Letter: Creative account

In explaining why she pursued her career rather than focusing on bringing up her children, Joan McAlpine (Perspective, 23 February) said that she never forgot "how lucky" she is "to do something creative and influential".

This clearly implies that committing oneself primarily to bringing up children is not "creative and influential".

How sad that motherhood is seen as such a poor second-best compared with paid work.

I wonder how many mothers look back and wish they had spent that bit more time at the office instead of with their kids? And vice versa? How many children would prefer their mother - rather than the childminder - to be with them through most of the day?

Ms McAlpine concluded by pointing out how well things seem to work out when the husband works and the wife supports domestically. If such a comment emerged from Iain Duncan Smith's Centre for Social Justice, it would be pounced upon and derided as "outdated" and "discriminatory".

It's up to families to choose their own arrangements, but society's pressure to conform with the twin income model is unhelpful.

Richard Lucas

Broomyknowe

Edinburgh