Would Would you like to come along to the launch of Home Front: What do mums and dads need to make life work?

(113 Posts)
JustineMumsnet (MNHQ) Mon 07-Jul-08 11:42:32

Home Front will be a high profile, on-line, national debate supported by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in conjunction with their Working Better campaign, to take place on Mumsnet.com and dads.info over the course of the Summer.

We’re trying to pin down the needs of mothers and fathers balancing paid work and caring for children and what can be done to make that balance work for all.

There will be a q and a session, a round table discussion plus lunch of course and we'd love to see some Mums and especially some Dads, there.

It's occurring next Monday 14 July 12.30-2pm at
Inmarsat, 9 City Road, London EC1Y 1AX

If you’d like to come along please drop and email to editorial@mumsnet.com.

M Towers

butwhybutwhy Mon 07-Jul-08 11:49:23

I cnt go because I live too far away but can I just make a teeny suggestion?

Could you get a variety of parents possibly from different areas to the meeting.
I have friends in London and I know that family life in the big smoke is very different to that of familes elsewhere in the country, such as costs, work etc.

Feel free to ignore me though grin

i agree. would love to come but too far away.

people from different parts of the country and people with different lives too.

Oliveoil Mon 07-Jul-08 11:54:31

a lottery win

Tortington Mon 07-Jul-08 12:00:38

i agree - london centred people will not give a true reflection.

i could come, but would have to book a day off work and spend £30 on a train ticket

Tortington Mon 07-Jul-08 12:01:00

sorry i was pointing out the irony there

flossish Mon 07-Jul-08 12:10:56

I could come but it would be with a 3 yr old and a 9 month old in tow so I'm not sure how much discussion I could bring to the table other than 'shh, be quiet.. no. stop it.' and that would just be to the people from the equality comission... grin

Gobbledigook Mon 07-Jul-08 12:24:38

Let's guess - is it in London?

<scrolls down>

Aha! Quel surprise!

Nope, can't make it.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt Mon 07-Jul-08 12:25:24

Child care for kids with SN.

Non-existent in my city of 1/4 million people.

NormaStanleyFletcher Mon 07-Jul-08 12:38:47

Ah - London then.

I can't afford the time off or the travel costs, my family live too far from me to have the kids, otherwise I would have loved to have been there.

DH would look after the kids but he is working away and has been since monday last week. I spent my weekend with a 2 year old and an 8 year old. So even if I could come I would probably fall asleep

filthymindedvixen Mon 07-Jul-08 12:39:52

pah, Lunnon town...

But, if thoughts can be passed on by proxy....

my big problem is childcare for older children - out of school clubs can get full, and school hols are a nightmare - what do you do with a 12+ old in the summer hols when you have to work??? (The out-of school care round here stops dead at 12)

flossish Mon 07-Jul-08 12:49:21

In actual fact I could go as DP is off. However not fancying the train fare from britle to london much like custardo and nora!

Kbear Mon 07-Jul-08 12:57:50

If everyone from outside London posts their experiences on this thread it might make for useful debate at the event. MN will at least have your points to put forward. (Instead of just moaning that it's not in your town I mean ha ha!).

Tortington Mon 07-Jul-08 13:09:26

i think its more moaning at the irony of being invited to something organised by the equality commission. that has no childcare or travel expenses being reimbursed, is put on during the day so working paretns cannot go...considering the subject matter!

the fact that it is london doesn't bother me as long as its not all londoners attending. it it the capital and has great transport links - and much like the xmas do - wherever it is held will be inconvenient for someone.

Monkeytrousers Mon 07-Jul-08 13:15:31

Would love to come - it's the £100 trian that's not a possibility

Monkeytrousers Mon 07-Jul-08 13:17:20

Kbear, MN have years of our expereinces on file. Being there is different.

An online cionference would be more suited - and v good point Custy at the irony of it all..hmm

Tortington Mon 07-Jul-08 13:19:26

Thank you MT, your points are great also.

Monkeytrousers Mon 07-Jul-08 13:19:54

I was invited to a conference in NY last year and couldn;t go for the same reasons.

If these can't be organised with working and low income and single parents in mind, then it doeesn;t give much hope for the wider issue.

Monkeytrousers Mon 07-Jul-08 13:20:29

aw shucks!

Tortington Mon 07-Jul-08 13:23:17

<applauds> here here

Kbear Mon 07-Jul-08 13:23:21

Custy I do see your points - all very true and valid.

Monkeytrousers - MN do have a record of our experiences but perhaps a summary of it would help so they can put points forward?

Online conference is the way forward - perhaps MN can arrange something next time.

Tortington Mon 07-Jul-08 13:24:21

maybe an e-conference. via webcam!

considering the online audience

HeadFairy Mon 07-Jul-08 13:41:22

Crikey, that is bonkers arranging something at precisely the time when those concerned can't attend to offer their opinions! A bit like arranging a conference for claustrophobics in a phone box!

robinpud Mon 07-Jul-08 13:43:35

Are we really trying to balance it or have we just given up?
Definitely include people who live way outside of London and the South East; you need people from different sized communities as well as the provision of facilities is so different and expectations are more varied.

I would love to come but the cost of travel is a little steep. On the other hand if the lunch is good...

butwhybutwhy Mon 07-Jul-08 13:57:10

Or could you arrange mini meetings dotted about the country, have a list of questions that people can answer and then gather all the information that way?

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