Shoud SAHMs be paid?

Spendless

Janepig wrote:

What is this "childcare allowance" that I keep reading about that working mothers are apparently getting and I somehow seem to be missing out on? None of my working mother colleagues appear to be getting this either. Wish I was.

Jxx

Not sure which post(s) you are referring to but there's the childcare element of tax credits, if you are eligible, the childcare voucher scheme (if your employer offers them) and non means tested funding the term after childs 3rd birthday. That any help

Churchmouse

My children are all grown up now, but I was a SAHM for them. I also spent at least one and a half days a week as a volunteer in their schools. I've heard children read, taught pottery, knitting and sewing, gone on educational visits etc and all UNPAID. When the summer outing of a visit to the seaside came round the teachers usually said " so and so's mother is taking a days leave to come so you can have a day off" Gee thanks! The easiest outing of the year and I don't get to come!
I'm not sure about SAHM wages, but definitely should be able to transfer personal allowance to partner for tax relief.

~Loz~

Reading some of these posts there seems to be a bit of confusion or at least that is the way it comes across!

I work 30 hours a week and i am a mum, i do just as much as a stay at home mum because when i leave work and pick my daughter up from school. I have all the shopping, cleaning, washing and mummy jobs to do just as much as stay at home mums except i only have evenings to get the jobs done because i work most of the day!

Do i deserve a wage for this, no!! Because i chose to have my daughter and i chose the life i live.

I don't earn as much as some people, can't have the luxuries that some people have and am certainly better off than others but again that is because i choose to go to work and not sit at home hoping for a wage for doing what every other mother in the country does for nothing!

Churchmouse

Feel compelled to point out that when working mums are at work they are not actively engaged in "childcare". Yes there is H/W etc but a lot of SAHM day is spent interacting with children!!!!!!!!!!

Janepig

Spendless wrote:

Not sure which post(s) you are referring to but there's the childcare element of tax credits, if you are eligible, the childcare voucher scheme (if your employer offers them) and non means tested funding the term after childs 3rd birthday. That any help

Not eligible for childcare tax credits (but are by no means rolling in it), gave up on the childcare voucher scheme when it changed (long story) but that doesn't really give you money, just means you don't pay NI on your childcare, and DD was in full-time school at 3 and a half. Roll on 2009 when DS will be there too and I'll be £324 better off per month and I'll be switching to working school hours so will be with them all the time when they're not in school!!!!!

Jxx

~Loz~

Every minute of the day spent with a child is "childcare", whether the hours are 9 till 5 or 4 till 9!

I receive no money for child care like alot of working mums, i am fine with this. SAHM's should be no exception, i think expecting a wage to look after your child is an insult to be honest, i look after my child and would expect no such thing. She isn't a way to earn money she is my blood.

thriftmonster

~Loz~ wrote:

but again that is because i choose to go to work and not sit at home hoping for a wage for doing what every other mother in the country does for nothing!

Actually most of us aren't asking to be paid - we do it for our own individual reasons just as you work for the same individual reasons - and I don't "sit at home" - you need to walk a mile in another's moccasins before you judge:rolleyes:

~Loz~

thriftmonster wrote:

Actually most of us aren't asking to be paid - we do it for our own individual reasons just as you work for the same individual reasons - and I don't "sit at home" - you need to walk a mile in another's moccasins before you judge:rolleyes:

Good for you, no your not expecting to be paid for looking after your child, this thread however is about SAHM's wanting to be paid for looking after their children. So although my post isn't about you personally it still stands as i was replying to the expectations of wages for being a mum.

I have been a stay at home mum, i haven't worked the whole of my childs life, my oppinions were still the same then, i would never expect to gain a wage for looking after my child..

Churchmouse

~Loz~ wrote:

Every minute of the day spent with a child is "childcare", whether the hours are 9 till 5 or 4 till 9!

I don't understand this response SAHM do not "clock off" at 5. They have "childcare" for every minute the child is awake!!! I am not criticising working mums, just feel that not enough recognition is given to SAHMs.
SAHMs are the ones volunteering for classroom duties etc. I did not say SAHMs should be paid, we all do our best with our individual circumstances. Let's show each other some respect!!

My DH has a cousin who I absolutely adored when after meeting after some years out of touch enquired " Churchmouse, do you do any PAID work?":rotfl: :T Yay Peter!!!!!

~Loz~

My point was that working mums do just as much as stay at home mums just different hours, i have respect for anyone who raises a child as it is the hardest job in the world.

Working mums do not clock off when we go to work, we work at work, come home and "work" there too. No difference really.