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AIBU?

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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:
nancy75 · 05/02/2015 13:25

She might not want to make friends with the mums but her children probably want to be invited to birthday parties in future. Just for the sake of her children I think she would have been better keeping this one to herself

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 05/02/2015 13:29

Bit cuntish to publish it on your twitter knowing how many people it would reach, with the possibility of it being picked up by papers.

But those emails are shocking Shock

Calloh · 05/02/2015 13:30

But I thought it wasn't actually the parents of the birthday children who sent the email? So it can't be grabby.

I don't see anything wrong with one parent saying that they are happy to arrange one big present for others to contribute to should they wish. If this email was sent at my DC's school I would totally take it to mean exactly what it says - one person is arranging for a big present for the birthday children, that they happen to know that they want, should some wish to contribute to it then either give the arranger the money or put it in the book bag - but no pressure.

I don't have a problem with MK but I think it was mean to post this. Just don't contribute if you don't want to. It will embarrass the person who was trying to be helpful (saving other parents time finding a present and getting the child something they really want), embarrass the parents of the child who is having a party? And embarrass the child.

Also this is a double party, so presumably £10 is a fiver for each child - which actually is pretty standard, if not less than what gets spent around here by the time you include the card etc.

squoosh · 05/02/2015 13:32

'Although I bet the school gates were buzzing'

Me too! Would be a good bit of morning gossip for the parents.

wheresthebeach · 05/02/2015 13:33

I think it's off to publish it. She's just after the attention.

Some Mum's in our playground have asked for donations to presents (£5) and I don't see a problem with it. Saves me shopping and quizzing DD about what to get!

Willferrellisactuallykindahot · 05/02/2015 13:37

Does myleene klass still live in Cuffley? It's very wealthy round there but in a rather classless 'new money/TOWIE' sort of way, so that sort of email wouldn't surprise me really.

Willferrellisactuallykindahot · 05/02/2015 13:39

And actually in this case, I think, good on myleene!

Emo76 · 05/02/2015 13:56

the emails aren't from the parents of the birthday child.

i have had these emails before and have absolutely no issue with giving some money towards something the birthday child actually wants and is worthwhile.

the emails I have received have always been very polite, asking if there's interest in joining in, no obligation and no amount suggested (except once, which was £5 - hardly unreasonable)

I think her indignation is misplaced.

cannotchange · 05/02/2015 13:57

These parents must have a lot of spare times on their hands- do they have nothing better to do than organising a collection for a poxy present for a child that attends the same school their own ?

LittleBairn · 05/02/2015 14:00

My guess is she knew fine well it would get into the media, anything to get herself in the papers. She has nothing to interest people anymore, her divorce had been done, the kids are older so now she needs a new 'thing'. My money is on stories about how she's been isolated, how her children are being bullied etc she will milk this situation, a situation she created.

Soexcitedforthisyear · 05/02/2015 14:06

I have friends at both the schools her DD has attended and nobody has anything complimentary to say about her. There is another extremely famous celeb mum at the first school who is meant to be absolutely lovely. I don't see anything wrong with the parents asking for the contribution, believe me, there won't be a parent in that class for whom £10 is going to be any kind if issue at all. It's unlikely to have come from nowhere and is probably standard practice in the class.

Willferrellisactuallykindahot · 05/02/2015 14:08

What, so it wasn't the parents who emailed, it was a friend of the parents?

Why? Confused

VivaLeBeaver · 05/02/2015 14:11

Oh I get it.

It's like the Alpha pta mum who organises a collection for the teacher's Christmas present.

LadyDeadpool · 05/02/2015 14:13

I agree with PPs. Her child is never going to be invited anywhere again as the parents will be too afraid of being publicly shamed for whatever reason. There's a difference between ranting anonymously and proving yourself entirely without class. So basically as ever I think she's a hugely self important twat.

Aherdofmims · 05/02/2015 14:16

You do come home from your child's party (if you are lucky enough to be able to afford to give a party) with a bag full of £5/10 presents that just clutter up your living room. That is true.

BUT your child really loves getting all the little presents and unwrapping them, so it is just the parents thinking of themselves and wanting an uncluttered house.

If you don't want a load of presents given to your child just say no presents please. Don't send an e-mail asking for money so your kid can have a kindle. That is, in MN terms, GRABBY.

But MK is wrong to publish this so widely in the individual case.

BeeRayKay · 05/02/2015 14:18

I'd love to receive an E-mail like that!

I always prefer to give what someone wants, and if it was contributing to something the child really wanted? Belting. Better than more arts and crafts tat.

Marzipanface · 05/02/2015 14:24

What was said above. It was an unpleasant mean shaming thing to do. A load of fuss over nothing really

HereIAm20 · 05/02/2015 14:24

When I saw it on Twitter I thought the initial email was from the actual parents and the follow up from another parent (the one that suggests handing the cash to her on drop-off). Whilst I would never ask for money like that when parents have asked for suggestions in the past I did once indicate that my son was saving for an iPod and that he might welcome cash. However I did not suggest there was an appropriate amount at all. I was surprised at how generous some people were and indeed wondered if I had been under-buying! I suspect there was probably a history of pushy-mum ness for Mylene to decide to tweet about it rather than being the first occasion.

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 05/02/2015 14:26

In my most humble opinion....

Getting cash for an older child to put towards a more expensive present can be a great idea, but you can't ask for it. You have to wait for the other mother to sk what your DC wants, then bemoan the fact that your DC doesn't need anything, aren't all kids these days spoiled etc., then be gently coaxed into letting the other mother give your DC cash....

Parents were crass to ask for £10, MK was even crasser to publicise it. I don't believe for a second that she did it in any informative, helpful way. She was just after publicity and prob trying to appear non materialistic after her mansion tax debacle.

SurlyCue · 05/02/2015 14:31

I say fair play to her. Those requests are ridiculous. Maybe this will put an end to graspy parents and make them think twice before trying it on. Why should people just have to mutter under their breath about something so cheeky? Get it out in the open and see if its general consensus or just you.

squoosh · 05/02/2015 14:32

'Maybe this will put an end to graspy parents and make them think twice before trying it on.'

It won't do either of those things.

SunnyBaudelaire · 05/02/2015 14:33

to be honest in the world of North London private schools, a tenner is kind of minimal really.

SurlyCue · 05/02/2015 14:36

It won't do either of those things.

Bet it does at that school! Grin at least for a while anyway.

DreamingOfAHotDrink · 05/02/2015 14:41

Not one person has anything nice to say about MC at her DD's school? You know them all personally, Soexcited?

ISpeakJive · 05/02/2015 14:58

I actually don't think there is anything wrong with asking for a contribution to buy a gift. (Within limits, of course)
The child gets what they want, you don't have to worry about it, no rushing to the shops or mad online shopping and all for the price of a tenner!

The child might be disappointed though. Thinking they might get 10 gifts instead of just 1 Grin