I just read a post from an IM who is on the dole who is fed up with people judging her and wants to let people know that it's a myth that Centrelink recipients get everything for nothing.
Many of the working mothers attacked the woman saying they were offended because they struggle too. This is something I feel very strongly about so I feel compelled to respond.
We all do it tough. We all make choices. Not all Centrelink mothers are dole bludgers. Not all working mothers are rich. I, personally, made the choice to stay home with my children after I kicked my abusive husband out. Previous to having children in my mid 30's I had worked full time since the age of 17. Had I returned to work I'd still be in the same financial position because of child care fees etc. My children are now school aged and I'm studying. I need to stay at home as long as possible because I need to be available for 1 of my children as she has special needs.
Please, please, please let's stop attacking each other over our individual choices. I have working mum friends and I offer to help them out in school holidays with babysitting so they don't have to pay for school holiday programmes. We all make me our own choices. If someone's choice isn't what you'd choose for your family then it's not your problem and vice versa.
Jump on me all you like about your taxes supporting my family and I. I've got broad shoulders and thick skin. But remember, as I mentioned earlier, I have paid taxes when I worked full time. I will pay tax again when I return to work when I'm confident my tricky kid will cope with OSHC. Not every Centrelink mum has an IQ of 80 and is a leech on society.
I hold working mums in very high regard. To me you are amazing regardless whether you are single or partnered.
I ask again to please stop attacking each other for simply trying to do the best we can for our families.
The war between Centrelink mums and working mums
Sunday, 15 February 2015 - 13:11
The war between Centrelink mums and working mums
Posted in:
Life Lessons
6 Replies
Very well said, I was one that offended by the other post.
I think we all do it tough. I think the latest post came out of context. There were a couple of posts previous to that one on this site that basically were dead nasty towards anyone who needed help from centrelink to survive. They were horrid, and they came from a place of pain and it came out as an attack on people who needed to be on what ever benefit.
The mother that wrote the post we are currently discussing was writing basically in response to that.
She isn't attacking those that work! She is basically saying life isnt as easy as those posts suggested they were.
I hate the Facebook page for that reason, posts are often out of order, and there is no context.
Basically, pensions and govermnet supporte are 3% of government handouts...3 FRIGEN PERCENT! small drop in the ocean when military is at 19%!! If australia didnt buy those 18 "state of the art" WAR planes, then the country wouldnt be in debt and they could afford to pay its citizens MINIMUM wage instead of having them sit on the poverty line...
These debates are all set up so people are "in" fighting instead of looking at what Australias problems are... TAX payers money is being WASTED!!
If we spend more money so more mothers could stay at home and care for their children then there would be less people saying "Where are the parents?!" when a 8 year old is out tagging trains, simply, the parent would be at home watching her children, instead of relying on other people to look after her children just so she can work fulltime to make ends meet. I could go on forever...
Very well said! This is something that has also annoyed me too. I have been a singlemmother with a full time job and was financially not much better all. I was constantly judged for having my two young children in full time care and was told I wasn't a real mum. which is just cap! I have since stopped working full time because like you one of my children has special needs and when he started school he progressively got worse until I have up my job to support him. I have since re partnered and had another child and am still a stay at home mum. With three children we are actually better off financially for me to not work. And now I get the comments that other people's tax are supporting me. well you know what? I had always had a full time job, I missed out on so much of my children's early childhood while I was working full Te and right now my son and baby need me at home. I am certainly not going back to work while we would be paying more thanmy wage in child care and watch my son go backwards emotionally again just so I can pay tax and contribute. my partner contributes more than enough! mums need to stop bashing each other. We all have different circumstances and to be honest the only situation that is your business or your place to comment on is your own!
YES I AGREE!!! WELL SAID!!!