I gave up a good career to care for my children, and we experienced some real hardship living on one wage and it is, at times, one of the most thankless tasks you'll ever do. I do have friends who simply couldn't survive on their husbands wage, however, I live near a creche, and when I watch a particular type of mum, leave her kids off at the crack of dawn, driving top of the range cars, flinging their designer handbags over their shoulders, and handing over their child/children to some 17 yr old chav with her tongue pierced and an NVQ in childcare (her only qualification) It absolutely breaks my heart. Before you all try to lynch me, I KNOW they're not all like that. What really makes me angry are the women who lie to my face and tell me how lucky I am, they would love to be at home with their kids but simply couldn't afford to do so...B"LL$H!T Of course they could stay at home, but
a: They couldn't hack it (its far too unglamourous)
b: They NEED 3 holidays a year (2 without the kids)
c: They can't give up their designer lifestyle
I drive a clapped out 10 year old car, haven't had a holiday in 4 years, shop in lidl, live in a small house, but I get hugs at the school gates every day, we can have tea parties in the garden on good days, build snowmen, or drink hot chocolate on bad days- I wouldn't swap this for any salary! By the way, I receive no benefits whatsoever, tax credit or otherwise. As my mum would say, we all need to "cut our cloth" according to our REAL needs!