froggie

Agree. I used to work full-time (and lot of overtime!) when my children were young , I had a childminder or a nanny over 8 years. I never had a problem with the education of my kids. I am now unemployed and I take care of my two 11 years old sons. And I am glad I can afford it even if I miss my work, because it a difficult period for them. Staying at home, I can control what they do after school, who they meet and help them with their homework. It is difficult for parents to always say no to the children : I recently refused to buy them mobile phones and it was not easy to resist ! One of them recently said to me : " we look poor because you have an old Peugeot 106 !" So I had to explain that money was not the only aim in life... They have not yet made remarks that we are renting our house and not own it !

Beginning of last year I have tried to search for a house to rent on their website. Got only 'errors'. Don't seem to be bothered about the poor quality of their website (or maybe money is tight ?)

It is common in my generation (I am 38 years old) but my mother stayed at home when my sister and I were children. I do not know the exact figures. When I was working, it was indeed more stressful, but we manage to spend time with the children, because it took us only fifteen minutes to get home and I had a baby-sitter after school at home the last years ; so when we came home, the homework were already made, the bath was taken. I used to prepare the meals the night before and I didn't mind to use processed food ! Sometimes the kids have eaten with their baby-sitter if my husband or I were too late. I don't deny it , it is exhausting, but worth it.

Well , I was just thinking that this topic would be very different in France ! I am French and live with my family (hubby+2boys) here since almost 2 years. In France I used to work full-time as a business manager ; I used childminders, school kids clubs and finally an employee at home to care of the children. My 2 boys are generaly considered as well educated and are good at school. From what I see here, a lot more women in France work full-time or part-time and raise their children ; I would say that a lot of people would frown on a woman staying at home to raise the children (especially if you have only 1 or 2). The provision for childcare is excellent and very cheap compared to England. All the systems existing in France are controlled from the local councils and the government (nursery, childminder, school kids club, holiday clubs for the children) ; most are run by local councils, few are private. For the club after school, I paid less than 1 pound per child (from 4:00 to 6:00 pm). You get huge tax credits for all you pay into childcare. But don't get me wrong, it is always difficult to balance the education of the children and the working life for a women. It seems to me that with the help we get from the local councils and government, it is easier in France than here. Another good point was also the 35-hours rules...As I used to work a lot more than that, as every manager and director in the company, I had 2 days off work per month ! My husband was only entitled to 1 day off per month. Since I am in England I do not work and I am dedicated to my family ; but now that all the things from the move from France to England are sorted, that the kids are fluent in English and can cope with the english school, I would love to get back to work. I am really not born to be a housewife ! What puts me off (beside of finding a job ... ) is the quality and cost of the childcare. I do not think that what counts is how much time you spend with your children, but the quality of that time. We have always taken our meals as a family in the evening and at lunch on the week-ends. As we do not have a TV, my husband and I spend a lot of time with the children in the evenings. Just two other points : - when we had our 2 boys (twins), we were renting a three bedroom flat in a building with lot of other young families (some renting, some owning) - when we bought our first house 2 years after (a detached 3-'real' bedroom house in a very good area 10 mins walk from the school), we only relied on my husband wages as I was at that time under job seekers allowance. So much for a 'French women' insight ! Sorry for my English mistakes