Bohemian, "lefty" free range middle class parenting really just lazy neglectful parenting jazzed up?

[Naturelover5]

In my three dc's classes we have some of these bohemian, creative lefty parents.. The children are unkempt, scruffy, hair undone & dressed without fail in mismatched clothes... Some of the children have very questionable manners & are either running amock or with their heads glued to screens constantly (as seen on holiday recently, loud obnoxious parents quaffing seccy while the kids were largely ignored).. If council estate kids were dirty, scruffy & looked uncared for social services would be called.. For this particular group (& they are everywhere) the barefoot, scruffy kids are seen as badges of honour..
The lefty parent types are also very anti homework & organised activities outside school as they think kids should be kids however aibu to think they are just lazy & couldn't be arsed putting the effort in?!

The funny thing is the self proclaimed "eco warrior" mum has 4 kids & would love a 5th (obviously no problems with overpopulation) 🤔 drives a 4x4, the family are always jet setting (the American fly drive was this years big holibobs😉) yet has the neck to scold a mum for plastic use cutlery...
I think the main thing with this type is there complete & utter lack of self awareness... They think they're alternative & different because they let the kids run around dirty in badly fitting clothes & think they're saving the planet by only buying organic or vegan produce..
Don't get me started on the anti vax stance...
A man my DH knows is really into saving the environment & is constantly jetting around the world to see the effects of climate change 😅 he doesn't see the irony & he is part of the problem...it's OK for him to do it but no one else seemingly!

Yes I think a certain lady who set up a children’s party supplies business was on about tier 2 or 3 of the layer-cake you describe.

Her off-spring made it to the top layer quickly .. I bet they surprised themselves!

Btw I meant to say earlier that the “leftie” business is just ridiculous. As if they would vote labour 🙄

I think you are confusing the crunchy set with all MC people.

The crunchy set are annoying and probably mostly MC but I know people who you would probably consider WC who are very crunchy eco warriors and only ever ride bikes and go camping but also have four kids.

What people find annoying is being preached to and criticised. So it cuts both ways. I personally find preachy wannabe Hyacinth Buckets incredibly rude and irritating.

Couldn't agree more. We live in area like this and my dh (who is black) always says "imagine if we let pur kids go to school with dirty uniform, hair a mess and holes in their shoes". We'd have "welfare concerns" and ss called on us. But its all fine for little Boden clad Esmeralda/Ruben to turn up like that. What annoys me to the core is things like "hair policy" where black hair is seen as "unprofessional" or "untidy" but little Elliot can turn up with long uncombed and filthy hair (with nits)....

The posh parents round here seem to love scruffy kids, hair needs cutting white school shirts are dirty grey and why do they all put cords on kids? Is it a toffs uniform? The council house kids are always well groomed and clean because they know that even with their kids looking like Worzel Gummidges love child the toffs still look down on them!

That sounds like an episode of the Beano. Where exactly do these council oiks v toffs standoffs take place?

MISMATCHED CLOTHES?

That really is the last straw. For God's sake, DO SOMETHING!

Parts of Norfolk are FULL of wafty, brown or orange dungaree- wearing, pretending to be posh when their houses are s++tholes, hippy (lazy) parents with feral kids on holiday - have met ALOT there when visiting family

What?! My kids almost always wear mismatched clothes and I sometimes don’t even brush my hair. I don’t believe in homework really. But I’m a lefty and my kids have good manners. I limit screen time because I’d rather they did other stuff. It’s as if people can’t really be put into neat stereotypes.

Not forcing homework to “preserve relationship” with child is very common too I find…

Judgy wudgy

I am.a Right-wing non parent who doesn't believe in making kids wear uniforms, do homework or go to bed early. Petty rules annoy me and always have
As for housework - whoever feels like doing it should . Can't say fairer than that can I?

I agree. I do not understand what the thing is with this "lefty" attack, as if it is a crime to care.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

The amount of times you’ve mentioned this woman’s American fly drive holiday 🤣 definitely not jealous are you, no siree.

Jesus, could you be anymore up your own arse? Who the fuck are you to judge?! You really must think your shit doesn’t smell, god what a bitch!

MissyB1 As if! Definitely labour voters.

🤷‍♀️ I think filling your kids lives with all sorts of after school activities is lazy parenting albeit with plenty of driving involved - but you don’t have to do much else when other people are dealing with them

@Bib1234 do you include swimming lessons in this? For me, that’s a life skill every child should be taught.

Not necessarily - I’m just commenting on the OP mentioning how these ‘lefty’s’ don’t enroll their kids in anything - but I know plenty of parents who enrol their kids in something every evening and weekend

I don't think I can tell how parents vote unless they choose to tell me. And I'd never ask any other random person how they vote.

I don't think there's any proven correlation between whether parents choose to put their kids through organised clubs outside school and the way they vote. Or I'd like to see some evidence if anyone thinks it exists.

Mismatching clothes are fine, kids need to make their own "mistakes" I went barefoot out of choice in my teens, it was fine

My kids were encouraged to be outdoors and take risks, if it snowed we stayed out all day. My neighbours thought my kids were in mortal danger but they've both got to adulthood without breaking a bone. They also walked everywhere, this meant they had more grit and comon sense @than many richer kids.

So am I a bad parent?

Some bits of free range parenting are good, Mismatching clothes, so what? My issue is with rude children, you do them no favours by letting them be horrible to be around.

Standards do seem to be lower for the posh though.

@Bib1234 Yes, I know kids who are booked into activities almost every day of the week. Poor kids, between the music lessons, football, scouts, youth club, judo etc. when do they get to be in charge of their own time? I think overscheduling organised activities robs kids of the chance to choose what they want to do, who they want to do it with and deal with any problems that come up. Obviously some kids have hobbies, some skills are useful, but some definitely are being too organised by adults. As you say, maybe it's because the parents find it easier.

The idea of letting them out in nature is to let them fight it out and get out their without anyone else around. Like large dogs aftee a good they go to bed tired and you get a peaceful night!

brown or orange dungaree- wearing

Why brown or orange? Do those colours have special significance in the boho world?