YOU HAVE YOUR SAY
EVERY week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails about our stories. Here are some about our special investigation into the financial toll faced by working parents struggling with childcare.
WHEN you have kids you organise your life around a schedule. They tend to go to camps or stay with grandparents over the school holidays — but these options aren’t available.
M. H., London.
I AM lucky to be able to work from home, but it’s hard juggling my job with home-schooling. However, it’s lovely to be able to spend more time with my son, and it’s great that I don’t need to pay for after-school clubs.
A. N., by email.
I AM a childminder and, as of June, my business has been open to all. Some parents want me to hold their place until September. This isn’t possible, but not all parents understand that.
O. N., Aylesbury, Bucks.
MY WIFE and I managed to work from home and look after our child. Our companies have been very supportive, but not every employer is as understanding.
S. K., France.
I HAVE been furloughed, and one child can’t go back to school because it couldn’t make social distancing work. I’m paying more for food now my children are home all day. My ex stopped paying child maintenance, too.
R. B., York.
LET’S not forget education is not simply ‘free’ childcare. Our ‘new normal’ might involve far more work flexibility, meaning people can vary their working hours to look after their children.
S. T., Halifax, W. Yorks.
MY PARTNER works 50 hours a week and I work 50-60. We work hard to pay for our children, rent and bills — and have very little left over to spend on anything else. Without schools, this wouldn’t be possible.
I. D., by email.
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