Pramface Mansion

[000Laura000]

I think this is real...?

www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/beonashow/shows/pramface.shtml

Anyone fancy it?

[Alambil]

What shedev - like getting up, fighting to keep every penny that we are entitled to at every turn because the Government try to keep it from us, struggling on benefits whilst at uni, having to find childcare so they can do post-graduate training in order to have a career and security for the rest of their lives ?

Yeah - really awful role model...

Thanks love... perhaps you should get to know us before you have a go, eh?

[JudgeNutmeg]

Just don't ask what pramjam is. [/shudder]

[colditz]

Sorry shedev, are we bullying you?

We single mothers are dreadfully strongwilled and ironlipped bullying, you know - it comes of being the sole guardian of your child's morals and wellbeing..

How did you manage to spot that we were judgmental without knowing us though? And you must know that we are judgmental, you wouldn't just make that assumption with no evidence whatsoever, would you? Because that would be judgmental.

I suspect that you have got a little pickled with your word definitions. I think that when you said 'Judgmental' and 'negative', what you meant was 'intelligently opinionated and scathingly realistic'.

Not that I'd judge.

[Alambil]

Colditz you have such a way with words!!

[shedev]

You are making assuptions on the programme with out seeing it, that to me is judging???? Nuttcracker, i really hope we don't renforce what "people" think of single mums, in the house we were all different, therefore there can not be one sterotype......myself, when i first split up with my sons dad.... i was struggling at uni too, while working part time, i pay full rent, and barely keep my head above water but i do it, other mums worked too or had talents that they struggled to utilise because of their situation, i personally did the show, because when i first became a single mum, i would of loved the support and company of other mums or even people within my own home, not only i feel i work my socks off just to provide a home for me and my son, i hoped that sharing bills with other parents i would feel i'm just working to survive and that i was working to live!! I'm sorry everyone feels sooooo strongly about this, just wish you experienced what i did and then you may feel different!!!!

[Alambil]

We don't feel strongly about the IDEA of the programme - we are up in arms about the NAME.

There are a billion othern titles they could have chosen - why a DELIBERATELY well known put down? Why make it easier for the public to pick up/pick on us - it gives them ammunition.

They could have gone for something inspiring, aspirational but no - they chose the easy way out - the word that everyone knows, everyone knows what it means and everyone will think "oh, here they are - the tarts and their kids" without a second thought about where any of us came from....

That is what we are judging - not the programme itself necessarily.

[MAMAZON]

well thankfully i have never heard the term Pramface.

quite frankly if someone had called ( as a single mother) such a rude term to my face they would have gotten a double helping of my ever so elequent mouth!

[colditz]

It sounds like a televised social experiment. And we all know how well thought out and carefully executed they are.

Of course, maybe showing something on the television is a good way of seeing if it works, but I suspect that what it mainly does is ensure that people get to rubberneck at the unfortunate.

With a name like "Pramface Mansion", the bulk of the viewers are going to be the voyeuristic cretins who like to sit in judgement of those less fortunate, or those with different values to their own. They will know the term pramface, and if they didn't, they certainly will now.

It's not, actually, a common form of address in the area I live, but never mind, I expect it soon will be.

[shedev]

I don't like the name, but i know the mums that did the show, and 9 out of 10 of them were certainly not "pramface" it's to show single mums are not pramfaces...................... anyway the show was aimed to help........sorry the name puts you off.xx

[Beau2ful28]

My name is Danielle and I was on the show Pramface mansion. I dont need to hide behind no nickname because I am keeping it real.I couldnt give a shit what people think of me as a single mother. I am a single mother by no choice of my own and if the BBC have not portrayed me in a certain way,then thats their business. I know who I am ,and so do all of my true friends, family and the people who know me. If the world has an issue itself with single mums, they need to deal with it cos I am every day. I do not spunge off no benefits,I work, I have a degree, I drive, own my own car and my son is being raised in the best way I know how, nomatter how difficult he can be. So do what you have to do, watch Pramface mansion or dont, it doesnt make a difference to me. But some of you people need to open your eyes in life, cos we are not all the same......
Sometimes I question myself why I did the programme, but infact I learnt alot about myself and other people. I may come out regreting it, but at the end of the day its a choice Ive made and will deal with. I know I presented myself in a good manner,therefore I dont feel I have anything to worry about.
Life is about being postive, so for those of you that are making very negative comments, good luck to you all, cos with that attitude, you wont get far in life.

