In Emma Brockes’s thought-provoking article, she suggests that finding the perfect balance between work and raising children is an elusive goal (Helen Skelton’s decision to prioritize her kids over her career was groundbreaking, theguardian.com, 17 August). However, achieving perfection in both areas is simply not possible.
Attempting to excel at two full-time jobs simultaneously is an impractical feat. Contrary to the idea that Skelton’s honesty was revolutionary, society, education, and the media have long conveyed the message that being a stay-at-home parent is not desirable.
Regrettably, one of the core aims of the suffragettes, which was to recognize women’s traditionally undervalued domestic work as equally important as men’s work, has been overshadowed. The status of work typically associated with women has diminished in society rather than improved.
As someone who has experienced the intellectual demands of a professional occupation, I was unprepared for the unique challenges of caring for young children. It is an entirely different job, with the crucial difference being that mistakes can be made without losing employment.
We have transitioned from a time when it seemed impossible to maintain a job while raising children to a period where it feels impossible not to have a job when one has children. This shift has been exacerbated by influential figures in the media and parliament who have pursued careers and struggle to fathom why anyone would prioritize otherwise.
The government insists that women with young children should be working, but when will we recognize the value of having dedicated, loving adults caring for young ones? Perhaps by doing so, we can decrease the number of anxious and depressed teenagers and adults in our society.
Fiona Berry
Market Rasen, Lincolnshire
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