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Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Categories:
Health and wellbeing: young mums
I felt invisible
by Michelle
I am writing in support of young mums, having faced a similar situation to a lot of these stories and I had my son at 24!! (but I look younger).
I got a degree, got a job with a salary of 26k, we bought a house, then three years later got married and fell pregnant. I worked with 9 women aged 34 to 42 none of who had children and they were horrified I was having a baby at such a young age.
My boss (42 receiving IVF) ignored me until I went on maternity leave. On returning to work full time when my daughter was 10months old nobody asked me about my baby and god forbid if I'd taken in pics! At one point I almost walked out as one women was really bullying me but I didn't have to as I was made redundant within 6 weeks.
I went to the job centre but didn't receive anything because of my partners income. I felt invisible as I wasn't treated as an individual and also did not receive any tax credits because they worked it out from my salary from previous tax year so we were over the limit for the £10.50 per week.
Unable to find another job which was sufficient to pay childcare I receive no help at all and my partners salary just about covers our mortage and bills. I now work all weekend on £5.73 an hour (compared to my previous £15)as it is the only way I can avoid childcare costs but now we never get to spend any family time together.
When people I know come into my work they are really judgemental that I have a baby and work all weekend and one woman I began working with even commented that I didn' t look old enough to be a mum!
My daughter is now 2 and whilst visiting the health visitor for her 2 year assessment she suggested because I'm so young I should consider going to college and gave me a leaflet for a place that helps young and single mums with chilcare costs (even though I have a degree). A lady at 2's group also recently joked I must have had my daughter when I was 14...she has not been back since!!!
