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MNHQ

Can you do the school run and run the country?

159 replies

HelenMumsnet · 13/07/2011 10:51

Hello.

We've been reading this story about Nick Clegg "killing himself" to take his children to school in the morning - and we wondered what you all think...

Is Miriam Clegg right to insist that she and her husband share the school run - or should Nick, as the Telegraph suggests, be concentrating on running the country?

OP posts:
HerBeX · 13/07/2011 15:56

By the logic of some of those idiots on the link, only childless men and women should run the countyr, or those whose children have grown up and no longer need day to day care.

Either that, or you shouldn't be a politician or a parent.

Or at least, not a good, involved parent.

jellybeans · 13/07/2011 16:02

I think it is good as it shows the importance of putting the kids first and of collecting the kids from school. I think kids prefer it for a parent/gran etc. to collect them if it is possible. And it seems it is possible here so that is great.

HerBeX · 13/07/2011 16:12

What is funny, is how outraged so many people are, that Nick Clegg obviously has a happy marriage and family life and a good, healthy relationship with his wife which is based on genuine respect and equality.

It's a big temptation to hate him because he's such a promise-breaking dick. But whenever I read Telegraph types fulminating against how disgusting it is that he's a good husband and father, I almost feel a rush of affection for him.

Only almiost, mind. Grin

Likeaninjanow · 13/07/2011 16:13

God, who cares?! It's an awful article, reporting pretty much nothing. Maybe he was up from 5am working from home (like me) then took a quick break to take the kids to school. Maybe he'll be making the time up later in the day. Who knows?

For me the major take away from this article is that the female journalist is not a supporter of equality.

Again - awful.

Pootles2010 · 13/07/2011 16:39

Why do I read these things? Moreover, why do i read the comments?

'True journalism' pmsl

meravigliosa · 13/07/2011 17:11

Gosh. Foreign, feminist, doesn't take husband's name. How many more dreadful things could the journo find to say about Miriam?

And kids (at least mine) do care who drops them off.

motherinferior · 13/07/2011 17:20

And she shops in an airport terminal too. Which manages to suggest she is both flashy and tasteless, as well of course as being Working Mother Who Is Away From Children instead of breeding them serenely.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/07/2011 17:25

Nasty sexist article saying that Cleggs job is more important than his wife's. I'm sure she thinks her job is very important. But the DM think that because she's the woman she's tehrefore the one who should have to sacrifice her career/go part time so she can do the school run.

Total bollocks.

maresedotes · 13/07/2011 17:28

Nasty article. I read a similar one by Quentin Letts today (flicking through my dad's paper - honest) and it made me so angry. This article is worse because it's written by a woman.

Kaelle · 13/07/2011 17:36

I think that the school run is a false issue..the real question is how do a highly successful couple manage their parenting roles when they each have demanding jobs?? When time with children is limited, what are the best choices of how to spend time w them? Obviously, each have to make choices, but in my experience, the most valuable time I spend w mine is at bedtime, trying to spend the most time possible chatting w them, laughing, reading, cuddling... And i dont work and do most of the school runs (my very successful STBEH never did any, but that's another thread). If I were the Cleggs, I would make sure I did have a fabulous nanny, but I would limit travel (mrs Clegg), try to get home for an extended bedtime routine (both), and plan frequent getaways as a family. Some of these are tricky if we are to have successful politicians...the job, by it's very nature is demanding!! But the children DO need our parenting! Surely, knowing they are truly and deeply loved is the most important thing, not sharing the incredibly dull and mechanical school run!! I applaud Nick for wanting to do it, but actually wonder if that's the best use of his time w them????

boysrock · 13/07/2011 17:47

Who the fuck cares what his childcare arrangements are?

He has the luxury of a choice in being able to do the school run with his dc. Many many men do not have that choice as work is not flexible. Many many women do not have a choice if they work either. Child care is paid for in order that they can get to work when they are told to.

When Nick Clegg brings in flexibility across the board for everyone to have the choice to do the school run and have a family friendly culture then I will look sympathetic. But as he is mired within a government that is cutting support to families and whose economic policies are harming family life then i really don't give a shit.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/07/2011 17:56

Maybe he likes doing the school run and wants to do it? Maybe he thinks its an important time where its him and the kids and they can have little chats, etc.

Article talks about him racing back from breakfast meetings so he's obviously putting the hours in. Gets to work early, has a break to do school run, goes back to work.

I'm no fan of Clegg but this really doesn't bother me. I'm more bothered by Osbourne going to Wimbledom while the euro lurchs from one crisis to the next.

RedHotPokers · 13/07/2011 18:01

So men can be emasculated by doing the school run????
And the only reason a man would do the school run would be the result of an attempt by their wife (who should of course deal with childreny things like school) to dominate them and generally show them who is boss.

OK.

