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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

I'm sorry MN but - to laugh at this?

63 replies

BertieBotts · 03/04/2022 11:14

Just noticed this pinned thread:

How to get a good night's sleep

All the tips are :o :o :o if you have children. Which, er... not sure if anyone has noticed, but...?

AIBU to think this is a totally bizarre choice for a parenting website?

OP posts:

ColourMeExhausted · 03/04/2022 21:01

OP I'm with you on this! DC are now 4 and 6. After too many sleepless years DD6 now sleeps through, but DS4 hasn't got the memo and still wakes some nights. I still have residual anxiety from being woken every 45 minutes for a loooong time. And now the perimenopause is kicking in. So advice that tells me I should be getting eight hours well duh really gets my goat. Believe me, I'd like nothing more!

uncomfortablydumb53 · 03/04/2022 22:10

My youngest DC is 20.. I'm 57 and have Chronic Insomnia I've tried everything I know, but welcome any new ideas.... and enjoy Mumsnet

OUchica · 04/04/2022 05:07

@stuntbubbles, @Fairislefandango, I am no wordsmith but I know that childless word had been used in a negative, judgemental way over the years.
But I understand it was not meant in that way here

autienotnaughty · 04/04/2022 05:21

I have a friend who recently became a copywriter she's writing blog posts about cars, house maintenance, pet health, cooking, parenting etc. She is not an expert in any of these things, she gets an outline then Google's the information she needs to write the post. I always assumed these sorts of posts were written by experts 😂😂

Monty27 · 04/04/2022 05:30

Do people actually get paid for writing this stuff?

A580Hojas · 04/04/2022 05:39

This thread!! Don't let the sour comments get you down Bertie .

There's nothing I like more, when suffering my nightly hours of insomnia, than to read a list of sleep tips I've heard approx eleventy billion times before with some quotes from Mumsnetters shoe-horned in, all packaged up as a big long fancy advertisement.

I noticed a quote from ABetaDad - that's a blast from the past! Has he reappeared or is that quote absolutely ancient?

WhatNoRaisins · 04/04/2022 07:39

Some people are just miserable sods. Maybe a new duvet would help

DHandme · 04/04/2022 07:47

Agree with you OP. I've just read it and it made me laugh.
I basically didn't have a full night's sleep until my DC was 8 due to his sleep issues - night terrors amongst other things.
I've been permanently affected by that, but who knew I just needed ear plugs and a weighted blanket

incognitoforthisone · 04/04/2022 09:55

It's not an 'article'. It's an advertorial for mattresses and bed linen, sponsored by three companies that sell that kind of thing. Last time I looked, people didn't suddenly stop buying mattresses and duvets after having kids.

SecretSpAD · 05/04/2022 20:37

[quote OUchica]@stuntbubbles,
Funny how all the childless people getting good sleep are also joylessly sucking the lighthearted out of your thread, OP. Maybe they need less sleep

I am not sure if I am being sensitive but 'childless people' sounds a bit offensive.[/quote]
No, you're not being over sensitive and yes it is offensive.

But then childless people can't possibly suffer from insomnia or have other reasons why they can't sleep.

MabelsApron · 05/04/2022 20:49

@Fairislefandango

Whereas child-free, for example, does imply a value judgment. To be free of something implies it is something bad that you are glad not to have, which may indeed be the view of some voluntarily childless people, but it's stillnot a very nice way to view children.

What about sugar free and gluten-free? Are those options offensive to those who consume sugar and gluten?

I find it weird that you want to dictate how those who don’t have children refer to themselves, to be honest. What difference does it make to you?

Iamnotin · 09/04/2022 06:30

The article begins with 'Being a parent is tiring enough..' so it is aimed at parents - which shouldn't really be surprising/offensive on a parenting site!

I had a look at it, and totally get the OPs point - that beautiful duvet cover would not survive 5 mins of sticky toddler, and the lovely advice for a calm environment before bed - not if the 6 year old needs a glass of water, and then a wee, and you have to be fully updated on each, but ideally present.

It was a fun, lighthearted post, about a sponsored post targeted at parents, why turn it into a culture war between parents and childfree/childless?

Saintofsanto · 09/04/2022 06:39

@BertieBotts