when he and I both have despaired at the absence of another child in the house. There have been times when he has cried and asked me why he can't have a brother. I can't claim that it's always perfect, but I do know that I am raising a wonderful person who lacks some things, but also gains other things. What we have is a uniquely close bond that I have observed many times in single parents with only children. There has been one more 'plus' of my choice: the financial benefit. For me, this is something that has affected my whole life. It is about time, not money. I knew, for health and lifestyle reasons, that I could never have a high-pressure career or a full-time job. I am okay with this, but it does mean that money will always be something I have to be shrewd with. Choosing time over money isn't always easy: I may never own my own home, for example. However, working part time has given my son a mother who always has time and energy for him; who bakes for him and who has the time and energy to take him to the park after school. He might not have a mother who takes him to Target every week to buy toys and clothes, but he has a household where time is not stretched to breaking point for the adults. One of my favourite poets Michael Leunig once wrote the following prayer for mothers: