6 weeks vacation for pupils (UK), whilst teachers receive paid leave. Childcare consumes most of a working parents’ salary. Is childbearing now only for the elite?
Summertime. Holiday. Bliss. Happiness. A child’s dream; a parents nightmare, where’s the middle ground?
Family. Free childcare, so you can still earn your buck. But not everyone is so lucky. Possibly you’re an only child, your parents may not be present or living far away, so the support system isn’t in one’s favour.
Regrettably, many parents are having children, only to see them for a couple of hours a day due to the impossible standards set in society. Summer holidays just brings that to a temporary forefront. Filling most parents with undeniable dread; the anxiety of unknown that undoubtably ensues each day. Sure we can multitask, but we can’t be in two places at one time. Expectations aren’t reality.
Parents deem school as a 2-for-1. Educational with an added bonus of free childcare. It’s a win-win, not only for the child, but parents. Especially as nowadays, many families don’t have the luxury of even contemplating being a homemaker, so they pay others for these individual jobs that come under that umbrella, realising that at the end of the month, their purse is still stretched and a savings pot seems like a notion only reserved for the marginal few.
So if everything else is changing with the times, how can we expect school holidays to stay the same? Yes, it benefits children and teachers, but the reality is difficult to be fulfilled without at least one taking the flak. The duration of holidays should be reduced to align with the modern lifestyle. Potentially even the cost of childcare / summer camps significantly subsidised. As unfortunately, it’s children who are most at risk of neglect and malnourishment whilst living in first world countries. The numbers dramatically increase during summer holidays – this must change.
Children shouldn’t spend most of their days in front of a tv, tablet or loitering the streets at all hours. It’s not progressive and not what you’d deem ‘childcare’. But sadly, this sight is far too common.
How do we emphasise the importance of parenting? How do we attach value to that since today, it’s deemed an additional expense and a lifestyle choice that brings unlimited restrictions and complexities to your life – or that’s how we’ve become conditioned to believe. What support and incentives are there for parents? After all, the youth are today are the leaders of tomorrow. If we repeatedly keep taking from their lives, health, development and upbringing, how bright does the future look?
What do you think? Did you find school holidays difficult to manoeuvre as a parent? Did your situation make it easier? Is it easier to accomodate in working parents lives than it seems? Did you enjoy this post? Comment below!
Beauty File 
Having children is far too expensive these days, people are choosing to not have them which is sad. That, based on what I have read online about this.
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It is an absolute fortune and for the vast majority, somewhat unaffordable. It’s hard to fathom how economically the practicality of childbearing is out of reach. Especially as there may be a lack of stability in a couple, the probability of single parenthood becoming a reality is all too daunting as sadly it’s a evident commonality which is one of the many reasons increasing numbers are writing off parenthood altogether.
Thankyouu ever so much John, for sharing your insight!😃🤗🤍
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You’re welcome, Antonia. I divorced my second wife which meant that our two kids will not be happy. They feel angry today but a person/parent can’t stay in a toxic relationship forever.
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This is such a difficult subject. I wish every child had a stay-at-home mom. The child would be happier. The mom probably would be happier (depending on her exhaustion). But I know that’s not possible, so we have to look for summer vacation daycare, and sometimes it’s NOT available. What do we do? Is it a community answer or a national answer? I think communities best know themselves, so a school board or a city council may have the best summer daycare solutions, with less red-tape, too.
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It is a very difficult topic, isn’t it. There’s not really a right or wrong answer but there’s an ideal perspective of course. Deliberation and if possible, planning when to grow a family in advance when / if possible and how realistically you envision roles, finances, chores, childcare etc will somewhat lessen the strains and overwhelming feeling that may follow after having children.
I don’t think enough people talk honestly to their partner about expectations and what is realistically feasible or not. It’s almost a pretence until you realise you can’t cope. Evaluating as accurately as you can what is manageable and what isn’t in terms of workload, chores, finances etc won’t relieve stresses entirely as the future is unknown, but it will provide some structure and plan. Expectations without properly communicating with your partner, friends, family or work even, only increases pressure that is not addressed until something is compromised.
Additionally, the school board or city council idea is a great thought as more options need to be within reach to help support households through school holidays. Even if there are daycare solutions for only a few days a week offered, that would benefit households especially dual-income parents.
As not everyone has family to turn to or the salary to accommodate costly childcare. More support is definitely needed, for sure!
