Mamma Kerr

I’ve decided to start a new meme – Thankful Thursday - where participants blog about what they are thankful for in the current day / week.

First thing this morning, I wasn’t feeling very thankful. I was feeling very tired and in desperate need of a long lie. When I eventually dragged myself out of my bed and peered outside, all I could see was a swirling white blizzard!

There was no point in digging my car out for the school run, so I rushed the girls out the door early, so that we could trek throught the snow to school and work. By the time we left the house the heavy snow had turned to sleet and the snow was slushy under foot.

The slush was a lot more difficult to walk in than the freshly fallen snow of the day before. (I almost did the splits a few times on our way up the road!) Cars passing by on the road were spraying up filthy mucky slush onto the pavement, and I had to steer the girls away from the spray! All in all in was a miserable trek.

Halfway there, I realised I’d left my Blackberry at home. I resigned myself to a day ‘in the dark’ insofar as keeping an eye on my emails, notifications and blog comments. *shudders*

When we were almost at the school, we passed one of the girls’ classmates, heading in the opposite direction. He cheerfully announced that the school was closed. Apparently the school had texted all the parents. D’oh!!

So, we about-turned and slipped and slid all the way back home, with me trying to devise a plan. I would need to take at least the morning off work, so I’d have to call the office, my inlaws and my Hubby to make arrangements.

By the time we eventually squelched back through our front door, we were very cold, wet and tired, and I had made my mind up that I would just take the full day off. What sealed the deal was when I noticed Hubby’s car sitting outside, and I remembered that he had gotten a lift to work this morning. Therefore, he would not be able to collect the girls from his parents on the way home.

I didn’t really want to ask my inlaws to take the girls anyway, as I knew they were already watching my two-year old neice and four-month old nephew all day today. Besides, the girls have their dance class on a Thursday night, so I have to leave work before 5pm to get them fed and changed and out the door at 6.15pm.

So, finally we get round to the purpose of my post – reasons to be thankful! Today I was thankful for the following:

• Carers Leave – I’m thankful that my employer has family friendly policies, which include Carers Leave for family emergencies and breakdown in childcare, etc.
• I had an unexpected day at home with my gorgeous girls.  We played games, watched films and had a picnic lunch on the livingroom floor.  It was a lovely day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
• It could be worse.  The weather in Stirlingshire has been pretty lame compared to the weather north of Dunblane.  Major roads have been unpassable and many drivers have been stranded and deliveries delayed.  Powerlines have come down, leaving thousands of people without electricity.

You can read more about the treacherous weather conditions in the north of Scotland on the BBC News website.

So, what are you thankful for today?  Please leave a comment below and, if you have a blog of your own, join the MckLinky Blog Hop by clicking the link below. 

I hope you will enjoy taking part in this weekly meme,

See you next Thursday!…

Now here’s the MckLinky!

I’ve just read an article in todays Daily Mail, outlining plans by Womens Minister, Harriet Harman, to introduce paid carers leave.

Here’s a little snippet from the article:

“Workers will be entitled to claim paid leave to care for sick relatives under plans commissioned by Women’s Minister Harriet Harman.
All employees would also win the right to request flexible working hours to look after children and the elderly.

The proposals are contained in a report demanded by Miss Harman into the needs of the so-called ‘sandwich generation’ – working women who have to care for both young children and ageing relatives.

They are expected to be included in a green paper published by Miss Harman next year.

The proposals, revealed by Miss Harman at a think tank conference yesterday, are likely to prove popular with working women who Miss Harman has made it her special mission to woo.

But they will be dismissed by business leaders as likely to cost billions to firms who are struggling to stay afloat during the recession.”

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1233945/Harriet-Harman-unveils-plan-allow-workers-claim-paid-leave-look-sick-relatives.html#ixzz0Z6IUYWU8

As a working mum myself, I think these proposals are a good idea. I am fortunate enough to already have such leave arrangements available to me from my employer.

I appreciate we are in tough economic times, and that small businesses are struggling. However, I also know that many hard-working parents are struggling too! Family-friendly policies help to relieve stress for working parents.

I am astounded at the amount of inane drivel contained in the comments on the Daily Mail site, coming from grumpy old MEN!

Many comments bemoan maternity leave and flexible hours and potray female employees as ‘work-shy’ and ‘wastes of space’!

Taking care of a sick child or elderly relative is not just WOMEN’s work! BOTH parents should take it in turns to take time off to care for a sick child. If a man (married or single) has a sick (or dying!) parent, then surely he would want time off to look after them (sharing the burden – & time off – with any siblings). These proposals will be available to ALL employees, not just MOTHERS!

In my public sector job, I’m allowed 5 paid carers days per year to deal with family/dependant emergency obligations such as illness, injury, etc. I have used 2 such days in 5 years. I’m also entitled to Parental Leave, which is unpaid leave of up to a maximum of 13 weeks in respect of each child. These arrangements should be made available to all.

Who’ll nurse these grumpy old men, who’ve dismissed family-friendly policies, when they’re old & infirm? I can’t imagine their family members would want to! They’ll probably just hire some paid help (as they no doubt did for any offspring!)

I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the matter. Please leave a comment here and, while you’re at it, it would be great to see some more women’s comments on the Daily Mail website too!