There once was a woman who lived in a shoe
She had so many children; she didn’t know what to do
Why did she live in a shoe you may say?
Because rent for a house she could not pay,
She ‘just managed’ to put food on the table
Perhaps broth with bread, when she was able.

‘Why does she not get a job?’ People shout.
‘It’s not up to the state to sort her out,’
Go out to work, that is what she should do,
To avoid raising her kids in a shoe.
Why should taxpayers be made to pay
So she can sit at home every day?”

But what none of these people seem to know,
Is that out to work she cannot go.
She has a child at nursery and one at school
And one at home who is very small.
Even if she went to work every day,
She still could not afford to pay
Someone to take care of her brood,
Let alone pay rent or buy food.

“But she chose to have kids,’ people said.

“She reproduced so she made her bed!
“Unless your family earn a hefty sum
You do not have the right to be a mum.”

The woman replied, “I’m not being funny,
But raising kids takes more than money!
“I don’t want a big house or to be wealthy,
I want my kids to be happy and healthy.
I’m not after benefits or taxpayer’s cash
It’s the cost of living I’d like to see slashed.
If utility rates were not so high
I might, just about manage to get by.
If food was sold at reasonable prices
My family may not be in this crisis.
If loan companies stopped preying on folk,
Who have hit rock bottom and desperately broke.
If the Government cared about families in need
And ran the country with kindness instead of greed.
If flexible working hours were commonplace
Then people like us would not have to face,
Judgment from those who do not have a clue
What it is like to raise your kids in a shoe.”

You can read about what happened when we stopped being able to ‘just manage’ and ended up at a food bank in non-nursery rhyme form –right here..

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The post The Woman Who Was ‘Just About Managing’ In A Shoe appeared first on SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK.

PREGNANT employees to give birth at work under a new Government scheme.

Female staff will be now be expected to have their babies in the office with the help of specially appointed first aiders.

Employment Minister Tessa Jowell explained: “The vast majority of pregnant women are taking anything between two to four weeks off work while they just sit at home waiting for their babies to be born, followed by further holiday just to play with the baby.”

She added: “I think new mums will welcome this chance to help the economy which is what being a parent is all about.”

On-site maternity facilities will also be provided so that women can return to work as soon as the baby has left the womb.

David Whip, chief executive head director at Corporate Corporations supports the scheme.

He said: “This is good news for mothers-to-be as they will not only have the chance to give birth from the comfort of their own desk but they can continue to be an integral part of the workforce right through labour.”

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*Nothing written in News Leaks should be taken literally or seriously because I totally made it all up…

*Pic by David Castillo Dominici @ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The post NEWS LEAK OF THE WEEK: Women to give birth at work appeared first on SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK.