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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To think Myleene Klass will win no friends with this...

500 replies

CarlaVeloso · 05/02/2015 11:46

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11391753/Myleene-Klass-Ill-be-collecting-unicorn-money-for-my-daughters-birthday.html

She has tweeted two emails from mothers at her daughter's school asking for cash donations for their children's birthday parties. She's changed their names but clearly they are still recognisable to anyone with children in that class and presumably the whole school will know about it nowthat it's been published in the papers and online.

I agree the emails are completely crass and I would privately think the same but they haven't committed any crime or sent her an expletive-filled rant about something. I opened it expecting to see a request for an actual kindle when they are just suggesting £10. Crass, vulgar, materialistic etc etc, yes, but I think her response (shaming them publicly) is really nasty and may not win her or her DD any friends at the school gate.

OP posts:
JohnFarleysRuskin · 07/02/2015 14:13

These are controlling parents bringing up kids to have no resilience.

Still mk was right nasty to go public on it.

TheChandler · 07/02/2015 19:18

Soleurmange Not like this at all - we use it to take the awkwardness out of asking for cash, actually. and comments about children having an over inflated sense of themselves, whatever that is - they get something they actually want and need rather than piles of crap. everyone happy.

And who wouldn't want to raise a child who refers to presents they haven't specifically ordered as "crap"? I mean, how lovely that they will grow into adults who thinks that's acceptable too!

I mean, the alternative - that children should learn to accept gifts they don't especially like with good manners and appreciate the thought that goes into choosing an individual present, even if it is not exactly what they want, is absolutely appalling, isn't it!

dexter73 · 07/02/2015 20:01

children should learn to accept gifts they don't especially like with good manners

I do agree with this. When my dd was 15 she received a dog toy for Christmas from my dh's best friend. It had us in tears on Christmas Day as we chucked it around for her calling 'Fetch'. She thanked him very sincerely though. I absolutely love him to bits but he has a long history of buying absolutely awful presents!

Soleurmange · 07/02/2015 21:00

TheChandlerAnd who wouldn't want to raise a child who refers to presents they haven't specifically ordered as "crap"? I mean, how lovely that they will grow into adults who thinks that's acceptable too!

Of course. When my child receives the same/similar plastic toy for the 20th time that day, year in year out, I like to say to him 'watch out for that pile of crap, darling'

Because that's how I roll Confused

No, I would prefer to raise children who value being given something they want and need, and in turn doing so for others, and joining in with a community spirit, thanks.

JohnFarleysRuskin · 07/02/2015 21:18

So dc don't get the chance to get a sketch pad because someone noticed they liked drawing or a book about dinosaurs because they always talk about them.
O-kayyy. Mummy knows best.

TheChandler · 07/02/2015 21:35

Solermange so you would be delighted by your dc if they did as my DN did, when DH was left in charge of buying her birthday present (he bought her a doll):

"I don't want a stupid doll. I wanted a Kindle" and said doll was thrown across the room, narrowly missing MIL.

Fortunately, DH wasn't hurt. He knows DN's reputation. I'd say it was pretty well known round these parts Grin

noddyholder · 07/02/2015 21:39

That patchwork website is just so grabby and arriviste Yuk

Haggismcbaggis · 07/02/2015 23:22

"Arriviste"? Yikes.

bumbledoor · 08/02/2015 09:28

Well intentioned gifts are not only about the feelings and wishes of the recipients but equally the person making the gift and it IS vitally important for children to appreciate that. I am not surprised there are objectors who were prob of the Verruca Salt mindset themselves.

bumbledoor · 08/02/2015 09:29

Nor are gifts meant to be about aiding the parent in furthering their plans to override their material shortfall

monkeymamma · 08/02/2015 09:35

Johnfarley - great post and sums up this issue 100% for me.

Horseradishes · 08/02/2015 13:36

Yanbu. I didn't like the idea when I heard of it first, but actually it makes sense to ask for cash rather than receiving a pile of presents. Myleene is out of order.

VivaLeBeaver · 09/02/2015 12:23

Apparantly the head has sent a letter to parents saying if you can't tweet nicely, no tweeting. The phrase "no more unicorns" was in it. Grin

I bet at Mylenes dds next party she gets 30x cheap plastic tat presents!

GoodbyeToAllOfThat · 09/02/2015 12:25

I almost feel sorry for her. It's very early in the day for her to be hated at the school gates forever more, she must have at least another 10 years ahead of her.

waithorse · 09/02/2015 12:41

Watching Loose Woman, doesn't sound like JSP is a MK fan. Grin

teawamutu · 09/02/2015 17:23

By a frankly weird and astounding coincidence, MK is all over the meeja today modelling a new lingerie range.

A scant year after receiving those emails, and a few days after deciding to make them public.

Who woulda thunk it? Hmm

squoosh · 09/02/2015 17:28

Wait......you surely can't mean......can you..............that her email kerfuffle was planned in order to drum up interest in her latest product launch. I'm sure poor Myleene is just as astounded at the coincidence as we are.

Inkanta · 09/02/2015 17:30

I saw that - so it was self promotion then. I see what you mean about her.

squoosh · 09/02/2015 17:32

I hadn't realised the head teacher had responded.

“It was not my intention to use the [newsletter] this week as a soap box, but here it comes… how I wish I could focus on your daughters' education and not on responding to media trivia.

How many times this week have I been asked to comment/act/intervene/reprimand/ … do something! Mutual respect and tolerance. FBV. We actively promote them – do you?

I needed to get that off my chest. Now, on with the week's round up of [school] news. No more parking on zig zags. No more blocking in the neighbours. No more unicorns. And as my granny would've said, if you can't tweet anything nice, don't tweet anything at all.”

GoodbyeToAllOfThat · 09/02/2015 17:35

Frankly I think the HT might have been more dignified in silence.

teawamutu · 09/02/2015 17:37

squoosh how very dare you insinuate that Myleene orchestrated the whole thing as a shoddy self promotion exercise? I'm sure she's utterly mortified at all this unwanted attention.

Grin
bumbledoor · 09/02/2015 17:37

I get the impression that MK is the headteacher's pet parent.

squoosh · 09/02/2015 17:42

I was surprised to see the headteacher respond like that too. Maybe she fired the email off after a couple of Friday night gins, flicking the Vs at the computer screen as she pressed 'send'. Miss Hilda Annesley of the Chalet School would never have behaved like that. She'd have prayed for Myleene instead Grin

squoosh · 09/02/2015 17:45

You're right teawamutu, Miss Klass is burning with shame at the utterly unplanned timing! Poor little Mylz. I feel so sorry for her that I might buy a pair of her new knickers as a show of solidarity. Maybe.

teawamutu · 09/02/2015 18:33

Yes indeed, bumble - wonder what that says about dealing with MK on a regular basis?

And I think the head was pretty dignified. 'I don't want this petty shit being the public image of MY school, thank you' is a perfectly valid position to take and tells everyone where they stand. Even if they are special snowflakes who model pants for Littlewoods.