We’re all full-time mums – with full-time problems | Letters

Dr Helen Stringer on what mothers do; Christina Naylor and Catherine Roome on the midwife shortage and NHS funding

In his interview with Karen Brady, a self-identified champion of women’s rights, Simon Hattenstone describes Brady’s mother as “a full-time mum” (G2, 26 March). In doing so he undermines women by suggesting that there is another type of mum we could be. All mothers are full-time mums. There is not a moment that you stop being responsible for your children or stop having them somewhere in your consciousness. This term slights the millions of women who do paid work outside their homes by implying that they are lesser mums (ie not full time).
Dr Helen Stringer
Full-time mum/university lecturer/speech and language therapist/teacher/carer/spouse/aneurysm survivor/gardener/laundry woman/cook/researcher/Glastonbury goer/friend/needlewoman/chauffeur …,
Newcastle upon Tyne

• Jeremy Hunt’s grandiose schemes (Midwife continuity plan, 26 March) are to give women a named midwife and constant attention in labour. Sounds ideal. But I’m old enough to remember John Major pledging exactly the same in the 1990s. And what happened then? Don’t hold your breath …
Christina Naylor
St Andrews, Fife

Continue reading... March 27, 2018 at 11:06PM