To some the name FULL TIME MOTHERS evokes a group of quaint mothers that time left behind, whilst others believe that we are either "Yummy Mummies", earth mothers or hopeless idealists in a time when every mother is expected and encouraged to return to the workplace at the earliest opportunity.
In fact, we are a varied bunch who share certain views. Our members have taken the decision, frequently against all the social and economic odds, to stay at home with their children during their formative years for all manner of reasons and below are just some of the beliefs that sustain them. They are at home and have become members of this campaigning group because:-
- They don 't want to have to apologise for being "just a mum".
- They believe that mothers deserve respect and should not be penalised for being mothers.
- They believe that their children are a precious human resource that needs to be nurtured.
- They believe that motherhood is about a great deal more than juggling a job with a family.
- They believe that their work at home has immeasurable economic and social value.
It was for the above reasons that a group of concerned mothers first met 15 years ago. We were concerned about the trend in the media and in government circles to view children as little more than obstacles in the path to the workplace and mothers at home as objects of pity and ridicule. We began to witness the mushrooming of creches set up by entrepreneurs who were quick to spot a business opportunity, where children could be left for long hours at a very early age. We also became aware that the tax system was skewed against the one-earner family and that being such a family was becoming increasingly difficult when double earner units began to prevail.
After much discussion we decided that the shared values of our membership should be|:-
- To campaign for changes in the tax and benefits system
- To enhance the status and self-esteem of mothers at home
- To promote understanding of the child 's need for a full-time mother and strong attachment in the early years.
We believe that most women will be part of the workforce at some time. What we want is for a woman to make her own choice about her children 's care, based on her children 's individual needs. This should be without financial penalty or social stigma and her contribution as a mother should be recognised.
To these ends we are in frequent contact with MPs and policy makers and encourage and inform our members to do the same. We are frequently contacted by journalists and have a register of members who are willing to speak to the media and appear on t.v. when the occasion demands this. Our committee members attend suitable conferences and put across our membership 's views. We occasionally have letters published in the press. We are constantly on the look-out for research findings that, increasingly, show that children are best served by maternal care in their early years.
Full Time Mothers is not affiliated to any political or religious organisation. fulltimemothers.org
Rose Kennedy once said, "I looked on child-rearing not only as a work of love and duty, but as a profession that was as fully interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world, and one that demanded the best that I could bring it."
Are you a full-time mother?
Would you like to be a stay-at-home mother?
Has anyone ever looked down on you for 'not having a job'?
Have you got a story to tell? If so, why not contact us and tell us all about it!
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Mums And Their Friends
