i don’t know i sometimes wonder how come skangers can afford kids….i suppose they have council houses and such….how do i get one of those?

Understand where you are coming from. Myself and my other half both work in crappy jobs, huge mortgage and in our 30s…but we have taken the plunge and I’m pregnant, been putting it off for years. I don’t think you will ever have enough money to have kids. What annoys me is that we have both be working full time and paying tax etfolate over 10 years, where I work no maternity benefit so I’ll be on state benefit of 230 a week, no help with the mortgage. I work with single mums who are financially better off than me during my mat leave as they can get rent allowance and a medical card. To top it it off, when I’m back to work I have to pay 1000 a month in childcare- cant get a place in a community crèche, which are subsidised by the government with a full time place costing 200 a month as I’m over the wage limit!! But if we didnt work we would be eligible for all this!!!nIt’s grossly unfair that if you if you choose to not work you are rewarded!! And those who work and pay tax are penalised

siobeli, are you REALLY, realistically now, attracted to the idea of trading places with the people you are talking about?

Or do you think your resentment and begrudgery should be sufficient reason for government to change its policies.

I find this whole “they’ve got it so handy” attitude directed at the poor such an extraordinary position to take.

The truth is, we’re all in this together, and if we lose sight of that, they’ve got us all by the short and curlies.

single mums do get alot more than working mums. I know single mums, some that have never worked and they have a great social life, the child never wants for anything and they pay very little rent in the places they live. I personally don’t have any kids but I can see why some mothers get frustrated with single mothers.

@auntie dote….this is not aimed at the poor…that is aimed at the government and their policies that makes it harder for people with children to work, the reality of the situation is that many people are financially better off not working due to the lack of incentives. There is No support from the government for working mothers, whether they are single or married. There is a lot of stress balancing a full time job, rearing a family, paying childcare and the associated emotional stress. n

Right. I’m a “single mother” according to that definition but am in full-time employment, long term relationship, and have not claimed any benefits since some time in 1993.

Of course, nothing wrong with it when you don’t consider dozen of different risks and sicknesses possible to the child due to woman’s age.

Fizi, there are risks for every age category and regarding te ones that you are talking about those risks don’t really come into force until you are in your 40s and with modern medicine aren’t as big an issue as they once were.

In today’s age we are more than advances enough to wait to have children. People are living to older ages and the medical improvements can help a lot for those who are on the older side. I really don’t see the problem personally. I plan on waiting til I’m in my 30s myself.

Yes, the risks are slightly elevated but it’s like fertility – the risks go up after 35, they don’t skyrocket! The risks do get noticeably higher in your 40s but even then you are still more likely to have a normal healthy pregnancy/baby than not.

From our anecdata department, I had a normal pregnancy (apart from a complication that wasn’t age-related) and healthy child at 37 and all signs are on it all happening normally again with this one despite my decrepit age.

Signed, A Geriatric Mother Who Has Yet To Be Mistaken For A Grandmother At Preschool

And the people are so warm and welcoming.

It’s an interesting stat. If foreign born persons account for 10% of our population but 25% of our births then it won’t be long before the Irish are a minority in their own country.

Actually Irish Renters, they are 18% of the population.

Eurostat predicts a minority Irish population by the end of the century.

But dont worry, this is enriching apparently…

I agree.That is so wrong.

I’d say irish renters will be extremely disappointed when s/he finds out that the babies of a good deal of foreign mothers are Irish.

What the fook. Why. Also, what support – they hardly get any as it is.

Having kids for some people is a life style choice – why should I fund that ?

Oh, god, pleeeease be trolling.

:/

I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration Franners. People are living to older ages these days so even if their own children follow them and have their own children in their 40s chances are that the parent could still see their grandchildren just fine

Well, yes, but that also applies to a lot of people who had their children earlier, should they happen to contract a fatal disease/be hit by a bus/etc.

My paternal grandparents had both my father and his brother in their 40s and managed to see all their 7 grandchildren, FWIW.

Me too! Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Actually, I think it is commendable that more women wait until they are settled in a stable relationship and can financially support a child before they get pregnant. I would be much more worried about the statistic regarding single mothers.

actually how is single mother determined for these statistics? does it include unmarried couples who chose not to marry?

Was wondering that as well, Abi. If it includes people who are unmarried but in stable relationships I’d be in that category

Oh No! It’s the New World Order! And other songs by Megadeth!

Looks like we’re heading down the same road as the pandas. oh no!