Thanks Col. Yes, I understand that some ex-partners are money grabbing individuals - I am not one of those (which is what I was trying to demonstrate in my example). What I would prefer to see, is rather than a welfare mentality or a punitive policy, is a range of sustainable education based options implemented so that in the long run, mothers AND fathers are given the skills to raise well adjusted children (with some quality strategies before pregnancy to reduce single parenting in the first place). And of course employment options that cater to various personal circumstances.

It takes all of my resources to avoid letting my ego interfere with arrangements and for me to do what I truly believe is best for the children - and although there are many things I don't like about the messages they receive at my former husband's house, I believe that they do need to spend time with him. And I have faith that in the long term, the children will realise that I had THEIR best interests at heart, not mine.

As a result of the training and support I have utilised, I have every confidence that I will never need to rely on either my ex-husband or public financial support - but if the resources I have accessed weren't low cost and if I had not been able to find them, I would not be in this position. I am grateful for the services I have been able to access - so that is where I think the priority should be.

Founder “… education based options implemented so that in the long run, mothers AND fathers are given the skills to raise well adjusted children”

The problem founder, people do not need to qualify or be tested for their suitability to either marry or worse, procreate.

I realise that not all mothers are money grabbers, just as not all fathers are “responsible”. Again we are talking about how to manage the selfishness of a few by inappropriate measures against the many.

I have always believed a relationship is a 50:50 thing. The raising of children is a 50:50 thing. Sure mothers have traditionally spent more of their effort actually looking after children and fathers have spent more of their time working outside the home, to support the entire family.

When a couple separate, there is a period of chaos followed by a period of reconsolidation and then ongoing stability. What has happened is the calculation of financial liability is computed in the period of chaos, with no regard for the longer term stabilising influences.

Making couples jointly responsible, I believe it respects both parents as equals in what are supposed to be mostly "no blame" divorces and puts the “balance” where it should be I further believe it is a better outcome for their children, who are best served by a continued and ongoing relationship with Dad, equally to Mum and Mum equal to Dad.

I am not that familiar with which “services” you are referring to but accessing them means you looked to a network in which the individuals were important (as I suggested – friends) and I can only say I am pleased you found them

I am with Bruce on this one.

My family have just taken new tennants in a property. The girl said her husband worked and she had the two children. Shes a really sweet girl BUT you forgot to mention A Hes not her husband B its her fourth because she forgot to mention the six months old and oh that she was pregnant again.

These kids go to day care from 7am until 6pm six days a week. Guess who pays for that. You the tax payer!

So we pay her to have them then pay to mind them.

The counter argument of course would be to the writer of this post.

iF ? She were to look after her own children through the day i would suggest the title Mums off bums very unfair because real mums work harder than a 9 to 5 office person.

The real problem is the over the top push to tell people what to do with their own body. eg. She can see even she just cant have another child which is sensible at least.

Does any body want to help her with a termination.
NO. For the first time I actually feel sorry for her.

Yep sure she should have got a job got married then had kids maybe however when these people finally wake up to themselves nobody will help.

I think Tony Abbotts got a lot to answer for because there seems to be great changes towards terminations just on the quite.

Either way i resent paying all her bills and so should you.

I never cease to be amazed at all the hand wringing about working mothers, child care problems, cost of houses etc etc.
No one seems to understand what is the root cause of all these problems.
Quite a long while back the government forced the lending institutions to lend on both incomes of a couple looking for a housing loan.
This was a direct result of pressure from the feminist lobby.
Fair enough it seemed, but a moments thought would have made for revelation that when you dump twice as much money into a market, prices change to affect the amount of money in the market.

The result, women thought they would get their houses paid off in quick time. No, thats not what happened, instead of having the choice of working they now have the necessity of working.
This has affected the age at which women are giving birth with all the attendant problems. The result is a falling birth rate, cost of child care etc etc etc.
Ladies, you brought it on yourself and the developers are singing all the way to the bank.
Baz

What an excellent post by the author which put to shine some of the issue's being faced by the ever marginalised lot. Due to word space, other issue's were not raised I am sure.

Priority of child care places are allocated to working parents by law. Only a small percentage of stay at home parents are allowed any access to childcare and what access they get, is minimal.

To find employment, one needs childcare just to seek employment as employers do not want a Mum or Dad attending an interview with kids in tow. Should they get the job, they then have to find childcare of which they won't have an priority until they actually begin employment.

This liberalist society is pulling society into the waste dump with the policy of worshipping the holy dollar foremost.

In the 1980's, we saw governments throw the mentally ill on to the streets where they live in the masses. They only shelter is a prison cell and that of poor housing which is not tolerated for the mentally sane.

Now, we are seeing the turfing out of society of the disabled, the single parent and, those hard working parents who earn scraps for the worst jobs around. With over 1,000 families forced to eat out garbage bins every year, society is heading towards a major sick society resembling pre-Nazi Germany where people supported the only people who supported them, regardless of other consequences.