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Making child care count is not just about cost : Comments
By Elizabeth Hill, published 16/11/2007In a prosperous country such as Australia, the wellbeing of children must be front and centre of all policy developments.
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What happens at the other end, after child rearing? The partner who 'gave up' work outside the home reduces capability to earn a reasonable income for his/herself and reduces security in older age. Or are the children then expected to be grateful for the 'sacrifice' and take in mum or dad as the case may be?
I made the mistake of being a stay at home mum after my first child was born. When my then husband thought he could do much better with a woman who was 'more ambitious' it sure left us when he left for greener pastures, with a much, much lower standard of living then if I had continued working and made use of child care.
I have a teenage daughter. I teach her that under no circumstances should she have an expectation that any man will be willing to support her. Women have the babies and will have to take full responsibility for that fact, for themselves and their children. A man willing and happy to contribute is a bonus. I was very fortunate that my ex made very little difficulty paying what he was supposed to for his son.
Before anybody thinks I am bitter or resentful, I am not. I am very happily (re)married. The fact remains, that nowadays, women are expected to make their own way, and so they should.