Tuesday 16 May 2017

Dear Anna: a Response to that Daily Mail 'Article'

Dear Anna May Mangan,

I would usually start a letter with some textbook niceties, perhaps 'I hope this finds you well' or something about the weather, but I am just about to stick some fish fingers in the oven and crack open another bottle of Sauv Blanc, so I'll cut to the chase. 

When I woke up this morning I discovered I had an unusually high number of social media notifications alongside several 'Have you seen the Mail Online, yet?' messages. A couple of years ago, this early morning flurry of online activity would almost certainly have thrown me into a sicky panic but this morning there was no such fear as I clicked through to your article. I already knew what it would say. 

In fact, if I had put money on it, I would have been on the lookout for a five-point attack:

Something about being slummy. Check. 
Something about swearing. Check.
Something about alcohol. Check.
Something about fish fingers. Check.
An overarching message about how mums should cherish every single moment. Check. 



I do think it's a bit of a shame that you felt the need to attack a group of mum bloggers and authors but I completely understand why you did. We are terrible parents, or at the very least we are all masquerading as terrible parents simply for likes and shares. That's not how us mums should behave, I can see that now. It would be so much healthier for the maternal nation if we all swept our bad days under the carpet and captioned every photo with #blessed. I promise I will try harder.

The thing is, if you had actually taken the time to properly read any of my stuff you would have come across the many heartfelt chapters I've dedicated to my boys, and indeed my own mother, who died of cancer when I was young. You would have known that I regularly beat myself up for not cherishing every sodding second but that on balance, I have decided that sharing the good, the bad and the ugly is more important. Potty training is ugly. Fact. 

You say that you, 'appreciate how this 'honesty' could make new mums feel less isolated and more reassured' but I couldn't help but mutter 'bullshit' when I read that token paragraph, particularly noting that you also say, 'these arrogant women shouldn't forget that, as well as being hard, a new baby is a gift.' 

That was the point at which I knew I had to say something. For all the mums out there who, like me (and Katie, Clemmie, Steph, Helen and Ellie - all good pals of mine, actually, we like to have Slummy Mummy Squad meetings), might read your bile and feel bad for having the odd moan. 


These were for me. The kids have theirs raw.
Admitting to serving up beige frozen goods ('freezer tapas' we like to call it, we're very middle class), confessing to the odd hangover and occasionally ranting about the inability to go to the toilet without a small person trying to unwrap our sanitary items is not boasting, Anna. It's just real life. Whether or not you choose to believe that what we are documenting is in fact our real lives is not really any concern of mine. I shan't lose any sleep over a lack of endorsement from the Mail. The point of this post is simply to say shame on you for failing to recognise the wider importance of this so called 'slummy mummy movement.' 

If taking snaps of fish fingers, cursing the bastard stray Lego impaling my feet in the middle of the night and offering a virtual hug to mums who are having a shitty day is wrong then shoot me down, because I don't want to be right.

I would like to conclude by saying a massive thank you for sending an extra thousand or so followers my way just this morning, and pushing both my books back up the chart (I'm guessing that probably wasn't your intention but I am ever so grateful, thank you). I couldn't help but think your mention of our bestselling books smacked of jealousy, which I can't for the life of me understand because your own parenting manual, The Pushy Mother's Guide, sounds like an absolute classic. 

Have a lovely day, I know I will.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Turner
A boastful slummy mummy from Devon. 

199 comments:

  1. Sabrina Andrews16 May 2017 at 14:31

    I fucking love you. Thanks, from another slummy mummy from the shire. x

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    1. Can't believe this paper, who reads it???
      Nuggets is my low, not fish fingers- neglect

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    2. Glad I'm not the only one throwing nuggets in the oven when I'm having a 'can't be bothered where's the wine' day x

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    3. Ugh cant get over thats article. What daily mail will do for a story. Its refreshing to know that there are other mums out there that can relate to the real life of having kids. Times can be perfect, times can be, well dont right crap. And its nice to know that every parent goes through this. I love all your blogs and posts so keeps going at it. Yous are doing fab 👍 xx

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    4. Fantastic!!! my toddler point blanky refused to eat her tuna pasta bake this evening but I shan't feel guilty about sending her to bed with nothing more in her stomach than a bit of garlic bread and a nuttella dip! I shall rejoice in the fact that I at least got her to eat something so must be doing something right!

