Happy Mothers Day!
Dear Prime Minister,
It would seem that you are under the impression that young mothers (although you say parents so as not to appear sexist) are all good for nothing lay abouts leaching money from the hard done by tax payer. You are mistaken.
Parenting is hard work. Solo parenting is even harder. Seeing as you don’t have children I don’t expect you to understand, so why don’t you spend some time with a parent of young children? You can come and spend the day with us if you like!
I’m serious, I have 2 children under 2, I average 4 hours sleep a night and my older child doesn’t nap during the day. I have dishes to do, washing to fold, a garden to tend to (as pretty soon that will be the only way this family can afford fresh fruit and vege) and a house to clean. I can’t imagine after being awake since stupid o’clock with a spewy 3 month old having to put my baby in childcare to go to a meeting with centrelink.
1 year olds are BABIES. They don’t need formal education, they need their mothers. It is a lovely gesture if you were offering these services but forcing them is a bit much. Not only that but to take their money away? What about those who can’t get a childcare place? In Sydney the wait lists are miles long. And if you put these children at the top of the list then what about other families who need these places to gain the income to support themselves?
And centrelink are pushed to the absolute limit! I know so many women who have hit financial difficulties because their PPL has hit hurdles and been delayed. Please don’t add yet another scheme to a system pulled so tight already.
And lastly what about the children? Have you ever dealt with a 1 year old suffering from separation anxiety? What if their mother intends to breastfeed for the recommended 2 years? My daughter is 22 months old and is learning leaps and bounds just by being at home with me, and that’s without the anxiety of being forced from me.
It would seem clear that your government has overspent and is trying to make up the shortfall while gaining favor with the voter. It’s too bad you only care about number and not the calibre of voter you attract. This sort of policy would only be supported by the most low brow of society. Those willing to through children under the bus because their mothers were naughty teens.
Prove me wrong, offer the services instead of force. Be supportive of mothers wanting to educate themselves and eventually return to the workforce instead of shoving them into it. Better yet, spend a day as a mother of a small child and then assume we’re this, that and the other.
Teen mothers may not be able to vote, but that does not give your government a right to discriminate against them. And just in time for mothers day, how appropriate.
Lots of love,
A mother and a voter
