to think Alicia Douvall is an unfit parent?

[LinaLamont]

I'm watching a docu-soap on BBC 3 and feel so sorry for her older daughter - who has to be behave like a parent. It's awful.

It amazed me how patient the daughter was. Absolutely serene!

that can still mean she was around and about shagging in the 90s , even if she is 36

she is from a well-to-do middle-class family and went to a private school - she's not the child of junkies on a sink estate.

And what?

She cant be a bad mother if she has money and a good background? And how do you know she isnt on drugs?

I was 21 in 1994, she could easily have been doing the rounds in the 90's

I admit, I judged her watching the programme last night but then read this:
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2217104/Alicia-Douvall-Ive-had-100-ops-I-knew-Id-die-if-I-didnt-get-help.html

Summary: she was abused as a child and was diagnosed with body dysmorphia, anorexia and bulimia.

I feel desperately sad and sorry for her and her daughters. She needs proper help.

Regarding her age, apparently she was in the same school year as Jodie Kidd who is 33.

She WAS around shagging in the 90s -my point was she is lying about her age.

an

But what I dont get if she had such a miserable childhood why did she allow Georgia to live with her parents.....and why is Georgia so lovely??

That was my point nick. I don't get t

Programme is being repeated on BBC3 right now if anyone missed it.

Just watched it. Georgia is an absolute delight (x fingers and hopes little khanwitch turns out half as well).

Unconventional set-up, but they seemed to have a good relationship to me. I felt a lot of love and understanding, although Georgia seems way more mature than her mother.. I don't think thats so rare in mother daughter dynamics.
Alicia must be something right, lets be honest, who wouldn't the lovely Georgia as a daughter?. Growing up to be a lovely, intelligent, compassionate person.

crashdoll - alicia was not in the same year at school as Jodie Kidd. I shared a room with Jodie as we went to the same boarding school. Alicia (previously named Sarah Howes) was in the school year above Jodie and myself, so she is probably 35/36 years old.

Absolutely fabulous - it was just that. I think Georgia recognises her mums faults and will avoid the same route, but they clearly love her.

I didn't know Georgia was raised by grandparents/boarding school. And whilst I raised an eyebrow over the surgery/exam, that was the worst of it.

Alicia isn't going to win any parenting awards but equally she isn't as bad as I initially thought.

They clearly love each other *

mamamiss I guess that teaches me to not believe everything I read!

crashdoll - I think Ms Douvall has been rather liberal with truth over her age over the years, claiming she is 32.....and the rest! :o

Reindeer your last paragraph sums up how I felt

I'm quite split on this. While I took issue with a lot of what she said and did, it is clear the woman absolutely adores both of her daughters and worships the ground she walks on. I never once heard her utter a cruel word or raise her voice to her daughter. True, she is not perfect and has an unconventional method of parenting, but based on what we saw, I don't believe her kids should be removed from her. I interpreted her control of Georgia as a fear her daughter would go down her route- teen pregnancy, going out all the time, getting involved with unsuitable men. She clearly wants to protect her from that and wants better for her- a good education etc.

I think it was fear too and that meeting her friends and potential boyfriend made her realise they were to be trusted with her girl

And I absolutely want to be best friends with Georgia (even though I'm 32 so it would be a little weird), what an absolutely delightful young woman.

Lucie can I join in as well?. Isn't she just a darling..

well, I watched it preparing to hoik up my judgey pants, but do you know what, I didn't

I thought that Georgie came across as a totally unspoilt, confident, hard working young woman who has a fantastic future ahead of her.

It seems as though Alicia is doing all she can to ensure her daughter avoids repeating the mistakes she made, encouraging her to do her school work ( well, except for the mock exam fiasco, but who knows how much was played up for the camera ?) and getting to know her friends and ensuring Georgie was safe and with decent friends.

Ms Douvall clearly has issues, and the surgery but that seems driven by deep psychological issues, she treats her daughter more as a contemporary or as though she is also a teenager BUT she clearly loves them both , breastfeeding the baby ( surely that wins some MN points?? ) and devoting herself to her daughters.

it actually gave a refreshingly new and quite likeable side of her

someone posted that Georgie looked fed up and pissed off with the responsibility etc

lots of children have all sorts of responsibilities within their families from helping with chores, to looking after younger siblings, help a sick parent etc

my children do a great line in looking pissed off if i ask them to take a plate off the table or run the hoover round their rooms, looking pissed off , esp. teens is the face du jour, whatever is going on, it's not proof that they have shit parents

Im with lulumama .