Baby Bust - now what?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323375204578270053387770718.html\\

With this in mind, how do you feel about mothers reproducing and using welfare to support their children when they are under 5 years old?


The point came up on my feed last night that mom's should be at home, no matter what, and given this data it seems like "welfare moms" aren't as... numerous as one would believe. THe basic point was, people aren't having kids because it's too stressful to support them. I don't know if providing financial support/incentives (someone clarify the difference?) would make it less stressful... the one person I know personally who received cash benefits was supposed to live off of $300 a month for her and her son. She was in high school so very little time to work. That seems pretty damned stressful.

My problems with the notion that we should pay mothers to stay home with children until they are five is 1.) generational welfare in our country seems to be a problem and I worry this would make it worse 2.) mothers who are already educated and working may leave the workforce, and that seems like it would compound the problem.

That said, it seems like as a country, we need to collectively get busy. What do you think?

I believe it is wasteful to pay a mother to go work then turn around and pay someone else to watch her child.

Personally I believe a child should be cared for by their parent(s). I know growing up I always had my mother or father at all times. Only one would work at a time while the other cared for us four children. We were dirt poor and never had a dime for anything, but we had each other.

Now I see families who work for a living but ship their kids off to daycare. From what I see those are the kids that grow up troubled. My aunt was a loving mother who always worked outside the home along with her husband. They did everything in their power to provide a nice home for their children however they never really had time to spend with the kids because of their work schedules. Now her youngest son is in prison for armed robbery. Maybe she would have stopped buying him things and spend more time with him. But hey, that is how people think the system to work.

Mothers and fathers working their asses off to prove for their kids so they don't have to be on welfare and look bad. While some of the mothers and fathers on welfare work less and have time to raise their children with respect, morals, and ethics.

I believe children should be with their parents and not some stranger, even if that means they are on welfare. I do understand that people abuse the system, but their are other like me that have paid into the system for 12 years and just now asked for something in return so they can spend some time with their child. I don't want their cash assistance, but help with food and medical while I gear my child in the right direction would be nice. My college education and degrees mean nothing to me compared to my child.

Quoting Maria + Cory = Alexis:" I believe it is wasteful to pay a mother to go work then turn around and pay someone else to watch her ... [snip!] ... gear my child in the right direction would be nice. My college education and degrees mean nothing to me compared to my child. "

That's a very clarifying take on this subject. THank you.

As a mother I feel like I should be able to spend the early years with my children exclusively. As a citizen I feel it's irresponsible to reproduce when I would have to rely on anything but my own savings to accmplish that (or, I guess, a spouse). Socially, I see how it would benefit society if the formative years were spent at home with children in a positive environment and the lower SES did NOT affect children (ie, they were not exposed to violence, drugs, etc that seems to be more prevalent in lower SES communities).

Quoting anonymom + 1.5:" That's a very clarifying take on this subject. THank you. As a mother I feel like I should be able ... [snip!] ... affect children (ie, they were not exposed to violence, drugs, etc that seems to be more prevalent in lower SES communities)."

I did wait to have a child until I was financially better than most. I waited until I finished college and was in a reasonable stable relationship (we have our ups and downs but who doesn't). If I waited much longer I may not be in good enough health to have a healthy child. I did wait, but the money and great job never came for me. So I said screw waiting. I paid into the system since I was 14 years old, the year I got my first job. I have worked every since then, paying into the system. I felt it was time the system helped me.

During my maternity leave I was actually offered cash assistance however I declined them because I felt I did not need them. I had set aside enough cash to cover expense while on leave. However I do receive food assistance and medical assistance. But SO does work 36 to 40 hours a week and up until I took leave I worked 40 hours a week. So I do not feel bad receiving cash assistance. I do not spurge on steaks, lobster or other high end foods. Nor do I spurge on junk food or soda. I buy formula for LO and basic food for house. To me and SO it is a treat to eat Taco Salad or Lasagna, mostly we eat the same things over and over. Mac and Cheese, Roman Noodles, or tuna noodle.