[wendyhaz]

Why is everyone getting up tight about the title 'Pramface'? What is the problem? If I looked down into the pram at my children?s beautiful faces I would not feel upset that I was portraying a mother?s love for her child. They call old women 'wrinklies'. Should they feel angry that each line etched on their faces with love is something to be a shamed of, no, they should wear the lines and the name with pride, as mothers should do if called 'pramface'. At each stage of our lives we are labelled by people. We can choose to waste negative energy and take offence at each of these names or we can wear our labels with pride until we reach the next one. Come on ladies, surely loving your children and doing the best for them is far better than wasting time worrying about a name some one has decided to use, for what ever reason. Pramface is not derogatory, it is just another label.
The programme itself may be very informative and we may even learn something valuable that can help us on our own journey in parenting. Remember it is just a TV programme and should be viewed as such. No one is forced to watch it but as the saying goes, "don't knock it till you have tried it"
Well done the BBC for trying to highlight the fact that some single parents may need help and friendship to provide the best for their children, whereas others quietly get on with doing the job on their own. I really do not see why at this stage we should be knocking the programme, or the people who took part in it. It seems to me that hopefully all we want to do is make a good job of bringing up our children, after all the job does not come with a set of rules so any advice or guidance is always worth listening to.

[ZippiBabes]

how bizarre

are u all just advertising the programme? i never heard the word pramface before or the programme but then i dont watch tv

[shedev]

Well i'm glad there is some people out there that are not gonna judge too quickly, i was starting to lose faith, Thanks wendyhaz. xx

[Natasha104]

Does anybody other than us mums WHO TOOK PART IN THE SHOW understand the word 'irony'??? 'Pramface' is about showing what we are NOT these days.

Some of us went out to interview the public and we discovered proof that the stereotype of a single mother has changed. I was one of those mums and it opened my eyes.

Jeez, you women are a JOKE..!

Wait, watch and see. We gave up a month of our lives to go on an incredible experience. The toughest thing that I, for one, have done. And my baby son benefited immensely. As did I. And we've made friends for life.

So why are you putting us down..?

I know that part of the reason I did this was to stand up for single mothers everywhere.

So come on girls (and guys), give us a bloody break!!!

[Alambil]

WE aren't putting anyone down - we are merely protecting ourselves from more ridicule and ostrasising.

I am in the middle of being ignored, looked down on and looked THROUGH on the playground twice a day.

No, I don't have to justify myself to these women - yes, they are in the wrong for being so judgemental but phrases and programmes such as these will not help their impression of me... they know nothing of why I am single - all they know is "she is 25 with a 5 yr old - she was 19 and therefore a teen mum therefore she is awful as a person/a slut/after my husband" etc etc

Don't tell me it doesn't happen - I'M LIVING IT!

[Alambil]

er, clearly I meant OSTRACISING

[Tonistreet]

Guess what? I'm another one of the Mums from the show and I have read what everybody has to say.

I can see things from both sides. I also disagree with the programme being called 'Pramface Mansion'. I also had to laugh at the BBC blog about the programme who described us Mums as 'gymslip' (I'm 36).

Here comes the honest bit.......... I took part in the programme because I wanted to be on TV. So shoot me for wanting my five minutes! Now I've spent a few months living my life in front of TV cameras, I've decided I don't want to be famous and present Loose Women anymore. But I've gone and done it now (not presented Loose Women obviously). I know that I'm going to come across badly. I think I'm going to be the bitchy one of the programme. I think this because I've watched tv before and realise that these kind of programmes never show everybody getting along nicely and doing things well. How boring would that be? We were filmed 24/7 and they have to condense that down. Of course they're going to show all the arguments and mess ups. So I've probably made an arse of myself on national tv - hey ho! My family and friends know what I'm really like (the un-edited version)and that is what's important.

I personally didn't gain very much from the whole experience other than meeting some great people who I will probably stay in touch with for years to come. I have a very comfortable life as a single parent of three children (I've been divorced for four years). I have a lovely house and a great job. Maybe it's my age, but I certainly wouldn't consider communal living again because I'm too selfish - I like my space! However, I can see the benefits for some of the other Mum's that took part in the experiment. Perhaps they're just more tolerant of other people than I am.

So whether you decide to watch the programme or not makes no odds to me. But if you do tune in when it airs - I'm the old one that drank alot of tea!!!!!

[Debra1981]

i'd never heard this term before, it might be meant to be offensive but doesn't sound it to me, what is so strange about a mum pushing a little one around in a pushchair? mums with partners do it all the time too?! if someone called me it i'd probably laugh cos it sounds weak. anyway life's too short to worry about what the people around me think of me, i simply get on with doing my best for dd and being very proud of her. if ignorant people look down on me, that's their loss- and they don't deserve any upset or response.

[TigerPants]

Ah well, 'Loose Women' is shit anyway!

[shedev]

LEWSISFAN , i think this programme IS set up to help you, alot of the mums were 19 when we had our kids, myself included, so when it sees mums like us, doing well..... other people might think twice about judging a girl/woman in a similar situation (you)?????? Why are you so defensive? You had a hard time in the past?

[Alambil]

Yes, hard time in the past, hard time now - in fact, being a single mum IME hasn't been easy at ALL - not even for a day...

[shedev]

So why does this not appeal to you then LEWISFAN, do you not think living with another parent or parents in a similar situation would help? Having someone to turn to? To share all the household responsibilities? To share the happy times and the tears. Forget the word "pramface" as it's been said before it's irony...... I'm sorry your having a hard time, just look at your beautiful child and tell yourself why your doing it. Good luck for the future xx