A fifth of parents admit they have dipped into their child’s savings account to make ends meet, a survey showed today. Around 22 per cent of parents said they had been forced to raid their child’s savings, with 44 per cent borrowing between £200 and £500, according to savings provider Engage Mutual Assurance. Four out of 10 parents said they were forced to use their child’s savings to pay bills, while 20 per cent faced unexpected car repairs.

Around 14 per cent used the money to pay for a family holiday, 12 per cent needed it to cover the cost of house repairs and 8 per cent put the money towards the cost of Christmas. Two-thirds of parents said they only borrowed money from their children when there was no alternative, and 13 per cent said they did not know where else they could get the money from quickly. Eight out of 10 parents who borrowed money said they saw it as a loan and would pay it back when they could.

But 30 per cent of parents admitted they felt guilty about borrowing money from their children and 27 per cent said they felt sad that their financial situation had become so dire. But look at it this way – you enable your kids to save, you provide them with the funds to do so – so what is the problem with taking back some of that which you gave them…?

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 conference yesterday, are likely to prove popular with working women. But they will be dismissed by business leaders as likely to cost billions to firms who are struggling to stay afloat during the recession.

The conference for the centre-left Institute for Public Policy Research yesterday heard that 3 per cent of women  -  more than 550,000 in total  -  and 2 per cent of men are forced to look after children and grandparents, most of them while holding down a job. Women in their 40s are most hard hit with one in 12 forced to perform ’sandwich’ care.

So it really surprises me that 12 children in the US have lost tips of their fingers after becoming caught in the hinge of the frame where the stroller folds in half. I never had that problem and the stroller has not changed its design in all these years – I am just wondering how these accidents occurred because you cannot really fold the stroller with the child inside it…

But accidents do happen of course and so maclaren have agreed to supply covers for the hinges on the strollers to UK parents. If you own a maclaren then  make sure you get your free safety cover – like I said, I never had any problems but that’s not to say other people don’t.

The PM yesterday tried to control a growing Labour revolt over plans to axe the childcare vouchers used by hundreds of thousands of families. The Prime Minister insisted no one would lose out for the next five years and said that compensatory measures would be outlined next month. But read that phrase carefully – “the next five years…”.

Parents pay up to £243 a month of their salary in exchange for tax-free electronic vouchers that can be used to pay nurseries, nannies or child-minders. Brown however is arguing that one third of these vouchers are going to higher-tax paying individuals – in essence those who go out to work rather than sit on their backsides drawing benefits. What is wrong with this – why does this govt have a problem with people who earn higher than average salaries…? In all, 43 Labour MPs are warning that phasing out the tax relief will penalise families with young children and harm Labour’s chances of holding marginal seats at the next election.  As Labour traditionally depends on the welfare-vote to win those seats it will not be giving much in the way of a damn about working families…

A survey has shown that the average working mum (not your high-flying executive career girl…) has just £67 a week left over after shelling out for the weekly necessary expenses. Now some might say that £67 is not really spare change but when you have a family to feed, a car to run and bills to pay it is not a large amount. A visit to the hairdresser can set you back £70 these days!

The biggest burden are childcare fees. Of course you have to pay them, you have to have the best quality childcare there is without question and it has to cost something. But at the end of the week you really do wonder if it is worth it…

Now I can understand guys if it is your third or forth child and so on – but when it is your first you really should take advantage of that special time and be there with your baby if you can manage it. Your job can wait – you have the rest of your life to get back on the treadmill and earn money…you helped create that new life so start enjoying it!

Just remember: on your deathbed you will not be wishing you spent more time at the office…

One of the policies put forward will be cancelling the newborn baby-payouts to those at the higher end of the earning scale. I do not have too much of a problem with this however I do not want to see this payment being made solely to the children of chronically unemployed people who come under the heading of ‘the poorest of families’ and live a better life of benefits than retired folk on pensions do.  Not surprisingly many unambitious parents do not even bother to open a new account for their child to get the benefit of this £250 payment – just as well the money is locked away for the child.

Under the new scheme only disabled children will receive the payment as well as those from the poorest sector of society; I am hoping though that the Tories will acknowledge the fact that many married couples who work and support their own families often fall into that category…not just unmarried mothers.

While she wont be planning to buy any baby shower centerpieces for baby showers, she will be planning to give the child her name and without a man as a partner thrown in. She has all her lawyers at the ready to make sure everything goes her way and no doubt it will – the child will be hers and hers alone. And only she will be adopting the child.

But what about us normal folk…

I was watching an episode of Heir Hunters recently where private agencies search for relatives entitled to a share in the estates of those people who die without leaving a will. One young man learned his father had died leaving a small property and some cash – you would assume this guy would naturally inherit everything outright.

Wrong.

The deceased man had divorced his wife when his son was 8 years old and the boy went to live with his mother and new stepfather. For reasons which were not explained the boy was adopted by his new stepfather even though his biological father was still alive and so the boy took his stepfather’s name.

Scroll forward to the present and the young man has learned that he cannot inherit his biological father’s property. Why…?

Because when his father allowed his son to be adopted by his ex-wifes new spouse he effectively disinherited his son from his natural right to inherit. This was made even worse when the deceased failed to make a will and name his son as his direct and sole heir. This would have entitled his son to inherit his property. The property instead went to distant cousins of the deceased man, cousins he had never even met, and his own son got nothing.

So bear this in mind if you are about to allow your child to be adopted by an ex-spouses new spouse. It is not a common thing to do but it is being done more often these days. Make sure that, if you wish your children to benefit from your estate after your death despite the adoption, make that will and name your children as beneficiaries.

Not all of us can attract multi-million pound media deals for us to make a fortune out of, but if you do have cash and/or assets intended for your kids it is vital you set up a trustee situation to act in your absence.

Of course as parents we like to think we will leave our kids the family home and whatever cash we can afford to set aside for them. If you intend to do this get to the solicitor asap and get it all down on paper in the form of a will.

Remember to name any guardians for your children if you are single or widowed. If you are in a non-married partnership you still need to name your partner (if the father of the children) as the custodial parent. I have read of terrible situations between grandparents and the surviving partner over the custody and access of children. Put it all down so that your wishes are made clear.

Jade died knowing who would be caring for her children, where they would be educated and that they would be financially looked after as they grew up. That would be a huge load off any parents mind.

But would you go back to the office just five days after having your baby – and after having a C Section at that…?

That is exactly what French justice minister Rachida Dati has done this past week. And with all due respect, I think she is absolutely out of her mind. Five days after having major abdominal surgery – just what kind of point is she trying to make? and I say that this is some point !

Having had five children myself, and I am no pushover where hard work is concerned, I know for a fact what the body goes through during the weeks following childbirth. It is not comfortable, it can be messy and then there are those hormones to consider as they can take months to settle down.

But there she is, all chic and smart in designer dress and heels high enough to give those with Plantar Fasciitis watering eyes. Her tummy wound will still be sore (it’s gotta be!) and if she plans to breastfeed she will be very uncomfortable in that respect. Why take all that back to the office…?

And what about the baby…? yes, the baby !

A five day old baby surely deserves Mum around and if this woman sees fit to prioritise things so that work comes before her own newborn child at a time when that child should matter above all else, then I wonder why on earth Ms Dati chose to have a child at all.

I don’t see her as Super Mum, or Super Woman, I see her as a selfish individual basking in the attention. But no-one will give her a medal for this ridiculous form of female martyrdom so why bother?

Returning to work while your baby is still wearing nappies is one thing – returning to work while you are still wearing maternity pads is another!