Is it right that spending quality time with family is now a privilege?

The National

15-07-2025

But for a lot of families, especially over the summer holidays, it can bring dread. I know many people who are really struggling right now because the costs of just getting through the day are so high.
Summer holidays mean extra meals, outings, childcare, the clothes that don't fit any more – the swimming gear and shorts are too small and tight. Replacing it all adds up quickly. Even when you try to do things on the cheap, sun cream, snacks, shoes, ice creams, and bus fares all take planning and money.
Some people have the flexibility to take time off in the summer. Others don't, especially single parents. If you can't find childcare, you can't work. If you don't work, the bills stack up. Even in homes where both adults are working, I know people who are on Universal Credit just to keep things going.
That's the reality for many families now. Summer compounds the issue.
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And it's not just about money. There's a lot of pressure on parents to make things 'fun' over the summer. To give their kids memories. But that can be hard when you're running on empty both financially and emotionally.
I know what it's like to be in a busy household where you're juggling the washing, the cleaning, the feeding, the tidying. Especially if you have children with additional needs, it can feel like you never stop. But at some point, we need to stop. We need to have space to enjoy being with our children, not just managing them.
Is it right that having fun, spending quality time with friends and family, is now a privilege? Summer should be about connection, not just routine. Families and friends need time together.
Children need play and laughter, not just boundaries and structure. Parents need to be able to breathe. That's why I think it's important we talk about holidays – and I don't just mean fancy flights or theme parks.
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I mean having time away from the everyday stress.
Being able to slow down. To enjoy a picnic, or a walk, or a day at the beach without panicking about every pound spent. These things shouldn't be a luxury. They should be part of what we consider a good life.
To be fair, the Scottish Government has brought in support that does help families, such as the Scottish Child Payment, the Best Start Grant, school clothing grants, and the Carer's Allowance Supplement.
These don't solve everything but they're helping families stay afloat, and in some cases giving a bit of breathing room during tough times.
It's a different approach and one that recognises that poverty isn't a personal failure but something we can tackle together through good policy and compassion.
I'm glad to live in a country that is choosing to build something better. That sees social security as a safety net, not a punishment. That is willing to say that kids deserve a joyful summer. Parents deserve rest. And that wellbeing isn't soft, it's essential.
All of this is part of a bigger picture. The idea that people's need for happiness and family life should come before short-term profits. That's what a wellbeing economy means to me.
It doesn't mean we don't care about business, but we recognise that thriving people are the foundation of a thriving economy.
Having something to look forward to, some time out, joy, a break from stress, matters more than we often admit. It's what keeps us going.
I do think there's a wider conversation to be had, because even with all the good intentions and strong policies, Scotland is still operating with limited powers.
We don't control the minimum wage. We don't set the rules for Universal Credit. We can't make sure that every family in Scotland gets the consistent support it needs throughout the year.
So much of what we do is about mitigating the effects of decisions made elsewhere. But imagine if we didn't have to do so much patching up. Imagine if we could build the kind of country we know we're capable of without tied hands.
That's what independence is really about for me. It's about having the tools to create a country where no child dreads the summer holidays. Where no parent has to choose between earning and caring. Where wellbeing isn't wishful thinking it's built into everything we do.
So yes, the sun is shining and Scotland is looking glorious. But let's not forget the families behind closed doors who are just trying to make it to bedtime.
Scotland is already showing what's possible when we put people first. With full powers over welfare, employment and tax, we could stop just softening the blows and start creating real, lasting change.
We build a stronger nation by putting people first, starting now. Choosing a different path from Westminster and delivering it here in Scotland, valuing the whole person, not just statistics.