Gosh yes I hope he settles down. I have seen both my boys have rather a harsh Year Seven as their school really clamps down on newbies in order to make sure they nip any trouble in the bud.
There's an interesting political point you make though: on the one hand the Job Centre expects lone parents to be at work; on the other, the Education Authority expects that we are at home.......
I'm starting to wonder if there is anyway that we can "fight" back with this.
I'm wondering if most lone-parents at home were to give a diary and somehow submit it to MPs and lone-parent advisors at the Jobcentre if anyone would take notice. In it you could include info of the voluntary work you do.
I know fight it the wrong word to use here, but having no family close by means I would be in the doggy doo-doos too with illness and teachers training.
I just feel there's absolutely no one standing up for the child needing their lone-parent home for them. Millions willing to call us scroungers, but no one to defend us...
Bureaucracy rules Ok? That's what it sounds like!
When we are thinking about lone parents caring for their children, what springs to my mind is to compare the situation with two-parent families caring for their children. So......If we assume that one of the two parents works(or is on JSA and available for work), are we then assuming that the second parent does not work at all and is therefore available to care for their child? Many "second" parents work too, the main difference being that they are not on JSA, or obliged to llok for work and they have an element of choice Even if finances compel a second parent to work, they can choose working hours so that the other parent is at home while they work.
One would think, from all this "scrounger" talk that lone parents live a life of luxury instead of struggling on from week to week!
yes I had to go in for a lone parent meeting at the job centre the other day or lose my right to benefit. Even though I have two children on DLA & a getting carers allowance for looking after them! I was shocked, had to drag son in with me. The woman was nice luckily & told me that she shouldn't tell me this but next time if I phone on the day & tell them I cant get in because of son that it will just get done on the phone then, not that there is anything to do she said as clearly I cant go to work because of caring for the kids. It's crazy, what a waste of everyones time!
Pansy
Yes, same here. They need to be seen to be helping, my advisor says. Mainly she gets the serious bit done and then we chat :roll:
Life was no easier when I was married. I was working roughly 70 hours a week then - but possibly not a realistic view point because of ex's antics. For a few years a worked from home, so could work into early hours of the morning (why is it I can't find clients to do this now??), and then the nights and a couple of days a week.
That was to fit in with the hours the main bread winner (oh gosh, nearly fell off the chair laughing then... he was on £34k though.). I couldn't have done without my salary.
Nights weren't an option being on my own, and now I know I couldn't do the job I was doing.
Sorry. I'm rabitting on again, as per usual.
That is a night mare being at the hospital all that time, harissa.
My sister has lupus and manages it quite well, the most scary bit being occasional flare-ups where she needs a few days in bed. But obviously it varies from person to person. Let us know what the results say.
That is an awful long day...
Hope you're ok today, and hope your son is starting to feel better.
Hi harissa, I found this info on Truancy and thought it was really well presented and might be of some support for you http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/behaviouranddiscipline/truancy/
I hope you find it informative.
I hope the little lad is feeling better by the weekend.
:x How annoying!
You're right. They don't have to pick up the pieces...
That's such a shock when you find out, isn't it?
I won't ever forget the truant officer (not what they're called now, but can't remember their title!) knocking on my door to tell me the eldest had been bunking off school
He needed me there then Harissa - although he may not have wanted me there! :lol:
We're in a no win situation, and only the media can change it...
I hope he'll learn his lesson and start to settle down for you.