There was me thinking my DH did the school run because his job is more flexible than mine in the mornings, as he often works late, and it gives him a bit of time to see DD as he often gets back when she is asleep.

I had believed we had come to this decision as a partnership. I had completely missed the fact that it is a wonder poor DH hasn't been rendered impotent by the mere act of having to do women's work, wasting precious time when he could be oiling the cogs of commerce, and making important decisions.

Hmm
Abra1d · 13/07/2011 18:46

We have a deputy prime minister?

[hgrin]

Flowerista · 13/07/2011 18:59

Well it is indeed a nasty little piece of writing, and I think the Telegraph should be embarrassed. BUT I do think that when one decides to run in an election to run the country, it is done in the certain knowledge that sacrifices will have to be made. Sneer all we like about Cleggs value in the current administration, but imagine if he had won the election as he actually set out to do - you can picture the looks on the faces in a security meeting if he pops out to drop the kids off. I want our politicians to connect to the family, if for no other reason they stay (a bit) in touch with the difficulties we all face in time management every day. The Cleggs presumably sat down and discussed how their future would look if they took high powered positions, maybe they even worked out a plan I don't care. What I do care is that he then asked people to vote for him to be engaged in running our country at a very uncertain time, and surely that requires his full commitment. Sorry to ramble. BTW Carrie let Quentin get totally under her skin at the end of the R2 interview and came over as a total loon.

TooImmature2BDumbledore · 13/07/2011 19:14

Ugh. He is emasculated by trying to share childcare equally with his wife? Is this journalist insane? Why the hell should she give up her well-paid job to stand behind him simpering on the campaign trail? He wound up deputy PM - her absence didn't actually do him any harm. And oh yes, she's not allowed to travel for work either because that is bad parenting and she'd trying to have it all. And she's a ball-breaker, smug, clumsily trying to exude one-up-man-ship and has a truculently embattled attitude to equality who has portrayed her husband as a supine weakling? FFS. Personally, I put my family a long way before my job and yet I still believe I do a good job. I think any time he manages to spend with his kids will be good for them all.

Was it formerdiva who said she didn't agree with the macho hours put in at a lot of workplaces these days? I totally agree with you. I hate this culture of 'if you don't work a 12 hour day you aren't working hard enough'. I know that City type jobs pay ridiculously well, but it still comes at too high a price. There is a reason there are EU Working Hours Regulations!

Swedes2 · 13/07/2011 19:19

Couldn't they pay someone to do the school run and both get into work on time?

Next you'll be telling me they both leave work at 2pm on Monday to blue their whites and put them through the mangle.

Swedes2 · 13/07/2011 19:28

TooImmature - Working Hours Directive allows for 48 hour wee (not including lunch hour). You would struggle to make it to work for 20 hours a week if you did the school run am and pm. And heck if I know what would happen during school holidays.

I wish the Clegg - Gonz would just get on with it like the rest of us and stop making such an almighty fuss.

scottishmummy · 13/07/2011 19:31

like rest of us working parents he feels stretched.yes he should share responsibilities and not expect her to do the supplicant giving up work to be a wee housewife

TidyDancer · 13/07/2011 19:40

Oh Lord. If he actually did run the country, that shouldn't mean he can shirk his parental responsibilities. He doesn't come close to running the country, so school runs should be even easier.

pointydog · 13/07/2011 19:48

Crikey, Judith woods sounds pretty screwed up.

Of marginally more interest than who takes the clegg kids to school, is why is that woods journo such a catty witch.

Fontsnob · 13/07/2011 19:48

What a dreadful article.

(Everyone else has said what I want to say!)

Lotkinsgonecurly · 13/07/2011 20:20

Of course he sodding well can.

DuelingFanjo · 13/07/2011 20:23

my first thought on hearing this on the radio today was 'you wouldn't hear a working mum make such a massive big deal of this'. It's just typical isn't it that a man gets heaped with praise or pity for doing something like takiing his own kids to school... oh the horror.

southofthethames · 13/07/2011 20:45

What a daft article - this is why I don't buy the Telegraph any more. What a weird opinion for them to run today. The author seems to think doing the school run must be a really time consuming job that takes the whole day....and apparently picking up a school backpack means you can't think of anything else. I know mums who run companies/work as police officers/manage teams of doctors and turn up to work to save lives.....who also still manage to get the kids dressed and eating their breakfast and drop them off to school without forgetting their homework or permission slips for school trips. If a woman can do it, so can a man.

A deputy PM has aides to field urgent queries, take messages and retrieve information. In the age of the Blackberry/iPhone/simple mobile phone, you don't physically have to sit at a desk to communicate with colleagues or read briefings. Besides, even if World War 3 or a tsunami/earthquake/flash floods were to break out, it isn't going to be Mr Clegg running to the frontline, it's the military personnel and emergency services who head there first. Kudos to Miriam for keeping it real and not letting her husband and her family get stuck in some misogynistic time warp.

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