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Original poster

The Yorkshire shepherdess and the snowflake generation

507 replies

Marcia1989 · 06/04/2021 17:19

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9438725/Our-Yorkshire-Farm-star-Amanda-Owen-gave-birth-eighth-child-husband-ASLEEP-upstairs.html

Sorry for link to the Daily Mail. It was the only non-paywalled article but her comments are also reported in The Times and The Telegraph.

She runs a sheep farm in a remote part of Yorkshire and has 9 kids. She thinks that parents do not raise their children to be sufficiently independent, to look after themselves. She didn't really do home-schooling with them because she doesn't want to be a helicopter parent - she expects them to just get on with it. She expects all the kids to help on the farm and they don't really do devices/TV etc. Having watched her TV series, I agree that her kids seem admirably self-sufficient and mature and I do think generally it's really good for children to have some responsibility. But, I do also wonder whether a lack of individual attention is detrimental to them. And there will be some kids who don't get on with it, and is it really right to just leave them to it?

What does everyone think?

OP posts:
mustlovegin · 07/04/2021 08:24

I don't know if I would use the word 'smug' to describe how she comes across.

Certainly very confident and non-apologetic. Which are positive traits in my view

Oldbeams · 07/04/2021 08:28

I think that is indeed an unkind suggestion JanieJones. Those DC are patently loved for themselves.

And the TV cameras found Amanda and her DC MillyMollyMandyish not the other way around.

Jeez. So much hate Sad

Veterinari · 07/04/2021 08:33

If you read the books, Clive does his fair share of parenting/child rearing.

My impression is that he's less comfortable on camera and prefers to be filmed doing a job rather than chatting/parenting so you probably see less of him in this aspect and that probably skews the perception of how much the children do alone and how much child rearing Amanda does alone.

When you do see him on camera with the children though it's very clear they have loving supportive relationships. They look like a close and successful family with independent, kind children

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/04/2021 08:33

Each to their own. Her lifestyle is my idea of hell to be honest, I have one child and like city life. Living on a farm with 8 kids, couldn't think of anything worse.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 07/04/2021 08:37

Also anyone who calls someone a "snowflake" is just as rude as someone who uses "Karen" as an insult. I've got no interest in the opinions of someone who calls people "snowflakes."

mermaidsariel · 07/04/2021 08:40

Did she actually use the word snowflake or was that the DMs word?

IntermittentParps · 07/04/2021 08:45

My impression is that he's less comfortable on camera and prefers to be filmed doing a job rather than chatting/parenting

And on Instagram she's made clear that there are no pics of Clive because he doesn't want to be on SM. I'm sure they're both involved. I think the way they both interact with the kids is terrific.

I'm so depressed by this thread. Taking aim at someone's clothes/make-up/having the temerity to have career ambitions/daring to meet someone and fall in love/having a less-than-perfectly maintained house...

Her dress sense is curious given the lifestyle, the amount of jangling bangles made me think of a certain culture
The fuck does that mean?

note Raven being pressed into service as a waitress but the eldest boy didn’t appear to be involved. He is skilled at fixing engines/machinery. He was probably doing something with some of the farm equipment. The kids will all have their own strengths/tasks. Or as someone on here put it, 'free labour'.

mermaidsariel · 07/04/2021 08:47

I wonder how many people on this thread have watched the programmes on TV? If you’re just reading a piece in the DM you can’t possibly judge. I have read her book and followed the family from the start. The children are not neglected. Amanda ‘s side activities do not mean she isn’t around for the kids. They are a way to support the family. They rent the farm and one day would like to have their own farm that can be passed on to the children / a child. Clive will need to step back a bit in later years and no doubt she’s thinking of that too. There is no pressure for the kids to be farmers either. They are encouraged to be themselves.

GrumpyHoonMain · 07/04/2021 08:48

I think if they asked the older kids years down the line they’ll tell you they had a miserable childhood.

Veterinari · 07/04/2021 08:49

@IntermittentParps

My impression is that he's less comfortable on camera and prefers to be filmed doing a job rather than chatting/parenting

And on Instagram she's made clear that there are no pics of Clive because he doesn't want to be on SM. I'm sure they're both involved. I think the way they both interact with the kids is terrific.

I'm so depressed by this thread. Taking aim at someone's clothes/make-up/having the temerity to have career ambitions/daring to meet someone and fall in love/having a less-than-perfectly maintained house...

Her dress sense is curious given the lifestyle, the amount of jangling bangles made me think of a certain culture
The fuck does that mean?

note Raven being pressed into service as a waitress but the eldest boy didn’t appear to be involved. He is skilled at fixing engines/machinery. He was probably doing something with some of the farm equipment. The kids will all have their own strengths/tasks. Or as someone on here put it, 'free labour'.