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    5. What a bloody legend. So well put.

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  2. The perfect response from the perfect imperfect reality! God I hate the Daily Mail. Twats. Admiring you muchly!

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  3. BOOM! Nailed it, good for you and never stop(!) you keep me sane and feel like I'm not losing at motherhood alone x.

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    1. "not losing at motherhood alone" ahahaha. I think i need to make this an inspirational poster with sea/sunset background and put it on my wall.

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  4. Spot on! Shame on her and shame on the Daily Fail. Yours and other mummy blogs have genuinely saved my sanity at times because i know I'm not alone and I'm not a horrible person for failing to feel #soblessed every bloody day. Keep doing what you're doing! As for Anna - she can do one 😆

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  5. Love, love, love you ���� ignore up their own Arse twats who go out of their way to make other ppl feel crap about themselves - give me your refreshingly honest, wet your pants funny, warts and all take on mother hood anyday!!!just because we're mothers and love our kids doesn't mean we aren't human and aren't allowed to have a moan or whinge when things are shitty!i for one know that reading about your tough times has helped me through my tough times and taught me to appreciate the actual good times but not beat myself up about the shitty times too!ur awesome keep up the good work! Peace out �� Fish fingers and alcohol forever!!!������ xxx

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  6. I'm am APPLAUDING you right now. xxx

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  7. Daily fail at it again shame they are too busy to look in the mirror and feel comfortable Le enough I their own skin to be honest. Mother hoods not all rainbows sparkles and fluffy unicorns it's poo on your floor when the toddler stood next to the potty and pooped. It going for a pee with am audience and celebratory good girl from the two year old. It's being so tired you brush your teeth three times and fall asleep in your cold soup at 10pm. If we could all be pintrest mums wouldn't that be great but let's be honest who's the biggest fibber and not enjoying family life the full.

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  8. Well said!! We all deserve a good moan and a bloody huge glass of very strong alcohol after a rather shit day! What a twollop! Xx

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  9. Right on! Slummy mummies unite!!!!!!

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  10. Alex (falling into that Slummy Mummy category)16 May 2017 at 14:41

    Amazing....yes of course a new baby is a gift and even more so if it has not been a smooth conception, but Christ alive....they push, they test, they push some more. So you know what if fish fingers gets me through that day's dinner battle then so what!!
    Outstanding response in my opinion... go you!! 🙌🏼

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  11. Fab response. I found your blog three years ago after the birth of my first son when I was in the depths of PND and finding life with a baby much harder than 'people' is right.
    Your blog showed me for the first time that it's ok not to #cherisheverymoment and I've given copies of your books for every new mum I know in an effort to normalise those feelings.
    I salute you and the rest of the 'slummy mummy movement' though shouldn't it really be an 'honest mummy movement'?

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  12. I salute you for that fantastic comeback. I haven't even read the article in question, and nor do I wish to, but I think I get the gist of it from everything I have seen online today. It appears to be sanctimonious rubbish! Thank you for cheering me up when I need it, and for reminding me that I don't have to be the perfect Mama all the time.

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  13. From one fish finger loving mum to the next, well said! U go girl!

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  14. Bloody brilliant well done Sarah !

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  15. Love it! Keep doing what you're doing xxx

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  16. Love it! Keep doing what you're doing xxx

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  17. Sallyanne Slumster16 May 2017 at 14:43

    Love you Unmumsy. You should have an OBE in my opinion. Are you sure that her name wasn't Ruth? Fucking Ruthless. X x hugs to you and your wondrous, cherished in the REAL way, non-Pushily, family. But daaahling, are they wholemeal fishfingers and organic ketchup!! X x

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  18. Thank you for replying on behalf of slummy mothers everywhere who aren't cherishing every moment (as obviously we should be!!!)

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  19. You go girl, from another slummy mummy from Devon. Vulnerability is always a good idea, let's not allow shame to govern who we are

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  20. Bravo!!!! Keep doing what you're doing, laughing is the best medicine, and all us parents need that! Thanks.

