To think this is a bit off of the Mumsnet writers?

[WoonerismSpit]

I was just reading the mumsnet development calendar for 9 months, and came across this -
'She will enjoy trying to stack things and put things into containers, although this does not mean she will end up doing shelf work in Tesco's'.

What's wrong with doing shelf work in Tesco's?! Is it me, or does it read a bit 'don't panic, your pfb won't end up a lowly shop worker'? (Fully prepared to be told it is just me).

[Sheitgeist]

Of course it doesn't mean she will Tatty , so why did they mention it then? They must have been making some sort of point.

They did also use the phrase "end up" which kind of denotes a poor outcome.

[CoogerAndDark]

'she may or may not end up being an architect ' could have been used instead. Bit of tongue in cheek aspiration better than choosing a job as a put down.

[LoveandPeaceGonk]

Yanbu

MNHQ can be awfully up themselves. I think they've lost touch with their members.

I just stick to the talk boards.

[FirstOfficerDouglasRichardson]

It doesn't bother me. I think its an attempt at humour, it is not funny mind, but I personally wouldn't read too much into it.

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

conifers that's one thing I love about my job - the hours. My job role is beneath many on here but they use the service weekly . I think it's stupid to have the attitude that a job is beneath you

[Sleepybeanbump]

Very off.

The middle class obsession with naice jobs is insane. And I say that as someone v middle class who learned the hard way when I started voicing career aspirations (first nurse, then librarian) that there are 'right' jobs (dr, lawyer, accountant, teacher at a push, absolutely anything even badly paid, boring and pointless in mediaaaah and anything in the city) and then everything else.

Why do people not want these sort of jobs for their children? Most people would say because they're not fulfilling, often insecure and badly paid. I reckon that the real reason for most people is the social status.

There needs to have more respect for essential jobs. I sometimes walk to work and see a street cleaner on the way and think it would be nice to to be them. Outside all day on your own, visibly able to see the results of your labours and making the place nicer for everyone. In reality it's probably not because you're outsourced on the cheap to a shitty company and people have no respect for you

[snowglobemouse]

yeh that's shitty. yanbu

[MrsTedCrilly]

Very offensive.. A job is a job. As long as my child is happy then I couldn't give two shiny shites.. Some parents have too many expectations.

[MrsTedCrilly]

Agree with others! We all rely on shelf stackers, bin men, food servers.. Society would quickly fall apart without them. Why does working in an office hold so much merit compared to these?

[KateMumsnet]

Thanks for drawing this to our attention. This was, as someone suggested upthread, written in a spirit of self-parody; there's a missing which would have flagged our gentle ribbing of parents-of-PFBs a bit more clearly (curse those low-paid interns ).

Interestingly, this is the first time that anyone's commented in the 15-odd years we've been sending it out - but we do take the point that read in isolation it does seem a bit snooty, and we'll look at refreshing it forthwith.

[prorsum]

gingham I have also performed the fine art of shelf stacking.
Bathseba Like you I've been unemployed for a longtime and would not now be deemed suitable. I'd think I'd quite enjoy it.
Tatty The writer is being snobbish and rude. Why are those who object 'chippy'?

[Womaninsack]

Hahaha! What do you expect from a Leftwing site?

[Womaninsack]

Oh quelle surprise - it was tongue in cheek!

Bugger was it - was typically patronising and condescending. Very Emily Thornberry!

[CoogerAndDark]

15 years?

[ginghambunny]

Sleepybeanbump

You say you envy the street cleaner on your way to work - can I ask what job you do?

[BillyBigchin]

Why on earth would you not take it as tongue in cheek?!

Have you missed all of the other things that MN posts that are firmly in this vein?

[SunnyBaudelaire]

honestly I find it sneery and unpleasant, not doing MN any favours is it?

[MrsGentlyBenevolent]

Oh of cooourrse, we readers took it out of context, and misunderstood the joke. It was irony or something. Certainly not a blatant snub at supermarket workers, just at precious first time parents apparently . Why couldn't 'sorry, yes reading it back it does come over as disparaging of certain jobs, it will be changed' do, with the ridiculous winky faced, silliness, apology?

[MrsGentlyBenevolent]

without the .... apology, that should say

[SunnyBaudelaire]

yes it is the little winky face along with backtracked claims of 'irony' that really grates tbh.

[Sheitgeist]

Exactly, MrsGently, I mean in a spirit of self-parody ... what absolute bollocks!

MN only started 15 years ago, so how could it, right at the beginning, have had image, reputation and presence enough for self parody? How could this caricature of the PFB mum (which only exists on here) be parodied when no one is yet familiar with it?

Just say sorry and change it without blaming us for not getting the "joke" forgawdsakes. The whole article with its slightly patronising, gooey, Boden-journalism could do with a revamp

"... a good party trick"
"... best not let Dad do this"
".. this looks sweet"
"... which will wobble alarmingly but fill your heart with pride"

Fuck off.

I love MN, me.

[Justusemyname]

So rib the parents and slag off the intern

[Soduthen116]

I think they could do the EYFS arts and expressive designs well though.

'Let your baby boy always wear pink if he wishes and ask people to buy pink babygros for him on birthdays. That way by 5 he will be asking for frilly dresses and tutu wings and you know you will be the definitive middle class parent. And of course he will be the most popular boy in the school and never bullied no no never.

However never ever dress your dd in pink or allow any barbie dolls or toy kitchens! That way lies a bimbo footballers wife ( can you imagine the shame of it not being cricket or rugby)

Jog on mumsnet HQ You north London lovies you!