Babies in Parliament

[Alex]

Babies should be allowed into the Commons during debates - as long as they are not disruptive, the Speaker said today.  This latest row has come about because Labour MP Stella Creasy has stated that she can't afford childcare. 
As far as I know babies are not allowed into offices or other places of work, so why should the HOC be an exception  ? 

[Raven]

I have a VERY old fashioned attitude to children, it's always caused a lot of rows especially with my ex DIL. I have always said if your going to have a baby, that's great but you look after it, you don't expect others to give up their way of life so you can dump your baby on them and return to work. 
AND, yes I did give up my work and looked after my kids myself untill they both went to school and I returned to work and they went into after school groups.

[Wandering Walter]

Wife went back to work part time ASAP for the simple reason we needed the money hard to pay a mortgage and household bills on one income I worked as much overtime as possible as I did before we had children 

[Alex]

As a single Mum I had to go back too work, without my Mum & Dad's help, I don't know how things would have turned out.

[Raven]

When my first grandchild was born I was still working and my DIL thought I should stop and take care of her baby so she could return to work. There followed an almighty row, where a lot was said but I point blank refused to be her baby sitter. I'd only just got my own life back and the kids out from under my feet. No way was I going to start over while herself swans off back to work.
I told her, if you can't afford them you don't have them.

[Alex]

I think that's a bit harsh Raven, it's usually easy to compromise with looking after grandkids.  I'm too old to start now, but ten years ago I'd have loved to have my grandson a couple of afternoons a week, splitting the days with the other grandma.  As it is, childcare costs are unbelievable for my son and DIL and I'm sad I can't help out.   And no, they can't afford to give up work.

[Raven]

As I said in my earlier post......I have a VERY old fashioned attitude to children, it's always caused a lot of rows.
It's just the way I am Alex. If I'd never had kids of my own I'd not have been bothered at all, but I did soooooo.
I didn't mind looking after them so they could have a night out or an W/E away just not full time. I had my own life and I was keeping it.

[crabbyob]

i think its very arrogant to assume, that your MIL will roll over and let you get on with your life after you give birth, and yes i agree with Raven, if they had had the discussion before it was born, ok, but just to assume, is plain stupid [says he brought up by his granny  ]

[Alex]

I wouldn't have taken it on full time either, that's what I meant by compromise.  Unfortunately as things worked out I had my son when I was 30, he's had his son at 41 so there's no way I could cope looking after a baby at this age, my knees would never handle it 

[crabbyob]

seventy-one !!!!!...lol,
i think Raven point was her DIL expected Raven to give up HER job to baby-sit....

[Raven]

At the time I was working part time, Looking after my house, my parents house, 4 Old English Sheepies, and teaching Linedance at night. I was finally free and enjoying (mostly) my life as it was.
Yes we did have the conversation early on, not long after they were married. I remember it well as I'd had the same conversation with my daughter earlier and she agreed with me, she also stuck to it.
Apart from the fact I simply didn't have time to bring up her baby, I simply didn't want to. She assumed (wrongly) that I'd change my mind once I'd seen the baby........I didn't. But I did have a great relationship with the wee one and still have.

[Alex]

No I wouldn't have done that, but maybe I'd have gone part time  ? it's all (what's the word ? ) now anyway.   

I just used those ages off the top of my head 

[Raven]

seventy-one !!!!!...lol,
i think Raven point was her DIL expected Raven to give up HER job to baby-sit....

Correct. My work was something I enjoyed and it was not too bad pay either.

[Diasi]

Babies should be allowed into the Commons during debates - as long as they are not disruptive, the Speaker said today.  This latest row has come about because Labour MP Stella Creasy has stated that she can't afford childcare. 
As far as I know babies are not allowed into offices or other places of work, so why should the HOC be an exception  ?

Have female MPs & the Speaker not hear about childcare providers?

I'm sure that paid childcare is quite possible to afford on an MP's salary, helped by a bit of careful expenses fiddling.

[Michael Rolls]

The idea of a baby in the chamber might possibly raise the standard of debate
Mike