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  21. I don't read the Daily Mail (because of chronic left wingism), and I won't click on a link to Mail Online for fear of my computer contracting a facism. But I have to say you may well have saved my life, at the very least my sanity.
    Almost 8 years ago I gave birth to a blue eyed, blonde curly haired cherub-boy who sucked all my self confidence away and replaced it with this thing that is bundled neatly up and called postnatal depression. In actual fact it was four long, dark years of turmoil, self harm, hatred for myself and an erosion of everything I thought I knew about myself. The medication kept me from ending it all but there are vast swathes of my childs first years I just don't remember (cruelly the only things I remember are the worst parts).
    Then it got better. I still feel bitter that I couldn't talk to anyone. My own mother's reaction was 'do you hate having him that much?'
    We had a second, this time a green eyed monster-boy, 18 months ago. He's a nightmare, and been ill since he was born with a milk allergy and growth problems. He ruined my dreams of a calm homebirth by appearing on the side of the a34 on a Friday afternoon rush hour, and it all went downhill from there!
    But I found you. You showed me it was ok to not be the perfect working mother and housewife that I thought I had to be to keep my children happy. And you know what? I'm loving motherhood at long last and my children and husband are happy.
    So quite frankly, fuck the Daily Mail.
    Xx

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  22. Hahahahahshaha

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  23. I am so glad you gave her a virtual middle finger. I loathe journalists, especially bitter cows like this. We love you and the other "scummy mummies" who do so much for the normal parents out there who don't feel the need to pretend life is heart bursting joy 24/7. Keep on keeping on baby!

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  24. Your blogs have helped me so much over the last three years. I struggle almost daily with feeling like I am a shit mum and am completely getting I wrong. Your blog makes me feel like I'm normal. So many of my friends only talk about how great everything is and I'm just sat there thinking what's wrong with me. Your blog reminds me that there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. Being a mum is hard, yes it is amazing and beautiful, but it is crap at times as well. Thank you for reminding me that that's ok, that I'm ok.

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  25. Thank you for speaking up, I'm so glad you did. You and your scummy friends feel like my friends. You share my highs and my lows and make me feel 'normal' (whatever that is!). Keep doing what you're doing, if you are pissing off the daily fail you know you're getting it right!

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  26. Well said you (although I was dissapointed the Daily Mail didn't mention how much your house was worth or show a sad face photo. They really are slipping).

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  27. Go Sarah! I just wish something like today's blogs had been around when my two were small 35 years ago - it would have made me feel much better. Keep up the good work and ignore the Daily Fail!

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  28. Hoorah they roared 😁. Well said lady 😝

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  29. Perfect response! Written by a mum currently ignoring her kids in the wrong section of soft play.

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  30. Absolutely love this! I read the article and she totally missed the point of your guys. Such a shame other women can't empower each other like you guys and so many other mums out there do!! I think we'll be having fish fingers tonight to celebrate!

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  31. Love it! As a mum who just spent the morning trying to coax a poo out of her constipated, 2 year old daughter's bum and is now wondering why there is no wine in the fridge for later and whether she can be bothered to go out in pissing rain to the shops - thank you! I will always be on board with hearing honest accounts of 'those days' where even the best of us wonder 'Why?'
    Articles (and I use the term loosely) that serve no other purpose than to drag people down really aren't worth the paper they're written on. Exactly the sort of drivel you'd expect from the Daily Fail. Glad she's boosted your sales though!

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  32. Couldn't agree with you more - these so called journalists shouldn't get away with such attention seeking drivel...

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  33. I refuse to read the original article as I don't give the Daily Fail any additional traffic, but I can hazard a guess. Needless to say, you've saved the sanity of many, so a huge thank you to you. The irony is that it's the Anna's of this world who make your blog(s) so very needed.

