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Original poster

isn't Charlotte Raven bonkers?

75 replies

CarolinaMoose · 15/07/2006 23:05

There's an article in today's Guardian by her about how she didn't realise before getting pg that children have their own identities and aren't just cutsey mini-mes, and what a blow this discovery was to her over-developed ego. Weird.

OP posts:
Enid · 16/07/2006 19:37

do you think she has PND?

bakedpotato · 16/07/2006 19:37

I couldn't see where it suddenly had all gone right for her and Anna -- did she conclude that things were much better now that she'd got into child-centred rearing? Agree that it felt as if she'd suddenly sent it off in a panic about deadline.
Weird mixture of frank (had she really come at motherhood believing that stuff?) and ludicrous.

bakedpotato · 16/07/2006 20:08

I just read it again. Much more confused now. Do not understand how the opening (the awfulness of being left in sole charge) ties in with the ending (the unalloyed joy of child-led parenting or whatever).

NotQuiteCockney · 16/07/2006 21:46

The ending just seemed totally bolted on, you're right. And I don't entirely believe that someone could go from being that self-centred to doing anything like child-led parenting.

MadamePlatypus · 16/07/2006 22:39

The thing that intrigued me is does the menu plan come from Annabel Karmel, (think I recognised the fish in mushroom sauce) and is she following it exactly?

Marina · 16/07/2006 22:43

I expect I will be pelted with rolled up copies of the Grauniad but actually the Telegraph's family features are usually better - and less risible. The education stuff is ridiculous, but the family health and dynamics stuff is so much less me and my W11 insane bubble.

Original poster
CarolinaMoose · 16/07/2006 22:55

I think Enid's right (but that's not what I meant by the thread title, honest!) - I think it's like Charlotte's parents made parenting seem like a piece of piss because they were utterly hands-off, she got a rude awakening when her own dd arrived, she tried to impose order with the help of she-who-cannot-be-named-on-MN, and is only now getting to grips with the fact that a little bit of chaos is actually ok sometimes.

Something like that happens to a lot of people (ok, not the beardy hippy bit), but we don't all feel the urge to extrapolate our experiences into signifying some crisis of modern parenting.

OP posts:
alexsmum · 17/07/2006 10:04

it's not just that i find the content of this article ridiculous, i find the whole tone gratingly irritating.

i need to find an organic flour -i bought a hemp seed bar for a treat-'baby anna doon't you know you are meant to share?'

it's barf inducing!

it reminds of the smiths song 'hang the dj because the music that he constantly plays , says nothing me to about my life'

hang the journalist.

expatinscotland · 17/07/2006 10:08

there's a lot of sappy, crap excuses for journalism out there these days.

MissChief · 17/07/2006 10:14

well if you're ex is Julie Burchill (who herself published tons of twaddle about their affair), you can get away with it, can't you?!

CheesyFeet · 17/07/2006 11:27

Utterly utterly barmy.

"In common with most conservative cultures, my family has an inbuilt resistance to calling a spade a spade."

That'll explain why that article was so difficult to read then.

bakedpotato · 17/07/2006 11:38

PMSL cheesyfeet

Arabica · 17/07/2006 13:31

I read it and was completely confused. Not just about what the hell CR was on about (did this article have a brief, or was she just told to go on about her fabulous life for 3000 words?) but also why on earth anyone would consider a hemp bar a treat? Bleeeargh.
This week I liked the grandparents piece and the shopping page, but thought the spread about parents' lifestyles was a bit lazy.
BTW, MI, they don't commission me either! I ge the impression that the person who does do the commissioning doesn't have children, s/he has just read about them in magazines/newspapers.

chubbleigh · 17/07/2006 14:59

Someone should ask Julie Birchill go do a review of the article... she'd get stuck right in.

beansontoast · 17/07/2006 15:03

snap! ditto! me too! o.m.g!!...i had no idea what she was trying to say either.

my knee jerk reaction was to swear at myself and say ''what a pile of shit''out loud to no one in particular...but then i thought 'you always do this....she might redeem herself'...so i hung in there...but oh no..it just got worse

''You need to learn the trick of putting yourself to one side, without experiencing that moment of self-abnegation as a death''....wtf.. TEEN DRAMA QUEEN...does she think this is normal. i feel sorry for her friends.

''keep this simulacra looking spit spot''...I CANT SHOUT 'F OFF' LOUD ENOUGH...

why is it always journos that are asked to contribute these articles...and shit ones at that.

im so glad we are mainly in full agreement... i couldnt have articulated it myself...thank god you did it for me

the other piece [about a womans relationship with her grandparents] by another journo was written very plainly and moved me to tears.

beansontoast · 17/07/2006 15:06

journos i can/could read on this subject...Emily wilson [fav]and jess cartner morley [i know she is strictly fashion...but you know i just reckon id liek what she'd have to say.

Pruni · 17/07/2006 15:08

Message withdrawn

snowleopard · 17/07/2006 15:13

I had to have a read when we were at the beach and my friend who has no kids and declares she doesn't want any remarked how weird and selfish CR's article was!

It was such a load of weird, mystifying rubbish - how she managed to get to her age with such a miniscule concept of what a child is just dumbfounds me. Yes we all get a shock because it's hard work and the emotions are overwhelming - but doesn't everyone know you put your own needs and ego aside when you have a child??!

I'm sorry for "Baby Anna", that's who I'm sorry for. In 30 years time they will be like Brenda and her mum in Six Feet Under.

MrsJohnCusack · 17/07/2006 15:18

what's the point of feeding you and your family organic hemp seed whatsits if you then go and and snort coke with a friend as a 'celebration?'

barking, truly barking

beansontoast · 17/07/2006 15:19

''charlotte's''
''charlotte's treat''

WHO's inner voice is in the third [?] person?

i bet it was all she could do to stop herself from actually saying it aloud.

snowleopard · 17/07/2006 15:20

Actually I did wonder if they accidentally printed it before remembering to edit it and give it some coherence. I've subbed magazine features and you'd be surprised what nonsense supposedly professional journalists submit, before it's been subbed.

snowleopard · 17/07/2006 15:22

I love sharing snacks with my DS - within healthy limits of course oh MN mafia! (though we're talking starbucks muffin not hemp seed bar) - isn't that part of the fun of being with a toddler?

Gah! Silly cow.

bundle · 18/07/2006 11:54

I think parenthood has come as a shock to Ms Raven & women like her because she's had to think of someone else for the first time in her life.

double barf @ hemp bars!

Caligula · 18/07/2006 11:55

Oh yes yes yes

Haven't read the article or thread yet, but wanted to pre-emptively say I've always thought she was absolutely out of her tree blimey barking bonkers

Will now read the evidence...

Blu · 18/07/2006 11:55

I could not make head nor tail of this article! Bonkers.