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Original poster

Libby Purves

61 replies

Marina · 30/06/2006 23:14

I'm a big fan of her journalism and her jolly, warm parenting books.
I was really shocked to hear that the sweet little boy she speaks of with such humorous love in her books killed himself in the family home earlier this week. He was only 23 and had been suffering from serious depression for some time apparently. All the love and support in the world couldn't help poor Nicholas Heiney.
Feeling so sad for Libby and her family now. and for all families out there supporting children with mental health problems.

OP posts:
NotAnOtterOnBoard · 30/06/2006 23:15

yes i heard have not read full story though

Moomin · 30/06/2006 23:16

oo that's really really awful. someone gave me her book 'how not to be a perfect mother' when i was pg with dd1. it was written when her two were little - nick was their eldest. how dreadful life's very sad sometimes

Gingerbear · 30/06/2006 23:16
Sad
tallmummy · 30/06/2006 23:17

that is so shocking! I love her writing too. So, so sad.

TinyGang · 30/06/2006 23:17

Oh I didn't know about that. How terribly sad. I like Libby Purves on R4. Never read any of her books but I know she's done some about parenting.

Original poster
Marina · 30/06/2006 23:19

Press coverage is sparse, friends in the profession are clearly respecting the family's privacy. Small article in the Evening Standard.
She did a Q & A on here back in 2000.
She is just one of those public figures who comes across as 100% likeable and genuine.

OP posts:
MadamePlatypus · 01/07/2006 08:22

How awful, awful, awful! .

moondog · 01/07/2006 08:24

Yes,I read it yesterday (and enjoyed her book,)
Breaks your heart.

footprint · 02/07/2006 11:50

My mum just told me about this

my heart goes out to them

spacedonkey · 02/07/2006 11:52
Sad
pindy · 02/07/2006 12:26

\link{http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=963362006}

This is so sad. Hope I got the link bit right!

pindy · 02/07/2006 12:27

No I didn't but I'm sure you can all cut and paste if you want to read it.

X

pindy · 02/07/2006 12:29

have a look at this OK

Kelly1978 · 02/07/2006 12:43

I got given how not to be a perfet mother by my HV. It's a great book for paranoid first time mums.

WideWebWitch · 02/07/2006 12:48

Oh how tragic. Poor Libby, I like her writing too.

spidermama · 02/07/2006 13:36

I had no idea about this. It all seems so unlikely. How terribly sad. Poor Libby Purves. I can't imagine the greif.

edam · 02/07/2006 13:50

How very sad. Poor family.

sparklemagic · 02/07/2006 13:50

this has me in tears, she's always come across on radio in print as such a genuine sincere person and it's so awful that anyone has to experience this.

It's just an unbearable loss I'm sure...i feel so sorry for her son who found life so challenging, I can't bear it when people seem to be missing a layer of skin like this and unable to cope with life. I think it's the powerlessness - you can't live anyone's life for them.

KateF · 02/07/2006 14:19

How terribly sad. I have always admired Libby Purves and her books saved my sanity when dd1 was a baby/toddler. Nicholas always came across as a gentle, thoughtful child - it's so awful that modern life seems to have little room for people like him

EmmyLou · 02/07/2006 14:25

Sad Sad Sad

Bink · 03/07/2006 09:54

That is so desperately sad.

I wonder if she will ever feel able to publish something about him. I feel that with Libby as a mother he must have had the best possible support he could have done - so to know how the family tried to manage is something that would really be worth hearing. Poor poor family.

themoon66 · 03/07/2006 13:31

God that is terrible. I found her books 'How not to be a perfect mother' and 'how not to have a perfect child' in the library when my first was 10 days old and I was at my wits' end... lifesavers!

Poor Libby and Paul.. I cannot imagine how anyone ever gets over something like the death of a child. My heart goes out to them. Am almost in tears after reading that article.

jamsambam · 03/07/2006 13:36

maybe someone in mntowers could organise aletter from the entire membership...then maybe we should start a 'losing a child' section...

cupcakes · 03/07/2006 13:50

that is heartbreaking. I want to reread 'perfect mother' now but I suspect it may be too sad in the light of this.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 03/07/2006 13:57

That is terribly sad. We'll forward this thread to Libby in a day or so, so if anyone else would like to add their best wishes here please do.
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