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  34. Your blog just made me cry. How dare these judgemental people write such a derogatory article about you wonderful women who are merely trying to add humour to what is the hardest job in the world. As a mum we constantly criticise, second guess, put ourselves down. Your blogs, I'm sure, help women and men, mums and dads to know that they are doing a good job if they make it to bed time with the house resembling a war zone. To know that if their children go to bed in a warm bed with a full tummy knowing they are loved and cared for then as a mum or a dad you are doing a bloody good job. How dare these pretentious, pompous idiots be do judgemental and down right pig ignorant. To all the mums and dads having freezer tapas for tea, who hide in the kitchen scoffing chocolate biscuits so your kids don't see you. Or the mums and dads who seek a glass of wine before 7pm cheers guys. You're doing an amazing job. Kate Wood

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  35. These blogs save my sanity. When I catch myself about to lose my temper I see myself through the eyes of a slummy mummy blog reader and it makes me chuckle, These blogs create a virtual village, thus preventing melt down and saving my family further angst. Mental health is at a forefront in the media right now; it's a shame that the Mail doesnt see how important these blogs are to help parents to feel that they can cope and are not alone. They also don't understand irony! ��

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  36. Bloody well said! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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  37. I thought this was pretty vindictive even by Daily Mail standards and it misses the point entirely. I think they miss the point on purpose just to create a rumpus. I think they sit around in meetings with an agenda full of potential points they can miss. What a bunch of wallies.

    I’d take this as a badge of honour. Just a very humourless, ill-written badge of honour.

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  38. Bravo. Thank you from all of us that are daily reassured we are normal for not cherishing every exploding nappy, every finger up the nose and every early morning phone call to the doctors. Being a mum is ace, finding being a mum hard is NORMAL. So thank you. #beigefreezertapasforthewin

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  39. This article in the daily mail is the reason why so many women, especially new mums, suffer in silence with mental health issues such as post natal depression. For some sad reason there is people out there who love to put others down, making them feel like they aren't human for being human! Saying what they feel, not being stuck in the dark ages mindset where women just keep things bottled up, raise the kids and keep the husband happy nonsense.
    I have read your books and I think your brilliant! x

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  40. well said Sarah, I read her article and thought "what a load of shite"!! Basically we can't win can we, we're knocked down if we're too #blessed and knocked down if we're too slummy!! Keep doing what you're doing, you're fab xx

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  41. Well done, couldn't have said it better.

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  42. I am glad that vile article will have boosted your book sales and got you out there to other mums who need your honest reflections on motherhood. I have nothing to add that you haven't written already in this post except that you are a bloody godsend to all us mums who every day question what we are doing and don't know whether we should admit that parenting can be a really caro sometimes.

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  43. This is awesome well done you xx

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  44. I do love that feeling when you feel like you've just witnessed a sucker punch to the daily mail... Thanks for responding, despite knowing I shouldn't take anything of that Anna has wrote too seriously, it did still somehow play to my fears that perhaps actually, I am a shit mum who just lazy and should feel #blessed every second of the day.. Anyway your response is reassuring, as is your book. I'm fine, the kids are fine. I love them and fish fingers and gin. and that is also fine. V xx

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  45. I don't know why you even dignified it with a response, but I'm glad you weren't upset by it.
    As a new Dad of a 5 month old daughter I'm reading your first book on what feels like 8 word instalments, it's very reassuring to to read your failings are the same as ours. I took comfort from your reamarks about resenting your husband for going to work every day.....I though "phew, there isn't something wrong wih is"

    Thanks Sarah, keep doing what you do and fuck the haters

    John

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    1. By the time baby #3 was on its way my husband openly admitted to the midwife that he loves being at work for the break! They're now 12,11 & 9 but by Saturday night he's on Just Eat as we're knackered. They don't tell you the facts when you have your first so you're lulled into thinking it'll be just like the movies & books.

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  46. Go Sarah! Absolutely on point and said with your usual panache. I would have just got with "f#$@ off!" to her.

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  47. Fabulous! From a fellow fishfinger and gin loving household 😂

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  48. My gorgeous baby girl is an IVF miracle, and definitely a heaven-sent gift. But her poo still stinks, her vomit still stays in my clothes after repeated washing, and she has baked beans for dinner at least 3 times a week. We're all just trying to get by!!

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  49. Hear hear, well said Sarah. I blooming love fish fingers, especially in a sandwich. Restaurants have cottoned on to the wonder of fish fingers and you can now find a fish finger sandwich on most restaurants menu.

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  50. Your blog is like a big hug! You ladies have given me so much support during the steep learning curve of motherhood, thank you for writing with your heart.
    Shame on you anna may mangan, you big turd!

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  51. I for one am rather impressed, my children's fishfinger dinner looks rather like beans on toast...... hurray for some omega 3!! Are we completing on slumminessness now (what, that's a word).

    From one Devonshire slummy mummy to another..... I can't raise a glass of anything other than green tea (cat pee) cos I'm pregnant! But up yours daily fail!

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  52. I never normally comment on blogs but felt the need to after reading that article. I absolutely love your honesty and has definitely got me through some very low days! Never stop, you are making such a massive difference to so many mothers out there.

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  53. Bloody brilliant! Go Girl!
    Love your work and the refreshing attitude you have towards parenting and loving the hell out of our kids x

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  54. OMG I love this 😂 A very classy and restrained middle finger I must say!

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  55. Thank you so much for being you and being honest and open about what motherhood is really like, I'm just waiting to pop with my firstborn and feel that people like yourself and Hurrah For Gin have given me a much more realistic and healthy expectation of motherhood than any Daily Fail article ever could.

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  56. Excellently put Sarah. I tagged you in a response I posted to Clemmie's wall this morning. I read the article last night and lay in bed bloody fuming! It is quite clear that she hasn't looked properly at any of your work otherwise she wouldn't have said it. What she fails to acknowledge is your engagement, follower numbers and how you have helped so bloody many of us realise that we are not alone in thinking sometimes its bloody hard work and a bit shit. You girls have honestly got me through some very dark days!
    Like you say, had she read anything of yours she would actually know how much you love your boys, even through the potty training days!
    Anna + Daily Mail = Supersized Ruth shit turd!
    Much love and keep up the swearing, drinking and being bloody awesome!
    x

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  57. The Unmumsy Mum Out
    **mic drop**

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  58. Yes. Fantastic. Spot on. x

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  59. To me you'll always be the person who wrote a book that told the truth and made me feel normal. 12 months down the line I don't constantly believe I'm a let down to my Son and I do cherish him (usually when he's looking so angelic in his sleep). Who cares what some pushy woman with no grasp of reality thinks. In our house you're considered amazing for putting the truth out there.

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  60. What a perfect response! This made me laugh. And I was ignoring my son to read it, what a bad mother. He got very excited when he saw your photo and asked if we too could have that for dinner. Well of course son, that's just made my life so much easier! So thank you for making my day better, don't stop what you're doing!xx

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  61. Wait...hang on a minute...someone actually wrote a book on how to be a pushy mother?? I have no idea who this woman is but what. a. knob. Thank God she doesn't like you eh?

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  62. Mothers Everywhere16 May 2017 at 15:35

    *Applause* 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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  63. This is clearly Ruth's long lost sister... Well screw you both and keep on doing what you do! To know that I'm Not the only one not feeling blessed every second of every sodding day means more than you'll ever know so thank you!

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  64. PERFECT response to a load of bile-ridden nonsense. I feel like we should have some sort of slummy mummy special salute of secret handshake for moments like this.

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  65. Go you from another Devon mummy

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  66. I'm a 38 (well alright, almost 39) year old Company Accountant...I have my shit together...that didn't stop me from finding myself sobbing most days when my daughter was born, I sobbed through the sleepless nights, I sobbed through the reflux, constipation, bronchiolitis and baby shits. I sobbed when the HV said "I think you might need some support" and I sobbed when the doctor handed me validation of my failures in the form of antidepressants. Then I sobbed when I read your book...in relief, understanding and validation. She's entirely missed the point-I, like i'm sure do you, love being a mum - but oh my god it's fucking hard. We don't boast at being a shit parent, we understand and support each other as we wing it...sometimes we get it right, sometimes we stick a potato waffle in the toaster and think fuck it. Keep doing what you do xxx

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  67. You can bet your bottom dollar that the twat who wrote the article has no kids and therefore thinks kids are like dolls and we are just being drama Queens. I say to this person come and spend a full week with my kids, and come out the other side without wanting to flush your own head down a loo full of diarrhoea! I for one love your blog as it shows me that my psychotic ramblings every 5 minutes due to my kids utterly doing my box in makes me a "normal mummy" like everyone else and it's ok to think we're doing it all wrong and even more ok to rant about it. It's bloody hard work to keep ourselves alive sometimes never mind little people too so if they think they can do a better job then feel free to come and take over and I'll happily bugger off to the pub and leave you to it. You would be begging me to come back before the ice in my vodka has melted. Stay fabulous ladies xx

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  68. Yes Yes Yes!! mic drop indeed!

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  69. You are completely correct. Her article is mean and pointless. But, in her defence, her book is about helping her daughters secure a place a medical school, whilst, she didn't do *any* home cooking (which must have been a strain, eating all the fish fingers ;)
    But you and the other real mummies need to carry on blogging for all the rest of us who just hang in there between kids, work, other halves, extended family, by the skin of our teeth. xxx

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  70. BOOM, that's how it's done - yes girl! I literally just yelled 'YES' after reading this. You and all the other lovely ladies shouldn't have to deal with being attacked by awful articles like that. Fish fingers for the win! My daughter loves them! She also accompanies me to the toilet AND shower and wakes up at 3am shouting "muuuuum" until i get in beside her. I prefer prosecco to gin but I'll cheers to all you lovely ladies/mums/dads whoever cuz NO ONE should be made to feel like a bad parent this is the reason so many suffer on silence. You are amazing ! Xx

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  71. Thank heavens for real people like you x

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  72. I see why Wikipedia removed the Daily Mail from the list of credible sources...
    You could not have responded better...NEVER change x

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  73. From the paper who promotes Katie Hopkins - I don't feel they are in a position to comment on anyone elses blog!

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  74. #FishFingerGate hear hear 🍷

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  75. Oh wow, how can this Anna woman be allowed to write such biased rubbish? We all know the reality of motherhood and it isnt a bed of roses every second of every day! Well done on not going 'batshit crazy' at this woman. You're a fab Mum and we all love your books. Here's hoping she reads this and swallows her pride. X

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  76. love it!!! The Mail is a shit pit paper anyway

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  77. The Daily Fail is like that pantomime character Katie Hopkins, if they agree with you then you really need to worry. Love your blog and book x

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  78. This! A thousand times over! Sarah thank you for all that you do. The Daily Fail is sadly so full of absolute crap. The fact that this type of 'journalism' is published to make good people feel bad about the reality of their every day life- is utter tosh! Was it just not mental health awareness week?

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  79. A perfect response to a shoddy shitty article (ysing that term losely). Talking about those shit days does SO much good when other mums hear it, we all know we are so bloody lucky but who wants to purely see the highlight real all the time. Well done for taking it as you have and for speaking up for us all.

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  80. Fantastic well said keeping it real , to many parents hiding behind social media posting perfect pics boasting about them being the perfect parent and having the perfect life where in fact it's utter rubbish it's all for show I prefer to keep it real keep it honest if feeding frozen fish fingers drinking the odd alcohol drink and struggling and loosing your mind from time to time and swearing is being a slummy mummy I'm guilty as charged

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  81. I haven't even bothered reading her article because *kneejerk cod-journalism* and I don't want to give her or the Daily Fail my precious time. Suffice to say I can imagine how bile-ridden it probably was and how it missed the *whole* point of your (and the others) blogs by a country mile. Keep on keeping it real, thousands of satisfied punters can't be wrong!

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  82. This is pure gold, thank you so much! As a modern mum (trying to balance work and home life etc) it's all too easy to be put down by these women who clearly spend too much time worrying about what neighbours think and portraying a perfect home life to actually enjoy and have a laugh at the bad bits and the good! Here's to freezer tapas for dinner!!

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  83. Bravo! ������������

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  84. I wish I'd found you during my first year at home with my eldest, I felt such a failure for not 'cherishing every moment' and feeling #soblessed. Second time round I am enjoying the good moments because I'm not feeling so shitty about the bad ones. My sanity thanks you from the bottom of my heart.

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  85. Nice work and great to see so many supportive comments on here. And wtf is the issue with fish fingers, anyone would thing we'd breaded up a rock of crack and served it to our kids!

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  86. Hear Hear!! (raises large neat gin whilst nibbling on cold fish finger) xx

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  87. Here here!! Well done well said and well...have a glass of something chilled and alcoholic for celebratory purposes good to see you give the Daily Fail a black eye 🍾🍾🥂🥂 from a fellow slummy mummy of two soon to be three xx

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  88. Utter genius. Just perfect.

