I have two small kids. Being a Dad is exhausting and expensive, sometimes enraging, and occasionally lonely. We don’t talk about that enough. So often, parents I meet tell me that with prices soaring and public services on their knees, they are struggling to cope. Whether it's paying for school uniforms or keeping half-decent food on the table, or pushing for the right SEN support, while keeping up with a job.
Every week when I take my kids to football and swimming I see how much support parents and grandparents in our area give to each other, as do fantastic organisations like the Family Hubs or Wigan Parent Carer Forum. This is the spirit of our communities shining through but it shouldn’t depend on them.
For me, the key mission of this government is to make life more secure for working families. I know what it’s like to wake up at 5am, come home after the kids are asleep, find time to get into a nursery or take the kids to the GP.
The Government has already made big changes to support parents. For new Dads, paternity leave is now a day one right - you won’t lose out on time with a newborn because you changed jobs. There’s a new neonatal leave, so that parents of sick babies can take the time off to be in the hospital. We’re introducing free breakfast clubs, including a pilot at Bickershaw CoE Primary School. We’re extending the number of hours of childcare you can claim, and creating thousands of new nurseries in primary schools.
There’s also a review of the Shared Parental Leave system, which so far has allowed Dads earning good money in London to spend more time with their kids, but has not benefitted us here. As Dad Shift says, the campaign group I’m helping to lead in Parliament, 2 weeks of paternity leave is not enough.
I think we don’t talk often enough about what it’s like to be a bloke in your 20s, 30s, and 40s. It can sometimes be isolating and feel a bit like the world doesn’t have a place for you. It can even feel like things are set against you. Being a Dad can help with that, but it can also exacerbate it too. It strains marriage. It leaves less time for keeping fit and healthy. That’s why organisations like Andy’s Man Club are so important to give men, and Dads space to talk.
I want to help them celebrate the fantastic Dads in and around Wigan. I’m bringing local sports heroes, Andy’s Man Club, Dad Shift and the Wigan Parent Carer Forum together at the Family Hub in Hindley, on 4th April. Anyone from the towns I represent is welcome - Mums, parents, and grandparents are all welcome - especially kids.
I would love to see as many of you there as possible, including your little ones. For parents who fancy a break, stop by to say hello. You can RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/Dad-coffee-fun