More mummy knocking

[handlemecarefully]

Did you read the India Knight article in the Sunday Times (not my paper - was reading parents in law's paper!)

Apparently it is totally indefensible to place your child in a Day Nursery (or with a nanny / childminder) when they are a baby. The magic age that it becomes acceptable according to the law unto Ms Knight, is 12 months old. Any mum farming out their children before that age is simply unfit to be a mother and shouldn't have procreated.

Also, since according to Ms Knight day care costs £60 per day (really ? - mine doesn't), any woman who can afford those sort of child care costs can afford to take a year's unpaid leave from work.

I spent about 2 minutes being upset and annoyed after reading this article, and then tried to dismiss it from my mind (not altogether successfully). I suppose there is an anti mum article (either knocking SAHMs or working mums) every week at the moment, because the media have got it into their heads that parenting is a very vogue and fashionable subject. Its getting mighty boring now though...

I don't know this woman from adam but she seemed "nice" and the sort of person who, if you told her what she said was offensive to you she would be absolutely astounded. Another person like this is the Duchess of York. They just don't live in the world most of us happen to inhabit. She can give all the opinions and advice she likes but I for one won't be taking it - nice of her to mention woolies and argos though.

agree wholeheartedly with prufrock re: how well child settles in daycare being reliant on age they are when you start. dd2 started settling at nursery this morning, and we could barely hear ourselves think once a 14 mth old boy was dropped off by his mum - and this is his 2nd week of settling. I LOVE the IK ambush - let's make it a regular, every time she dares to get one of her mates to print one of her articles. (I also read the Daily Mail sometimes, just to annoy myself )

(dd2 is 7 mths by the way and I'm back at work next week.eeek

I went back to work and put he ds1 and ds2 in nursery at 5 months ,I dont know what I was doing and would never do this now with ds3.

codswallop, do you think ds 1 & 2 got a raw deal out of going so early? or is it more to do with your feelings? (not having a pop, I'm genuinely interested in what people think)
I have friends who put their kids in at 3 months which I think is way too young, but didn't tell them this!

I think htey need to be with their mUm at that age. I was only 3 days and finished at 3 15 but you know...

If I was still working I wouldnt have had ds3

was she pregnant?

I am so sick and tired of this whole SAHM vs Working Mum crap!

I am a SAHM because I want to be. My choice, live with it. Okay, money is tight but I enjoy it. (And with twins the child care costs would be off putting, not that I even considered it but it gives me a reason to those who can't believe I would want to spend 24/7 with the hobbits!)

However, other mums choose to go to work. Whether I agree with that or not it is none of my damn business, nor anyone elses! They will have reasons to be at work just as I have reasons to be at home.

The worst thing for me as a SAHM is the thought I am lazing about the house - I WISH! Nor am I a benefit scrounger, DH works and so did I for the 15 years until they were born and will go back to (gasp horror!) part-time work after they reach school age.

I don't expect any fancy ancy madam telling anyone how to live their lives and criticising (sp?) those who dare not follow their orders! (Having said that I am an opinionated madam at times, forgive me )

Can I make a request? Please stop being so nasty about India Knight's appearance, some of the posts on here are horrible. She may be a mumsnetter (it's not me!) and imagine if you read things like this about yourself.

Slag off her views by all means, but stop being mean!

x

oliveoil, I see what you mean but have you read the interview or any of her columns? She does ask for it IMO - I think she's completely fair game, appearance comments and all.

Me too - if you set yourself up as a beauty guru and are fiercely critical of the appearance of others - not to mention pick out newly bereaved parents to personally attack by name in print, well, then I do think you deserve what you get too.

oliveoil - bless you, you're too soft hearted!!

I do read her columns and I like them most of the time. Didn't know she was a beauty journalist though.

HMC - am drugged up with paracetamol, prob delerious (sp?)

I tihnk bundle's point about the age that a child starts in a nursery is relevent. Ds started at the child minder at 4 months, when I went back to wrok full time. He was always totally happy - both to go in in the morning and to see me at the end of the day, so I never felt any guilt.

It did help that it is the house next door, and I live close to work, so I don't have any commuting time to speak of.

Now that he is three, he runs in without a backward glance (not even a "bye bye mummy/daddy"!), but gives us the most glorious hug in the evening when we pick him up.

But that it what what worked for US - dh, ds and me - and I wouldn't dream of judging others.

Because he's been so happy, I've been very laggardly at arranging his nursery school place: only did it yesterday, so he may end up HAVING to stay at the childmonder's for a bit longer, until a place comes availalbe (council one next August, I'm still wating for information about the private one close by).

I do read India Knight - but usually let her comments wash over me. Life is too short. If you know it works for you - whatever your choice - why let others get your goat?!