Yep agree.

There's a lot of snide remarks on this thread, and a lot of judgement. Interestingly a lot come from folk who appear to have judged based just on the DM article without reading further

I guess if they're willing to believe a DM article is a comprehensive, unbiased and rigorous source of information, that tells us all we need to know.

mustlovegin · 07/04/2021 08:50

Absolutely nobody should be having nine kids

If they can fund them, why not?

Veterinari · 07/04/2021 08:50

@GrumpyHoonMain

I think if they asked the older kids years down the line they’ll tell you they had a miserable childhood.
Based on??? Confused

How old do they need to be? Is being at uni, moved out for work not old enough?

Extremelyilluminated · 07/04/2021 08:51

I am here just to learn what jangling bangles says about a woman Grin What “certain culture”?

mermaidsariel · 07/04/2021 08:52

Your user name offers a clue. This thread is depressing. Far better to be stuck as an only child in a flat in London on a PlayStation all day than living a life in the fresh air with animals and loving, present parents. Of course, this is not indicative of all children but why not make sweeping judgments like so many others on this thread?

GlitterFairy01 · 07/04/2021 08:58

I love watching programs about Amanda Owen and her family, they come across as very kind and caring (the way the older children treat the younger is lovely), this doesn’t happen by chance, it’s because they live in a loving home.

I feel like she has the life I would love to have, but I’m too lazy to actually ever try to have that lifestyle Smile

I like that the older girl was encouraged to do what she wanted, which was go to uni instead of being kept at home and expected to help out.

Oldbeams · 07/04/2021 08:58

Absolutely nobody should be having nine kids

In your opinion. Because it's not illegal. So it's their choice. And owing to their lifestyle, I suspect their carbon footprint to date is similar to a family half the size.

SueSaid · 07/04/2021 08:58

'I'm so depressed by this thread. Taking aim at someone's clothes/make-up/having the temerity to have career ambitions/daring to meet someone and fall in love/having a less-than-perfectly maintained house...'

It is in direct response to her assertions that 'this generation are snowflakes', suggesting hers aren't as they are hardy farm hands.

If she wants to make money on social media and the telly by preaching about the evils of social media and the telly fine, but people will point out the irony of it all. There's nothing depressing about that.

MillyMollyMandyish · 07/04/2021 08:58

@mustlovegin

Absolutely nobody should be having nine kids

If they can fund them, why not?

So you aren't aware of the dangers to the planet of over-population and the UK especially? Small island, overcrowded, infrastructure not coping now (look at the roads and lack of housing, let alone global warming.)

The Owen kids won't live on the farm forever. They will move elsewhere and add to the over-population.

Two is enough- just replace yourselves.

MillyMollyMandyish · 07/04/2021 09:01

@Oldbeams

I think that is indeed an unkind suggestion JanieJones. Those DC are patently loved for themselves.

And the TV cameras found Amanda and her DC MillyMollyMandyish not the other way around.

Jeez. So much hate Sad

The TV may indeed have found her- I know that- but she's said yes to every media opportunity since.
MillyMollyMandyish · 07/04/2021 09:02

@Oldbeams

Absolutely nobody should be having nine kids

In your opinion. Because it's not illegal. So it's their choice. And owing to their lifestyle, I suspect their carbon footprint to date is similar to a family half the size.

But her kids won't follow that lifestyle. They will move to more urban areas and it's not simply about the carbon footprint in one tiny area of the Dales. It's the plant. Doh.
ameliajanes · 07/04/2021 09:02

It's interesting how this large family are to be lauded whilst another are to be slated.

MillyMollyMandyish · 07/04/2021 09:04

@ameliajanes

It's interesting how this large family are to be lauded whilst another are to be slated.
Not me!

Given she farms the land isn't there a sort of irony that she's adding to an already over-populated planet?

I can't decide if she is super-maternal, doesn't use decent contraception or it was always her plan to get free labour on the farm by employing an army of children Grin

Veterinari · 07/04/2021 09:05

The TV may indeed have found her- I know that- but she's said yes to every media opportunity since.

So what?

And don't worry there are plenty of us choosing to be childfree. I'm bothered about the planet but I can't get worked up about two consenting adults raising healthy happy children in a pretty low carbon lifestyle.

There are plenty of other 'media families' I'd reserve my judgement for if I was keen to judge.

Oldbeams · 07/04/2021 09:06

but she's said yes to every media opportunity since.

How do you know this? She may have turned down lots of offers she seemed unsuitable.

Original poster
Marcia1989 · 07/04/2021 09:07

To redirect this slightly away from the personal attacks on Amanda...

Those who generally admire her attitude towards child-rearing, do you think the principles could be applied to families with more 'normal' lives and if so, how?

OP posts: