The madness of modern families

[themoon66]

This is on BBC2 tonight at 8.30pm... looks interesting I thought.....

The Madness Of Modern Parenting

All parents want the best for their children but more people than ever seem to be turning into panic-stricken obsessives in their over-zealous attempts to get it all absolutely right.

As this series shows, the madness can descend on many fronts ? from competing against other parents to plan the most elaborate birthday party for their precious offspring, to the quest for the perfect family holiday.

Then there are the lengths parents will go to to get the very best for their child, whether faking church attendance for the sake of a decent school entry or spending all weekend doing their child's complicated school project, alone.

A selection of bemused mums and dads reflect on their madder moments in this entertaining, witty and affectionate look at the absurd behaviour being displayed by parents all over Britain.

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I'm a bit sorry I missed last night's. I like it as a sort of Posy Simmonds satire on the cringeworthy middle-class guardian reading parentoids of which I am a part. And I'm sure education would illicited even more toe-curlingly awful comments than the party one!

I quite enjoyed that book

as some of the bits about the kids were good (i think a dd same age as one of mine)

but 1 book was ENOUGH on the subject

thinking of writing a book called
'Woohoo! Look! I have Kids! Look! Me! Over Here!"

Mitigated by being able to laugh at ourselves, if I may interrupt your provincial cackling for mo', Cod'n'Enid!

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[Londonesque-luvvie air kissing mwah mwah emoticon]

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The school one was dire last night.

I find it all horribly compelling to watch though - I think it's the complete lack of self awareness. these people live in such a strange little bubble with no idea that the rest of the country won't be laughing hysterically and in recognition at their anecdote about waving crisp £20 notes around at the school fair to increase their chances of a place.

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give us an A

agree it was ludicrous - all the parents made me cross and one woman in particular. The one who said that the difference between private and state education in her locality was ' the difference between anorexia and obesity ' among other things.

But if you skip across to the education threads you will find that such parents really do exist! the Tiffin thread, anyone....!!get those tutors signed up NOW.

waving £20 notes around

how degrading and I jsut think it is all LIES!!!!!!!!!1

I remember that one Donnie, one of her examples was "bad insults v gramatically correct insults"

tosspot

I can't bear this programme, I think it's fucking ridiculous. If, what Cod says is right, and they are actors made to say things that 'parents would say' it doesn't surprise me. It's just such a waste of time. Yes, we all know what the scramble for places in the 'right' schools is like, we've all been there, those of us with school age kids anyway, and we don't need this type of twaddle to emphasise the points. The only bit that rang true with me was sneaking a peek in another child's book bag and looking at their work to see how they compare with your child. I've done it. Whos hasn't? I've even looked in luncboxes to see what other people's kids are being given for lunch.

Why the feck was that woman filmed sitting on the stairs next to that hideous bright fuschia bannister?

oooh, I really wish I'd watched it now! Sounds worse than my wildest dreams!

But I do understand how the pressure caused by lack of school places at all in some London areas, not to mention decent, ordinaryily decent, schools, does induce panic amongst parents. I am sure some embarrassing tactics crossed my mind. But i wouldn't have admitted it to any branch of the media.

LOL MummyPenguin - no I can honestly say that I have not looked in lunchboxes or bookbags!

and the woman with her newborn baby who actually slept in the wendy house in the garden of the nursery overnight so as to get in the front of the queue to register her other child there?? these people are freaks!!

agree the pink banister was disturbing.

They were confessing to all these underhand methods to get into schools - did they not consider that the teachers may have been watching? or the mother of the friend of your dd who you were so pleased to learn (having snooped in the reading log) was finding it all far harder than your dd?

vile

Wish I'd seen it too now

I missed this but watched Helen House. And sobbed.

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