to start a list about all the fucking brilliant mothers there are in the world?

[WilfSell]

Just to give the supplement journos some new angles instead of their tired old cliches?

Hmm, shall we begin?

Indira Gandhi.

I have just read the phrase 'everything seems like implied criticism' on the Dummy Mummy thread in relation to WOHM/SAHM

I had quite a different agenda. Will we NOT celebrate those remarkable mothers then, just because it makes everyone so defensive because it seems like a criticism of your choices? As if someone else being amazingly successful implies your choices are being demeaned? What ridiculous logic.

I see this was a no-hoper. You lot go your own way. I'm off.

"Any outsider can make a judgement about how it must have been at the expense of their children. But we don't really know that do we? The fathers wouldn't come in for the same flak would they?"

No, but you wouldn't tend to describe a successfulo man as a brilliant father. I don't suppose you'd tend to describe a successful woman as a brilliant mother either.

I though that that article was odd, and I skimmed it after a while, because she was obviously on a bit of a wind up mission, and I didn't think she was saying much that was remotely right or interesting. However, I did agree with her that some parents do completely lack the social sensitivity to realise that talking about babies and children non stop is really bloody boring for others, especially non-parents.

oh wilf, don't stomp off. You have created quite an interesting thread with potential for humour for the nobbish among us

Oi! come back! Just to clarufy, I wasn't being defensive, just pedantic!

*clarify!

A little like the Victorian party thread. I was itching to post on that but realised it would go against mn spirit.

Wilf, come back.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Oh, it's gone pear-shaped...

what victorian party thread?

wilf, with the exception of that woman twas a good thread. Pity it went a bit betty.

Good result on Saturday eh?

Anita Garibaldi.

Hepworth en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hepworth had triplets.

Gah, one handed typing (baby asleep), Barbara Hepworth had triplets.

Nigella Lawson

Crikey. I almost flounced then didn't I?

Barbara Hepworth: v good. Her sculpture garden in St Ives is fabulous... Triplets? Fuck me.

whey hey! you're back

Camila Batmanghelidjh ?

Founder of the Kids company

Not even sure if she has her own children, she has still been a brilliant mother to many other children.

I was gonna say Mrs Octuplets but I'm increasingly about her.

So instead: Kate Winslet [OK we could all be radiant filmstars with help but give the girl a break]

MAW BROON - noone is better

indhira gandhi??? (splutter)

Oh come on. I was just getting going. Women who have achieved high office with kids are pretty high achievers in my book, whatever their politics.

Kirsty Wark

May I second Dorothy Hodgkin and add one of her sucessors, Eleanor Dodson FRS who is a brilliant computational crystallographer, mother of 4 (2 adopted) and totally delightful person?

Peachy and Jimjams.

Muriel Gray