Allison Pearson on motherhood being the greatest job of all

[ipanemagirl]

see hear

This is a few weeks old and I agree with some of what Pearson says of course. BUT are we really supposed to believe that she has no staff? I mean she doesn't even have a cleaner? I bet she's had a nanny or an au pair at some point. I know she only has a column to write but she has been developing a script and does the odd interview. Hard to imagine her doing this without any paid help. Honestly if Allison Pearson does all her own cleaning then I'm the Pope.

I know all these celebs hardly ever acknowledge the grunt work done by their domestic staff and that's fine. But heres Pearson denigrating these women while not declaring her own situation! Typical hypocritical behaviour!

By the way I have no domestic staff as you can probably tell!

[morningpaper]

Don't get me started on domestic staff

I've just hoovered which is why I am sweating

(If you hoover up a spider does it Live?)

[donnie]

oh well it's typical DM drivel really....

[nickytwotimes]

She definitely has staff! Never like her crap articles - they're in the Daily Mail, fgs.

[moondog]

D'yuo know,I really couldn't give a flying fuck what some journo in the Mail says about ANYTHING,least of all motherhood.I find the views of women on MN who express a view for the sheer pleasure of communicating as opposed to being paid for it to be infinitely more interesting.

[WaynettaSlob]

Where does she say she doesn't have staff?

[ipanemagirl]

I hate the DM too! I do just occasionally read articles by its columnists because they irritate me so much it's almost entertaining!

Waynetta in the article she says: "Situation vacant: challenging managerial position in busy small organisation. Would suit flexible, energetic female who doesn't need any sleep. Shifts last 24 hours a day. Boss comes on holiday with you. You will be expected to be a teacher, a cook, a nurse, a chauffeur, a health and safety adviser, a cleaner, a management consultant and an agony aunt."
Implication - 24 hr a day and 'cleaner'.

I don't believe it for one minute!

[ipanemagirl]

Also, do you think that these women who brag about how great motherhood is ( and by implication what great mothers they are even when comedically implying how bad they are ) ever think about the huge number of women who can't have children? I just think bragging about motherhood is profoundly ungracious.
But I guess if you've got 2 gorgeous blonde children and a column to fill... just don't call Heather Mills Mccartney a strumpet! There are plenty of people selling their privacy to the media, posh and not so posh!

[WaynettaSlob]

But even if you have a cleaner, unless they come in every day you are going to have to clean as well.....I don't actually think she was doing a "woe is me", just highlighting what Mums (whether or not they WOH) do.

[ipanemagirl]

Maybe not, it's just these journalists never ever seem to properly declare the support they get. Support that is very expensive and is integral to the moral situations that they tend to judge.
I think you have to declare your hand if you're judging other women who are not looking after their children 'properly'.
Motherhood for the wealthy is easier because they can buy in support. I have a friend who has an au pair 5 days a week, a cleaner who comes three times and she sends all the ironing out. She's still really busy but the au pair does a load of laundry too, and taking children to various classes and supports my friend in getting things done. I like the way she really acknowledges how much help she has and how much harder her life would be without that kind of support.
My sister has unpaid staff in the form of our mother who does endless ironing and cleaning and childcare for nada!
Bitter? Me??!!!!!!
But seriously, anyone who can afford help or who has help - then I salute and envy you!
But if you're going to judge other women's mothering you'd better declare you true position. That, to me, is a moral imperative for passing judgement!

[WaynettaSlob]

I think I must be missing the point of the article then (or reading a diferent one to you! ) - I thought it said 'motherhood is tough, but we love it, so let's give ourselves a break and stop beating ourselves up' - didn't see where she is judging people's mothering skills.....

[ipanemagirl]

She is saying that too Waynetta! It's just a bugbear of mine with all these columnists that they conceal the 'help' as do the celebs so I look out for it now.

[UniS]

Could it be that she has a partner who also works flexibly.... it is quite possibel to work( even as a freelance journo) and bring up kids with out "staff" most of us do it. we use childminders or nursary, we fit work around when the kids can be with their dad or gran. We work at home when the kids are in bed or at school.