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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:
Narnia72 · 05/02/2015 14:58

In reception recently there has been a flurry of whole class parties. One mum (not the parents of the child involved) usually says they're happy to organise a collection. If people want to contribute they bung the mum a fiver, she then puts all the money together and writes a card from all the children involved. If people want to do their own thing then they do. There's no pressure either way. I know which I prefer, both as a present giver, and the parent of the party child. My child had a party at the beginning of the school year before parents started doing this - we had 30 presents to open - she was totally overwhelmed before the end (and a fair few were duplicates so have gone into the party present cupboard - ahem).

I didn't read the emails as being from the mums of the children involved, just other mums who were trying to make it easy. Far easier to bung a fiver at a collection than trying to think of something original for a child you barely know for the same amount.

I feel sorry for Myleene's kids - at least she'll not get any more emails like that as her kids will never be invited to a party again I imagine!

ISpeakJive · 05/02/2015 14:59

Plus, you don't have to contribute at all. Just ignore the email.

CrapBag · 05/02/2015 15:01

I dunno, I think she may have been a bit incredulous and just shared it, the way many people do on social media these days.

Those emails are horrible and grabby as hell. Surely in posh part of London you can buy your child a desk or a fucking kindle yourself without it being a "class present" .

I like MK's reply. Very witty I thought. Agree with her 'let's put the fun back in to birthdays' too.

Zucker · 05/02/2015 15:05

I do love that the 2 children in question were persuaded to ask for worthy non frivolous presents. As if that justifies asking for the collection, it's boosting Mary and Jane's education by 100% identities changed to protect the fun deprived

blowinahoolie · 05/02/2015 15:06

That's disgusting having a birthday gift list for a child. Take what you get and be grateful. Grabby bas.

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 05/02/2015 15:09

I thought it was a brilliant reply.

HamishBamish · 05/02/2015 15:13

She was out of order to take a private email and put it out in the public domain like that. She has only done it to further her own celebrity. Stupid woman.

peppersaunt · 05/02/2015 15:28

A bit off point but glad I'm not the only one who finds her vile!

kungfupannda · 05/02/2015 15:29

I only skim read the article but it looked to me as though the emails were from another mum suggesting a group present. It may well be that someone asked the mums what their daughters wanted if they did a whip-round, and that was the response.

It's not a demand from the parents of the birthday children, which is how it seems to be being presented.

Or have I misunderstood?

Pity her poor kids will have to deal with the inevitable backlash.

Emo76 · 05/02/2015 15:33

kungfupanda you haven't misunderstood. the emails don't appear to have come from the parents of the child involved. that seems to have been lost on some readers.

Loveloveloveher · 05/02/2015 15:40

I nanny a child at the same school as her child. She is being a twat.

The school fees are in the region of £15k a year. The expectation is if you have a party you invite the whole class. Parents can decide if they would like individual gifts or a contribution. The parent of the previous birthday child usually arranges the collection for the next birthday child, iyswim. There are several coffee mornings throughout the year for each class and the Mums would have discussed at one of these what contribution they were happy to give. It's fair for all the children that way. No one is forced into anything but most people are very happy with this arrangement as it means they don't have to go out shopping every second week for a gift, wrap it, cart it to the party etc.

This woman does seem to love a moan about anything that costs her any money! Oh, she's currently residing in an £8,000 a month house by the way.

Davsmum · 05/02/2015 15:43

Most children going to a party take a gift so I cant see the problem with some Mums getting together with an idea to all chip in for something they know the birthday girl/boy wants.
No one HAS to contribute - Its just an idea they had.

Why do people get so offended/upset by stuff like this. If you don't like it - ignore it,..but sending a sacrcastic email back is pathetic.

Myleene Klass is a bit of prat anyway. Her stupid rant about the Mansion Tax showed that!

OstentatiousBreastfeeder · 05/02/2015 15:45

I don't think taking it one step further and informing a public forum about Myleene's personal circumstances is any better than what she did.

This is school-gate wars stepped up a notch isn't it?

Davsmum · 05/02/2015 15:49

They are not Mylenes personal circumstances,..she made it public.

ahbollocks · 05/02/2015 15:51

Her reply was funny but I'm wincing!

squoosh · 05/02/2015 15:53

If that's the case Loveloveloveher it makes her actions seem all the more pointless.

morethanpotatoprints · 05/02/2015 15:55

lovelove

and your employers trust you with confidentiality? Shock you are no better yourself.
I have no idea where you or her live or anything about the children, but it might not be so difficult to find out, depending obviously on what you have posted previously about yourself.

Preciousbane · 05/02/2015 15:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NotGoingOut17 · 05/02/2015 15:57

Regardless of the contents of the email, I think she is completely out of order to share it on social media knowing full well it will be seen by thousands of people. MK may well be a 'celebrity' who wants to court public attention but presumably the author of the email is not and what in most situations would have been dealt with privately, some woman (whether you agree with her request or not) is probably sat at home right now mortified that an email she is intended for a small number of people is being read by and commented on by members of the public.

The email probably was crass but I really think it is an abuse of MK's status for her to share it on her twitter - the author of the email (to the best of my knowledge) has no desire to be in the public eye. MK could have dealt with the matter in a much more mature manner, and in answer to the OP, yes, it probably will impact on her daughter's relationships because who wants to acquaint themselves with the Mother who rushes to tell thousands of strangers (presumably for her own ego) every time you piss her off.

MuddhaOfSuburbia · 05/02/2015 15:57

That's daft morethan

What confidential info has she passed on??

Shockers · 05/02/2015 15:58

Whilst the original emails weren't well thought out, they appeared to be coming from a good place... join in with this if you like, but no problem if you don't.

Her reply intended to embarrass, which is a bit mean spirited.

Davsmum · 05/02/2015 15:58

LoveLove has not broken any confidentiality.
She has provided general information about that school and what is the 'norm' amongst the parents.

vindscreenviper · 05/02/2015 15:59

What an unkind and mean-spirited thing to do, she must have known this would be picked up and splashed about.

SunnyBaudelaire · 05/02/2015 16:01

I looked at the original emails and they dont sound grabby in their context.
Klass on the other hand....
hmmm I bet she was the kind of kid who was a class A biatch at school and then complained about 'bullying'.

MistressDeeCee · 05/02/2015 16:01

1st email says they'd prefer a "class birthday gift" this year...no obligation. Then 2nd email goes on to say "I'll be around every morning next week at drop-off if you want to give me some money". No pressure there then...!!

I think she was entirely right to shame these money-grabbers. If they hadn't been so cheeky and greedy in the 1st place there'd be no issue, would there? I don't have much time for Mylene Klass but she isn't the one in the wrong here. & life really shouldn't be about keeping quiet to "win friends"...I wouldn't want to be in that friendship clique anyway. Honestly, the more I hear about kids presents & birthday parties, the more I think some parents have just lost it..its all about competitively showing off the biggest & most expensive presents/party. Loads of stress over what should simply be a lovely, chilled celebration of a child's special day.