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  89. Huge round of applause to you 😀😀😀😀

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  90. I'd rather read any of ur articles than one of hers she's not a real fellow mum. She probably has at least one nanny for 24 hours a day and doesn't know real parenting and how hard it is at all. Love reading ur blogs, articles, books and tweets, I wish they'd been around Wen my son was a baby (saying that it's actually more difficult now he's 8 than as a baby

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  91. Cervical cancer left me infertile so I don't have and can't have kids however I follow you because I actually love what you are doing. I follow all your so called scummy mates plus MOD and FOD and I'm not suprised how many followers you all have because you are documenting REAL LIFE, not just a highlight real of all the 'blessed' times.

    Real life is much more interesting, I don't want to see a bleached version of anyone, I love seeing all the funny stories, pics and captions you guys document.
    Keep on keeping on & don't let shits like that ever get you down.

    X

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  92. Once, I was a perfect mother - then the pethadine wore off! Good for you girl, sanctamonious Daily Fail drivel. My kids are 36 and 34 but still love reading your posts and you are helping my family through their daily trials of parenthood. Thank you

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  93. Well done! DM journalists generally bottom feeders - like you say, those who have read your books (and get irony) know that you're a greatNum xx

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  94. I'm slummy but not a mummy, but I think you are brilliant. Unmumsy Mum eleventy billion, Daily Fail 0.

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  95. Brilliant response Sarah! Thank you for keeping it real and keeping us smiling. X

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  96. What a fabulous response. Well done. This is real life Anna Manghan not a perfect world. Fish fingers, lego, wine are all "normal". Maybe you should get a life (and let your kids enjoy theirs too) 😂😂

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  97. Not read the article but I can guess the contents, well said in return. Your posts make me laugh, and most of them resonate with me. Children are a blessing, but then so is a place to live, a job and food on the table but we all get pissed off with all of the above sometimes too.

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  98. Sistersurround16 May 2017 at 16:56

    👍 Big hugs and shrugs from the parents of a 2 yr old affectionately known as Huffenpanten!😙

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  99. I drink my gin straight from the bottle..not the baby cup. Good on you lovely. Ps I'm using freezer tapas forever now xx

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  100. Hats off lovely.
    Perfect response as always.

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  101. What a brilliant response. You show the honest & real side of parenting, that mums (just like me) can totally relate to. Enjoy your fish fingers ��

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  102. U go girl "SMAP" slummy mummy and proud u tell it how it is so many of us put ourselves down when we have a bad day and think we are the worse parents we hide behind our imperfections because we are scared of what society will say or think of us but the truth is we are all the same there is no wrong or
    right everyones journey is different no ammount of textbooks can make u a perfect parent living it day to day taking the ups with the downs are what makes us all human! People are always gonna hate and be jealous of u because u are real in celebration me and my daughter are gonna have a fishfinger and ketchup sarnie because we often like to slum it ! Think we should start a slummy mummy revolution and get tshirts and sweats printed pmsl loving ur work girl xx

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  103. Brilliant response! I, for one, can't thank you and the other 'slummy mummies' for helping to keep my daughter sane and persevering through severe post-natal depression when I am doing my best but live 300 miles away!

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  104. Hahaha legend, well played :)

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  105. Brilliantly put(!) Well done Unmumsy Mum :)

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  106. Absolutely spot on (!) Go u...... :)

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  107. Fantastic!!! High five from a fellow slummy mummy, and anna, if your reading this.... Here's a virtual kick to the fanny you complete and utter twat xxx

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  108. The six years I spent as a SAHM of three were bloody hard. However despite, or possibly because of their fish finger-heavy diet (brain food obvs) they have all turned out to be well balanced high functioning young adults who wouldn't dream of reading the Daily Mail. Job done.

