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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

jack monroe

84 replies

ihatemincepies · 04/12/2013 20:46

Ok. Going to start a huge bun fight but here we go. Why the heck did Jack Monroe quite a good job then moan about being poor!! Read an article she wrote where she said she had given her ex partner their son on Christmas day because she was to poor to give him a good crimbo!! I could never do that!! Please enlighten me.

OP posts:
autumnsmum · 04/12/2013 20:48

I believe she said child are was impossible as she was working shiftd

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 04/12/2013 20:49

Was the article by Richard Littlejohn perchance?

None of your business anyway so why should you care?

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 04/12/2013 20:50

She left her job because, as a single parent, it was impossible to fit childcare around shift work and they wouldn't give her fixed hours.

It's all on her blog if you are interested enough to wonder.

skaen · 04/12/2013 20:50

Because she was working shifts which were not regular or allocated much notice so it was extremely difficult to arrange regular childcare.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 04/12/2013 20:51

I thought she was made redundant

Daykin · 04/12/2013 20:51

She quit her job because it is nigh on impossible to do shift work as a lone parent with no support network unless you can afford a nanny. She tried to change her hours but was turned down. I suppose she moaned about it because of the dawning realisation that she had walked into a trap.

Original poster
ihatemincepies · 04/12/2013 20:51

The article was written by her for a paper. Why moan when you choose to put yourself in that situation?

OP posts:
BertieBowtiesAreCool · 04/12/2013 20:53

Perhaps she should have chosen to leave her baby son home alone then so she could work, after all, wouldn't be poor then, would she?

Hmm
Daykin · 04/12/2013 20:54

Was it a choice?

Genuine question, I only know bits and pieces about her.

Do you mean it was a real choice to keep her job or do you mean she should have chosen to leave her baby home alone or do you mean she wouldn't have been in that situation if only she'd had a bit more British grit and determination or some such bollocks or do you mean most people would have found childcare for nightshifts and managed to pay for it.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 04/12/2013 20:55

We had this a few weeks ago. It turned nasty then. It will turn nasty this time.

Oh, and you know she's actually on here, don't you? She posted on the last thread too!

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 04/12/2013 20:56

Have you ever tried to arrange quality, affordable childcare to fit round erratic shifts as a single parent?

Because I'm not sure it was a choice to quit her job, and to be honest you sound like you have lived a massively privileged and sheltered life to be able to think the way you are.

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 04/12/2013 20:57

Ooooh, is she on here Heartbroken?

Hi Jack Hope you are looking forward to a nicer Christmas this year!

Heartbrokenmum73 · 04/12/2013 20:58

She really, truly is Penguin - so I've reported this thread because it's having a go directly at a member of the site!

Plus, it's not very nice.

FunkyBoldRibena · 04/12/2013 20:59

Who the hell are you to judge?

If you are so interested read the fucking blog.

PointyChristmasFairyWand · 04/12/2013 21:01

Here we go again... Richard Littlejohn has a lot to answer for.

Relationships break down. Employers end up being uncaring and unhelpful. And since we don't all have crystal balls, we can't always plan for these things. Jack Monroe did her best by her child and then worked her way back up. Stop slating her.

If you're here, Jack - - keep it up.

Fairylea · 04/12/2013 21:01

Read her blog. It's all there.

I used to be in a similar situation. At one point I was earning £27k and was married to someone earning £40k and we had family for support and childcare. In the space of 6 weeks my dh up and left, moved out and essentially diappeared and my family was unable to look after dd due to serious illness. Because my hours were erratic and childcare was not readily available I had to leave my job and relocate. I was on income support for a year before I found something else. It was hell.

Anything can happen. To anyone.

Amibambini · 04/12/2013 21:02

Oh gawd, this again?
Go read her blog.

And then have a Biscuit.

perfectstorm · 04/12/2013 21:02

No, it wasn't a choice. Her child was unplanned and her relationship collapsed. She worked irregular pattern shift hours that included overnights. She relied on a combination of care that often fell apart and left gaps, and meant she had several people lined up at times to cover brief stretches of a single shift each, and her son began to suffer. She applied for a more regular set of hours, was rejected, then applied to go part time, was rejected. She got so low she tried to kill herself, then realised she had to stop working there and get another job. She then found she couldn't, her benefits were miscalculated, she got less than she needed to cover the rent and she was in a net deficit every week.

Not sure how having a job which is incompatible with obtaining childcare is "choosing" to stop work. What was she meant to do, put her son in a drawer? She'd be entitled to benefits now, I strongly suspect, but is not claiming any, as her experiences have meant she is unwilling to risk them miscalculating her self-employed entitlements and suddenly claiming large sums back which she can't afford. So she lives solely on what she earns - which is less than average income at this point, though as her journalism and food writing takes off I suspect that will alter. She's also quite definitely paid more into the system in taxes than she's taken out, given the job she was in before and the earnings from her new book.

Original poster
ihatemincepies · 04/12/2013 21:04

No not sheltered. I just don't understand ANYONE quitting a job during this current climate. I couldn't leave a well paid job without another job to go to.

OP posts:
perfectstorm · 04/12/2013 21:04

I didn't know she was on here. I'm glad though, because I love her. Follow her on Facebook and signed her recent petition.

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 04/12/2013 21:04

Heartbroken - Well, I hope the thread goes before she see it. But at the same time I'd quite like to say hi! I've never been in her financial position, but I find her recipes so creative and inspiring.

Daykin · 04/12/2013 21:05

Could you leave your baby home alone and go to work?

Heartbrokenmum73 · 04/12/2013 21:05

Have you read that Jack is on here, OP?

Are you happy directing bile at her like this?

Original poster
ihatemincepies · 04/12/2013 21:06

Thank you perfect storm. Explains everything and I now fully understand.

OP posts:
Bowlersarm · 04/12/2013 21:06

There was a thread on MN recently about it which was quite informative. I don't know if you can research it?

Just know though, that no one will say anything negative about Jack Monroe on here. She has a God-like status, and can do no wrong.

Swipe left for the next trending thread