For this year’s annual general and open meeting, on Monday 15th November, we shall be returning to the well-equipped Resource Centre, 356 Holloway Rd, London N7. The open meeting and AGM is always a great time to meet old friends, make new friends and to remain informed about the challenges and opportunities of being stay-at-home Mums.
Our speakers will be Anne Claire de Liedekrke from the World Movement of Mothers and Francis Phillips, a writer and FTM member. Anne’s talk is entitled ‘Realities of European mothers’ and Francis will address the question “Can motherhood be a career?”
We shall start at 10.30 for 11am. The open meeting will be followed by lunch, with the AGM following at two o’clock. To book places, please use this form. See also here for the agenda and a nomination form for the FTM executive committee.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Full Time Mothers 
October 8, 2010 at 11:03 am |
Having read about your organisation in the Times newspaper via an article about Kirsty Robeson I feel outraged also about the changes to child benefit. In particular I feel that this change belittles the role of a stay at home mother and makes me feel almost ‘guilty’ about doing just that and ‘lazily’ caring for my 3 children.
More and more often parents are economically forced to ‘institutionalise’ their offspring at an early age and whilst most childcare is well run, it surely cannot replace the security of home and love of a parent?
One can only wonder what the long term effect will be on these children as they mature, but I strongly believe that having a parent around to listen (even to teenagers after school) ensures they grow to be confident, well rounded adults.
Without child benefit, many parents (such as me) will be faced to make more sacrifices in that little extras such as music lessons etc. may have to go (this could result in redundancies in such areas) and for many parents who have to return to work as a result, quality of life eg. more ready meals, less family time (as household chores need doing) and tired, stressed parents who are less patient with their children, will be severely affected.
It seems such a shame that many responsible families like me will loose the only benefit that I qualified for. While not paupers, we try to do our best with a moderate income. We do not drive ‘flash’ cars, or jet off to exotic places on holiday. In short we are ‘Middle England’ and sadly seem to be ‘bearing the brunt’ of the financial cuts currently.
Far better if the whole household income was compared to the number of inhabitants and also how expensive the area and related cost of living was considered (it could be linked to Council Tax banding)
Thank you for this opportunity to air my views.
Incidentally, I do approve of the sealing on the maximum amount paid to some large families. In my opinion, I feel that child benefit should be paid for 4 children only, and if people choose to have larger families, then it must be a personal choice and a responsible one too, having considered both practical, financial and environmental issues.
October 13, 2010 at 3:43 pm |
Glad you found FTM Elaine. I found the org some 12 years ago and it was such a relief to get into contact with people who felt much the same way on these issues. We are a very diverse bunch but united in believing that family life and motherhood in particular is not properly understood or valued. HOpe you can make the meeting in London.
October 13, 2010 at 6:28 pm |
Hello, Elaine
Like Marie, I am glad you found the site – have you joined the organisation.
Since there are economies of scale with large case perhaps there is a case for tapered child benefit, ie, decreased amounts for each additional child. This is already there in nascent form with a larger amount for first children.
This could be combined with mothers being able to claim benefit for children from one father only – unless they had been widowed.