bridge too far

It's actually 9 hours a day for two days (as you would have realised had you read my post properly). Each daughter works 40 hours over 4 days so that they can spend that extra 'non-working' day with their toddlers. I look after each grandchild one day a week from 7.30 to 6.30 as do their other grandmothers. So, both children are very bright, adaptable, sociable and learning different skills in different places. My granddaughter, who is nearly 3, is starting to read now and do simple sums and my grandson, just 2, knows all his alphabet letters and counts up to 20. They're really suffering at the hands of their cruel mothers, aren't they. Living close to London, there is no way either family could afford to rent, let alone buy, decent accommodation if the mothers didn't work. Perhaps they should live in a grotty flat, cooped up with the children all day, every day. That would be good for all concerned, wouldn't it Some people need to realise that, these days, not many families can afford the luxury of having one parent stay at home until the child is 5. Or, as someone else said, perhaps only the wealthy should have children from now on? You know - the wealthy that send small children to boarding schools. Oh.

That's not dancing! That's just shaking a couple of bags filled with silicone! *puts claws away*

Boom Boom

Can we please desist with the juggling jugs? Mr TF keeps giving me worried looks when they keep appearing on my screen :

Oh hello Mr Patronising I often appear AND comment on the Main Bored doncha know? You probably don't notice because I'm not dropping any names

Radio 5 Live carrying some commentary, I think.

Yes, we were talking about this at the weekend. Didn't the mother of said boy have to identify him on a plate of fish fingers?

I used to cycle to school (from Sholing to Hill Lane) but the roads were a lot safer back then. Are those questions aimed at my grandchildrens' fathers? Or mothers? I know, from bitter experience, that it is essential for women to have careers these days as so often they're saddled with crap partners who let them down and leave them to struggle on their own. At least having a decent career obviates the need to go onto benefits. And, for everyone's information, my daughters both drive old, little cars that cost, I guess, about £6K tops. You patronising lot just don't know what the real world's like for struggling young families. But hey, as long as you're OK....

If I had an ample bosom, I'd offer it to you to cry on, Deppo.

Yep, you could well be right. I'll find out for sure tonight when I'll have the delight of having all my children and grandchildren around me to celebrate my oldest daughter's 40th birthday. Do I detect undertones of a little boy called Deppo feeling his mummy doesn't love him as much as she loves his sisters? PS Why is Mothers' Day a good day to tell your mum you love her? What's wrong with all the other days of the year?

Many, if not most, of the posters on here would envy his hair. He isn't, and doesn't look like, an idiot. However, since I haven't received any flowers (yet) today I can only conclude that he's a poor son (not really, I've told them all not to pay over-inflated prices to 'tell me they love me') But, boy, has this thread strayed from the OP!

I often do

See, you didn't read thoroughly. I was talking about my daughters - PLURAL - and no, I'm often wrong and happy to admit I am if it's pointed out to me sensibly. Thankfully, my daughters, and my son, have been brought up to have their own opinions and they will do as they please - not as I please. My children work long and hard to support their own families and one daughter even manages to find one evening a week to support families in crisis on a voluntary basis for Barnados. You can have a pop at me as often as you like. I'm old enough to have developed a thick skin. But criticise my daughters and you will always incur my wrath. Now sod off to your ivory tower.

That's harsh. The only way they could afford to buy / rent property, living so close to London, is to work fulltime hours. By working 10 hours a day for four days, they have 3 days a week with their children. They also each have two grandmothers happy and willing to look after their children for two days a week each child. So each child only spends two days a week at nursery. I was sceptical at first, I must admit, but both children are very bright, happy and sociable so I don't think they're suffering at all. Please don't generalise - you don't know anything about them or their circumstances, or indeed their children. Perhaps their fathers should give up their jobs instead, so that the family has to rely on benefits, since my daughters earn more than their partners? My daughters would hate to rely on the state.

@ Barney Trubble again You obviously didn't read my post but, rather, jumped to conclusions and stereotyping. What a shame. My grandchildren are at NURSERY schools that aren't conveniently placed at the bottom of their respective roads. They DO have their breakfast at nursery when they're dropped off at 7.30 (when the nursery opens) and they have to be collected by 7pm when the nursery closes. Given that both daughters are working 10 hours paid work a day in order to 'save' one day a week to be at home, it's difficult to see how they can further fit in any flexible hours. Of course they didn't have to have children and yes, they did work out all this before they started their families. However, there comes a time, unfortunately, when women can't put off families any longer. Lord help us if every woman decided against having children for fear of being criticised by the likes of you - who on earth would pay for your and my pension in the future. But still, once my grandson goes to big school, he'll be able to travel to the school with his father who is a teacher there. Or will you expect his father still to walk him to school, even though its 20 miles away? Talk about tunnel vision - sheesh!

Cue small independent petrol retailers going to the wall. Also prices might rise because the big boys will still want to make their profits.

dragon

I'm a member of the Co-op. It still does the 'divi'. I get loyalty points by using a loyalty card but also I get a further dividend because I bank with the Co-op. Every 6 months I, along with every other member, gets a share of the profits.

We have - gymnastics, badminton and one other sport that I can't remember ATM

I'm not quite sure what point you are making?

@ Barney Trubble No they can't get up earlier. They already get up at 5.30 to do the domestic stuff, feed the babies, get the babies to nursery at 7.30 so they can get to work at 8 or 8.30 (depending on which daughter we're talking about). They then work until 6 / 6.30, collect the babies, go to the shops if necessary and get home to cook the family meal at around 7 / 7.30 - in time to get the babies into bed. Nurseries arem't usually as close at hand as schools (certainly not within walking distance) and also they have limited hours (i.e. you've got to collect your child by 7.00 pm). They simply don't have enough hours in the day to manage without driving the babies to nursery - the alternative would be to work their hours over 5 days but that would cost them each another £60 per week in nursery fees and mean they would miss out on their one day a week they devote solely to their small children. I'm sure you probably do, but just for the record - do you also organise the laundry, shopping, cooking and cleaning on top of your 50 hour week and walking your children to and from school?

He does more u-turns than the plumbing in a palace.

Not any more they don't - and haven't for some time http://www.wisebread.com/comparing-savings-rates-us-vs-japan

Although there are some economists who reckon that the Japanese rebuild and recovery programme will actually drive them out of recession - not that they have any choice in the matter.

No doubt the feeling will be mutual