To hate those “Mother” / “Mama” / “Mutha” sweatshirts / jumpers?!

[jaffacakemonster]

Those jumpers emblazoned with the words “Mother” / “Mama” / “Mutha” etc. that seem to have been around for a couple of years now – am I alone in finding them just beyond annoying? I find them just unbearably smug, contrived, attention-seeking, cringeworthy… especially as I am currently (desperately) TTC. I think they are kind of rubbing my nose in it a bit, I could be over-sensitive, but aside from that, I just think they are DEEPLY uncool anyway and I would not be seen dead in one! Just smacks of wanting to look like an instamum to me. ABIU?

@firstworldproblems2018 I haven’t read anywhere anyone stating they hate a small brand? (Not that I think SM is a small brand) I’ve read people saying they don’t like slogan tops and off the back of her post they would no longer purchase her products.

Yes. Hate them

I don’t have any SM jumpers as I do find them expensive and I personally dislike the slogans themselves. I do, however, have a scamp and dude jumper and a few others - my favourites being a ‘mother like no other’ jumper from a brilliant woman who talks very honestly about mental health in a way that I found really helpful when I was struggling last year.

My other favourite is Black and Beech, someone ipthread linked to her ‘a mother’s place is in the revolution’ stuff. She’s so passionate about women’s rights and has donated £7k to abortion rights charities. I have a few bits of her stuff, including two t shirts and a few key rings - and I know for fact that she uses only ethical production methods.

Not everything on IG is completely vacuous, and I’m not saying I think SM is either, because you can’t argue with £800k for charity, but I do think you can find things that suit you and mean something to you and if they are produced/sold by small companies then all the better!

Well, quite @firstworldproblems2018
Pubically stating how awful you think a certain parenting forum is, and making all sorts of assumptions about the people that use those forums is really not ok. Why can’t they just be forums, that some people like and some people don’t?

I’ve been away for a few days and am quite taken aback at how my somewhat trivial little moan about slogan jumpers has blown up!

To clarify, I did not realise when I originally posted that the Selfish Mother thing was a charity initiative. I thoroughly applaud that – how could I not?

They’re still not to my taste, and think it’s a real shame that SM has revisited those tired old tropes about “people who use forums”. What is Instagram, if not a forum, of sorts? If anything, she has played entirely into my prejudices of smug “instamums” and what those “mama” jumpers project (in my, perhaps over-sensitive opinion) but I don’t want to reignite that debate, particularly.

Am in the midst of first IVF cycle and the hormones are not exactly doing wonders for my mood!

I have not intended to cause any offence to anyone – each to their own etc. – and I will try not to take those jumpers so personally in future! By the evidence of this thread, a lot of you seem to own them without giving them a second thought (in a good way). Others seem to have been gifted them by their children, which is actually rather sweet, so perhaps my view of them has been skewed by a small proportion of wearers who wear them in a more ‘knowing’, instagrammy way, if that makes sense.

I am glad we live in a country where we can all wear what we like. Let’s sweat the big stuff, right?!

Oh wow, another day, another thing to be judged for and self conscious about. Thanks.

Exactly OP

Everything crossed for you

I suppose people on IG don’t think it’s a forum as it’s a photo then a load of people telling you you’re great . No conversation

Good luck Jaffa everything crossed for you

Totally agree with all you’ve said OP - best of luck with IVF.
I don’t need any extra hormones to feel totally frustrated and sad about all the hate aimed at mumsnet/forums. So dissapointing that SM felt the need to call these places a “hive of negativity” and set all her followers on us (many of whom clearly had no idea about the actual discussion that took place).
SM’s phrasing of her post and her need to whip up validation when faced with minor criticism/opinions about slogan jumpers has left a sour taste.

Thanks so much for all the well wishes - it actually means a lot

Didn't read all the posts!

Wishing you all the best. X

Don't particularly like them but feel it's a bit OTT to read that much into them. It is in vogue to label obvious stuff now. I don't think there is anything smug about the jumper itself, esp when it is a charitable cause.

All the best with the IVF OP!