Thankyouu so much for sharing your insightful views, Priscilla!!😃🤗🤍
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I come from a different generation, dads went out to work, mums stayed at home (at least until the kids reached secondary school (11year-of-age) then many went out working part time for pin-money, home in time to make the evening meal. Wages would have been from around £3 to £5 pounds per week in the 1950 yet mum paid the rent (council house) fed dad and the 5 kids, and our cloths may no have been in vogue, but we were well enough dressed. We were able to go to the swimming baths each Saturday (five miles away by bus) dad had a motorcycle and we all had bikes to get around on.
By the time the 1960 came along we had the latch-key-kids both parents out at work, however, mum stayed at home until the kids were able to look after themselves.
Now with both parents working all hours that god sends, still families struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Little hope of bettering themselves they soldier on for they know loose you job and you loose everything, little wonder that society is falling apart.
Since Thatcher sold off all the family silver – we have no public utilities so the electricity, gas, water are now in the hands of the carpetbaggers and we have to pay the marker price (whatever the market will bear) and when we complain the government hands out sweeties – cold weather payment – but that money is ours to start with taxpayers money, robbing Peter to pay Paul.
The country is run be corporate greed, neither we nor the government has any say in the running of the country democracy is only an illusion.
Scotland produces enough energy from wind turbines to power each home in Scotland 12 times over – yet we suffer badly from fuel poverty, for we as a nation do not own one wind turbine blade.
We need to get away from the Capitalist Society – and back to a time when we had Social Society.
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Times have changed dramatically in such a short period of time, haven’t they?
Today, it seems as though no amount of money is enough.
Years ago, evidently managed to live off much less financially, yet now even when both parents actively work, they still cannot make ends meet. It’s become increasingly difficult for the average Joe to even own a home outright, without relying on a costly mortgage for example. I think also, people’s priorities are generally different. The subject of equality has made people almost turn on eachother, even within the household. Children are secondary, the emphasis is placed on each parties happiness, fulfilment and getting precisely what they’ve put in. It’s a never ending calculation regarding what is ‘fair’. Tallying fairness, also costs money. Having your own hobbies, especially outside the household, costs money. Two cars, costs money – the list goes on.
You’re right, we rely on corporations for simple necessities. Agendas are also at play to reemphasise what is important and what isn’t. We’ve lost sight of the bigger picture. Unless changes are implemented, we’ll continue to be puppets on a string.
Thankyouu so much Walter, for sharing such a thought-provoking, detailed insight😃🤗🤍
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A well-written, thoughtful and insightful article.
Looking back now I can see the advantages of my childhood.
My dad was a school teacher in Canada so he got two months off of paid leave in the summer.
So I got to spend summers with my dad.
I now realize other children don’t have those advantages in the summer.
And of course I had an added advantage with my dad – his being a Science teacher with an engineering and geological background- I got to go on archaeological digs and paleontological digs (looking for fossils and dinosaur bones) in southern Alberta during the summer.
I managed to find an entire dinosaur skeleton on my own back when I was 8 years old.
I still consider that one of the great accomplishments of my life.
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Some states here in the US have year round school, with time off – us to two weeks I think, here and there. One of my cousins lives in such a state and said that at first wasn’t sure about it, but really enjoyed it.
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Good Day Everyone!! My name is Anthony Joseph Hopkins, and I am from Dayton, Ohio. I would like to inform all of you that in the State of Ohio, incomes are going up, and taking care of children is increasing as well. It has changed a whole lot since the 1980s. Although, I do not have any children of my own, I really feel that I had to raise my nieces and nephews by myself; while my sister and I worked- to provide for the children. Therefore, I have a total of 43 nieces and nephews inside of my family. My nieces and nephews are doing a whole lot better than me. My nieces and nephews are very successful in their lives right now. I want to inform all of you that in the United States where I live, wages are decreasing. The Lord God is making it possible for me and my family members to see each other each week. I used to pay a total of $800.00 per month for childcare in the State of North Carolina because the cost of living is much higher than in the State of Ohio. I am praying for those single women, who are taking care of their business. I have a lot of faith in God as well as the Men, who are taking care of their children. God Bless You!!
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Good Day Everyone!! My name is Anthony Joseph Hopkins and I am from Dayton, Ohio. I want to inform all of you that it is very difficult raising children by yourself. It is not very easy working two jobs, and taking care of children. In the United States, things are getting rough everywhere.
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I think the biggest change is the parents that need to hover and know what their kids are doing all the time, scheduling their every waking minute, and not just letting go…..again, times have change, but kids their time, times with friends, to just have fun….to explore and grow up knowing the world outside without parent supervision….playing pick up games like street hockey, baseball soccer whatever….biking, taking buses…
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