A Message to Society

Ok part of what we do with Talking Realities is to banish the stigma that they only get pregnant for the money. We demonstrate through the banner with the icons provided that at the end of the day once all items have been purchased for the baby/child and the bills have been paid there is little left over. That is based on facts.
Now in previous posts I have written for the TR Blog I have mentioned that I am a Single Mother to 1 Child. Yes I receive a benefit from Centrelink. Does that make me a bludger? No.

I get the feeling that I am looked down upon by society because I have chosen to stay at home with my child and receive a government benefit so I can do so.

Life dealt me an unexpected hand of cards, I never thought that my first serious relationship would be an abusive one nor did I think I'd become a Young Mum as a result of my first serious relationship, at the time I wasn't even sure if I wanted kids.

Living on a benefit is simply a means to an end for me, I want to provide my child the best start to life possible, many of you would probably say that living on a benefit is not the best way to go about giving your child the best start in life, working is. I can understand where those who feel that way are coming from as a steady full time job brings in a better income but it also affords me little to no quality time with my Child (In no way am I trying to say that those who choose to work don't spend quality time with their kids, everyone's circumstances are different). To be real, I'm Single spending that much time away from my Child would not be beneficial for her, I believe that a Child's best start to life is not financial, it is time, quality and loving time, I don't think my Child should be punished for the circumstances around how she came into my life, I am Thankful that I am given the choice as a Single Mother to be able to stay home for those first 5 years of her life and to see her grow, to nurture her, to create a home environment, be a part of her early education. Give her the kind of life I would have wanted to if I was a Married Stay At Home Mum with a working Partner, or as close to that as possible.

I do not intend to be on benefits for the rest of my life, and while I am I am ensuring my Child is well cared for, nurtured, loved, that her most precious moments with me are captured in my memory by being there and experiencing it as she grows. I am also bettering myself with study, enriching Mine and My Child's Future, so when the time does come for her to go to School I will be prepared and ready to re-enter the workforce.

So if you Society wish to look down upon someone like me, perhaps that is more of a reflection upon yourself than it is upon us.