Can we talk about The Large Family in the age of Mumsnet?

[NotTakenUsername]

I’m hoping we can get a relatively lighthearted conversation going about Jill Murphy’s series of five books about ‘The Large Family’.

Full disclosure: I love them and cherish them.

However, I often find myself asking some Mumsnet inspired questions as I (regularly) share them with my daughter...

• Would they be acceptable if they were written and published today?
  
• When Mr Large is in charge, is he mansplaining or sharing the mental load?
  
• When Mrs Large pops in the bath leaving all children unattended, is she borderline neglectful or practising self-care?
  
• When the family all have to on go diet at Mrs Large’s instruction, is she fat shaming or looking after their physical well-being?
  

So many more... these are just examples in the hope that we can get a bit of a conversation going.

[camelfinger]

I only know about the diet one. I’ve often thought that it wouldn’t be written like that now. Particularly when they all feel awful having eaten watercress soup, drank water and done some exercise. Also, the way the female elephants do their hair really bothers me for some reason.

[Rachie1986]

I love these books!

[NotTakenUsername]

There isn’t the traffic here for a fun flowing conversation so I’ve tried again in chat.

[NotTakenUsername]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3188937-Can-we-talk-about-a-Large-family-of-Elephants

[Witchend]

I think though a lot of stories wouldn't be possible/would be considered inappropriate today.

Parent waves 4 children, one of whom can't swim and is only 7yo off to go and camp on an island for as long as they want. Call SS! (Swallows and Amazons)

Children set out on bike with tents. (Famous Five and whole load of others)

Fathers give their teenage children "cases" to investigate (Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew)

Dad sits in café while mum takes twin pre-schoolers swimming. He doesn't even help with the dressing (Topsy and Tim)

Even things like Harry Potter, written relatively recently, honestly I think even back then SS would have been informed by the primary school. In fact It's pretty unrealistic as HP's uncle and aunt are desperate to present the image of respectable people so whereas the emotional abuse is realistic, in reality they'd make sure Harry was dressed properly to make sure people didn't talk.

Going back to the Large family. I don't think the diet one is dreadful. Don't they conclude they're meant to be that shape. So actually it's quite a positive message about dieting. And on the basis that a fair number of young children do have parents who diet, it's not a bad message to give them. That people come in all sorts of shape and sizes and they don't need to diet. Perhaps a better (modern) ending would be talking about eating healthily, but generally that sort of thing is done in a preachy rather fake way that makes me cringe.

[KendalMintCakey]

Are you really missing A Level English Literature so much that you're analysing the Large family? Whatever next the unipolar episodes of Eeyore? The gluttony of Winnie the Pooh as a metaphor... oh my days...

[Tartanwallpaper]

The most pressing issue is they received a cake, in the post, which they store in the fridge and save for visitors! That cake would so stale and hard!

[tiggersneverdie]

Yes witchend emotional abuse typically goes under the radar, as many Stately Homes threads on MN will testify. I think poor old HP, if he were a mum, would probably be on there!

[tiggersneverdie]

witchend regarding dieting, the worst children's book regarding dieting has to be Maggie Goes on a Diet, a book aimed at 6 year olds!! totally inappropriate.

[Afreshcuppateaplease]

My dc have enjoyed these books

There was a thread on here about A Piece Of Cake, some of the comments made me utterly ridiculous