The one pleasure I really enjoy whilst on maternity leave (or now reduced hours) is the fact when the kids have gone to school and the babies are happily playing on the change mat I can have a lovely cup of coffee and switch on my kindle to read the daily news. One of the few luxuries of life! Sad I know.
Not today however..
Clicking through the articles I stumble on 'The 190 families with ten children who cost you more than £11 million in benefits a YEAR"
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083998/Benefit-cap-190-families-10-children-cost-taxpayers-11m-A-YEAR.html#ixzz1j15M1u6
Not today however..
Clicking through the articles I stumble on 'The 190 families with ten children who cost you more than £11 million in benefits a YEAR"
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2083998/Benefit-cap-190-families-10-children-cost-taxpayers-11m-A-YEAR.html#ixzz1j15M1u6
Fantastic!
Here we go again. Yet another stereotypical article about large families...yawn.
Only this one really REALLY made my blood boil as the couple they had chosen to represent were unemployed because she has a curvature of the spine........so do I! In fact I have a large one, and after an incredibly painful 6.5 hr operation when I was 20 resulting in two 12 inch Harrington rods and 10 nuts and bolts holding my spine together, I was advised to lead a very quiet life and not have more than two children.
Of course I took heed of this! Not.
However neither have I been stupid. I have stopped bowling, skiing, and ice skating (I was trained in the latter to a high level), and was very careful in my first pregnancy, but fortunately had no backache or problems. I have bent the odd pin here and there, mainly through lugging a quad buggy up and down the disability unfriendly metro stations in Prague!
The woman quoted obviously had issues with her spine, so much so her husband gave up his job after their third child to be her carer. This begs the question, why then did she go onto have 7 more. They complain about their lack of space (join the club) and how they should be given a larger house.They also have their breakfast delivered (why?) and complain about this as well.
I huffed and puffed all day and could bear it no longer. I phoned the journalist at the Daily Mail and set the record straight that we are not all like this! I felt a ton better for doing so.
What exactly are we teaching our children if they see us 'expecting' larger houses, free hot meals while we sit at home all day?
We have, by choice, had 11 children. Never for one moment did I expect anyone else to look after us because of this. It was our choice, so we have to make it work. And we do! very hard too!
I could go on.....
In fact I will.
My father grew up way before the welfare state existed, as the youngest of three boys, in adverse poverty. Both my grandma and grandfather worked, although my grandfather had his arm blown off in a mining accident. The boys had one pair of 'good' Sunday shoes. Too big for my dad so he and the middle brother had to stuff newspaper in them when it was their turn to go to church to represent the family. All the boys got jobs. My uncles in the mines, my father in the civil service. He was very strict with me and always taught me the importance of a good education and never letting anything go to waste. Perhaps in this day and age he would be considered too harsh, but I think he taught me well.
I wonder what that generation would think of this article and the people featured?
I can just see the look my grandmother would have given!
Of course I took heed of this! Not.
However neither have I been stupid. I have stopped bowling, skiing, and ice skating (I was trained in the latter to a high level), and was very careful in my first pregnancy, but fortunately had no backache or problems. I have bent the odd pin here and there, mainly through lugging a quad buggy up and down the disability unfriendly metro stations in Prague!
The woman quoted obviously had issues with her spine, so much so her husband gave up his job after their third child to be her carer. This begs the question, why then did she go onto have 7 more. They complain about their lack of space (join the club) and how they should be given a larger house.They also have their breakfast delivered (why?) and complain about this as well.
I huffed and puffed all day and could bear it no longer. I phoned the journalist at the Daily Mail and set the record straight that we are not all like this! I felt a ton better for doing so.
What exactly are we teaching our children if they see us 'expecting' larger houses, free hot meals while we sit at home all day?
We have, by choice, had 11 children. Never for one moment did I expect anyone else to look after us because of this. It was our choice, so we have to make it work. And we do! very hard too!
I could go on.....
In fact I will.
My father grew up way before the welfare state existed, as the youngest of three boys, in adverse poverty. Both my grandma and grandfather worked, although my grandfather had his arm blown off in a mining accident. The boys had one pair of 'good' Sunday shoes. Too big for my dad so he and the middle brother had to stuff newspaper in them when it was their turn to go to church to represent the family. All the boys got jobs. My uncles in the mines, my father in the civil service. He was very strict with me and always taught me the importance of a good education and never letting anything go to waste. Perhaps in this day and age he would be considered too harsh, but I think he taught me well.
I wonder what that generation would think of this article and the people featured?
I can just see the look my grandmother would have given!
Interesting post - Wonder how much you've cost the taxpayer in child benefit & probably housing benefit over the years with your 11 children?
ReplyDeleteI bet it comes to over £200,000 which I would rather had gone to a more deserving cause than someone who keeps producing unnecessary offspring every few years.
Goodbye - A responsible parent.
Thank you for your comment.
ReplyDeleteOver the years we have been married, 27.5 now, we have NEVER once claimed housing bennefit. We both work, so are in no way elligble for this, and we own and pay for our own home.
Regarding child bennifit, yes we have collected this, however we did not recieve it for the five years we lived overseas as the country we lived in was not in the EU!
Also, my child bennifit does not add up too nearly as much as gastric band surgery, or treatments for lung cancer caused by smoking.
Whislt I have chosen to have a large family, I also choose to eat healthy and not smoke or drink, however I do not complain about MY TAXES paying for others who choose to damage thier bodies in this fashion.
My off spring are not unecessary.I wonder how many children you consider are necessary and what pre-desitins this choice? My eldest children work and pay taxes back into the system now . My younger ones are a complete blessing too us. We are able to suport them and to give them a good childhood.
As a teacherI do feel I am responsible. I do not claim anything other than my child bennifit from the system and I bring up my children in a responsible fashion. Given what I see around me, I hazard a guess I do not cost the 'system' as much as some others I see!
However, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope that perhaps you manage to read my response here.
Fiona