were covered as she is the main carer of the children?

Does anyone know if this is true please?

Thanks in advance,

MOT