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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

'MAT LEAVE'

50 replies

Northernlurker · 31/07/2011 22:37

AIBU to HATE HATE HATE the use of the term 'mat leave'. As in 'I was on mat leave', 'I am going on mat leave', 'my wife is on mat leave' 'I'm back from mat leave'

Aaaaaaaargh it sets me teeth on edge!

It's maternity leave or parental leave or time at home b/feeding and eating chocolate. It has NOTHING to do with carpets!

I can't bear it. I was at a friend's yesterday and somebody said 'Oh that was just before I went on mat leave' and I wanted to bludgeon her with a cake slice.

AIBU?

OP posts:

sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 23:10

I think I shall flee now and escape the cake slice.
too many people not liking abbreviations (on a board that confuses me daily with its DD DS DH SIL BIL MIL BF.......)

EdithWeston · 31/07/2011 23:10

and when on mat leave they would push bubs in the pram on the path on their way home to 'lunch'?

GreenEyesandHam · 31/07/2011 23:14

My ultimate hate is 'yorkie puds'

So if they're on mat leave and they push the bubs in the prams on the paths to get lunch of yorkie puds, I will run them over in my 'car'

sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 23:17

On mat leave they push bubs in a pram on the path to get yorkie puds for lunch and get hit by your car outside the 'diner'.

GreenEyesandHam · 31/07/2011 23:19

I'd take them to A&E though.

sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 23:22

to see the doc?

Original poster

Northernlurker · 31/07/2011 23:22

Well yorkie puds is clearly apalling but I don't mind a good dose of flu

OP posts:

sixlostmonkeys · 31/07/2011 23:25

if you had flu while on mat leave would you see a doc in obs and gynae, ENT or just a gp?

Andrewofgg · 01/08/2011 16:06

I'm in favour of equal opps . . . OP: if this is biggest problem in your life you are very, very lucky indeed!

TandB · 01/08/2011 16:07

I've never heard anyone use the term "mat leave". Sounds odd.

Original poster

Northernlurker · 01/08/2011 17:51

Andrew. Please point me to the part in my post where I said this was my biggest problem in life?

Kungfu - lucky you and YES it does sound odd.

OP posts:

Andrewofgg · 01/08/2011 17:52

You didn't, Northern, which is why I said "If".

But it is not a serious problem!

stickylittlefingers · 01/08/2011 18:02

- you'd better start an awareness campaign for floor covering related leaves of absence. Would you be entitled to emergency leave if someone spilt red wine on your sheepskin, for example? Or cultural awareness training if you took on an Afghan and were not of that country yourself?

stickylittlefingers · 01/08/2011 18:04

(sorry I was addressing Tethersend's point, without noticing there was a page 2 )

CJCregg · 01/08/2011 18:12

YANBU in the slightest. Saying 'mat leave' should be an offence. Do fathers have 'pat leave'?

I want to start a campaign - if people insist on calling it m** leave (see, I can't even type it) then we should all start saying 'pat leave' for fathers. Which would be extremely confusing for fathers-to-be who are actually called Pat. And possibly for postmen.

I also think YABU to admit to knowing someone who owns a cake slice.

CJCregg · 01/08/2011 18:17

I also love the idea of 'floor covering related leaves of absence'

'I'm sorry, I won't be at work next week. My new rug is being delivered on Sunday afternoon (by ELCS, obviously) and I'm going to need a bit of time to adjust. Time to bond ... '

Catslikehats · 01/08/2011 18:17

I have never heard anyone actually say "mat leave" out loud. write it maybe but speak it...bludgeon away.

spiderpig8 · 01/08/2011 19:18

Me neither but I wouldn't give a toss eiither way really.God soem people get worked up over nothing.
Op do you say VAT or value added tax?

NinthWave · 01/08/2011 19:22

I hear your Mat Leave and raise you...

'Tommy K'

InTheSunshine · 01/08/2011 19:34

Saino's rather than Sainsbury's. Puts. My. Teeth. On. Edge.

Spiderpig VAT is an acronym rather than an abbreviation. The letters stand for the words rather than the word being shortened. Yes, I'm a pedant. Slap with that cake slice.

Original poster

Northernlurker · 01/08/2011 19:35

Ninth - what is 'Tommy K'? Sorry to be dim.

OP posts:

NinthWave · 01/08/2011 19:48

Tomato ketchup. Horrible isn't it?

Pallindrome · 01/08/2011 20:04

NorthernLurker - I think I love you. I abhor, despise and detest the phrase mat leave. It makes me want to punch the utterer.

I love your MN name too btw . . .

Sleepyspaniel · 01/08/2011 20:11

My Mum refers to people like solicitors, doctors and dentists by their surname only - that really annoys me. For example if her doctor is called Dr David Shenley she will say "I saw Shenley today" rather than "Dr Shenley" or "the doctor". I think it's a subconscious control strategy for when she feels threatened (not physically, but emotionally), somehow she "owns" the situation more if she can make their name her own. as it were.

However it really chuffs me off. I always fight the urge to say "Dr Shenley, Mum" or whatever because she has not a clue.

Original poster

Northernlurker · 01/08/2011 21:44

Ah Pallindrome - a fellow spirit thanks

Tomato Ketchup???

Ok well I think we all know what will happen to any 'Tommy K' utterers who come near me....

OP posts:

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