Scotland

This is one of Edith's pictures from Australia. Looks a lot like some places in Evansville.

Combining work and home life is a difficult balancing act. I admire women who do it well. One of the things that can make this possible is childcare that cares. Good places for children should be places where parents know providers well enough for everyone to work together. Teachers should be willing to listen and willing to help if possible.

Yes, yes, everyone has their own problems, but for the sake and care of a child, making a special effort means so much to a little person. It builds trust.

Lately, one of our little boys has been reluctant to come to school. We discovered that his great aunt is very ill with cancer and is undergoing chemo. He knows that something is not right at home, and often a child frets miserably when he is away from the trouble zone. They want to know and understand, so being away is tough. He is afraid he is missing something important.

We have stated many times that a good place takes care of families. That means doing as much as possible for a child when the child's home is in chaos. But like anyone, providers have to know.

News.scotsman.com
Child-care Concerns 'Holding Women Back' From Top Jobs
SHAN ROSS

SCOTLAND is losing out on valuable talent because many women are working in jobs below their capability level, according to a new report.

Researchers for the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) found that while women make up nearly half of Scotland's workforce, many lose out on promotion because child-care made combining full-time work and family life difficult.

The report, "Who Runs Scotland 2006?", also said that even 30 years after the Sex Discrimination Act, only 10 per cent of senior police officers in Scotland are female, while women make up only 22 per cent of councillors and only 12 per cent in top management in the civil service.

Rowena Arshad, the EOC Scotland Commissioner, said: "Making it to the top is far too often the result of exceptional drive and strength; having to overcome significant barriers."

The EOC wants political parties to improve women's representation in Holyrood, which is currently at 39.5 per cent. It also wants more high-paid, flexible and part-time work at all levels, for both working mothers and fathers.

Lisa Stephenson, the only female among four executive directors on the board of Lloyds TSB Scotland, said: "It's a real challenge to get quality child-care and corporates such as Lloyds are in a strong position to do something about it, such as offering child-care vouchers and flexible working."

Lesley Hinds, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, said: "It's all about the individual and what they want, rather than just statistics about who is reaching the top of the professions. Some women, and men, will want to stay at home; others will want to work. But as employers, the mechanisms must be put in place to make this happen.