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  109. 1001 new followers! Good job from a mum currently being hit by a toy rabbit having fed them waffles, sausage & pizza x

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  110. https://youtu.be/5eBT6OSr1TI

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  111. I'd be more concerned / offended if the daily mail endorsed me - off to buy your book - just after my little boy finishes his frozen tapas!!! (Borrowing that to pass as my own ;) )

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  112. Go on girl, you fucking wine drinking, fish finger feeding, arrogant and ungrateful LEGEND. Your book was genuinely the turning point in a long black tunnel of post natal depression, after I had my little boy. I roared with laughter throughout and finished your book feeling like I could face both motherhood and all the stresses that comes with it, and the world and its judgmental aura. The Daily Mail is a c**t of a newspaper at the best of times and this was honestly the bird shit on top of the cow pat for them. Keep being honest. Keep being raw. Keep being funny and keep loving those two boys of yours as I, and everyone with half a brain, knows you do. Love you and positive vibes coming your way xxx

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  113. Too fucking right. I see features like this (opinion shite) and wonder what happened to my profession. Urgh. I am deep in the throes of chicken pox phase 1 (eldest aged 7)and just popped the tonic in the fridge ready for 7pm 'golden hour' of finishing off my work, vacuuming carpets, washing the bastard calamine out of EVERYTHING and ordering more sodding online groceries because I forgot pox boy is having a birthday on Saturday and required ice cream sundaes and some form of cake. Am I ungrateful? No way. I wept stroking pox boy's sleepy head earlier, so grateful I get to have him by my side.

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  114. Yes!!!!!!! 🎉👌💙 so much love for this!!!

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  115. I LOVE you. Your boastful, slummy, beige ways have kept me (an anxious, self-doubty first time mum) sane. Essentially, you form an arm of the social services/mental health services which is accessible at 3am. No wonder the Daily Fail don't get it! Your love for your kids is crystal clear. Thanks for being there and doing what you do xx

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  116. Honestly consider Fish Fingers the healthy option in our house with the typical fussy eater! Well done you on answering back, it's the usual daily fail article. You make me realise I'm not failing as a parent keep on telling the highs and lows!

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  117. ✌️ Heck yes. I adopted my little boy so I know how much of a miracle babies are. We spent so long thinking we wouldn't be a family and then we got a little boy. It was a miracle which we cherish everyday. It's bloody hard though and when I was in my darkest place thinking that I was a shit mum because I hadn't given birth to him - that there was clearly something wrong with me - reading your blog made me see all the hardships, feeling crap, cutting corners etc was what being a mum was all about. It was natural. I salute you for saying it how it is even if some people don't want to hear it or feel we should be pretending everything is hunky dorey!

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  118. I'm not even a Mummy and I can appreciate this response to a shitty, self-serving patronising Mail rant. Bravo! X

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    1. Ditto from another non Mummy! #solidiritea

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  119. Wonderful reply !!! Xx

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  120. God I laughed reading this. I love your blogs. I believe they save many a parent from the brink of giving up on a daily basis.

    bravo to you my girl.

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  121. You're my fucking hero. Cheers x

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  122. This response is just perfect! Especially the last bit which made me LOL.

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  123. This comes from a news paper who reported about Teresa Mays legs rather than the important negotiating she was doing as our prime minister. Wouldn't take any notice of that woman hating newspaper.x

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  124. She is clearly a jealous fuckwit. Can't find anything informative to write, that might mean including a few facts. Who reads that tripe newspaper anyway? Blog on girls I am a nearly 70 year old grandma and youf blogs make me laugh.

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  125. She is clearly a jealous fuckwit. Can't find anything informative to write, that might mean including a few facts. Who reads that tripe newspaper anyway? Blog on girls I am a nearly 70 year old grandma and youf blogs make me laugh.

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  126. What's wrong with fish fingers? She eats them! Isn't that the bloody point. I have loads to say on this but I'm fucked and I have wine so hugs to all who need them, we all need a hug sometimes xx

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  127. Another fantastic blog from you that reflected the feelings of many of us. I haven't and have no intention of taking the time to read the article (or anything else in the mail). I can only presume that she is hoping that a number of your followers will read the article out of curiosity and therefore massively boost the numbers who do. What worries me is the other shit these Mum's will be subjected to in the process. Such a huge number of our media are a shame to the country and have fair too big influence on people's opinions, not that you need to worry this article only goes to show how popular you and the other Mummy bloggers are. Keep up the good work, you never fail to make me giggle!

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  128. I'm not a mum, I hope to be some time but for now I am auntie extrodinare. I love reading all of the 'slummy mummy' blogs, I never for a second believe that you don't all love your kids. I love that you're all telling it how it is. It allows everyone to feel able to talk about the fact that they are having a hard time. I for one want to be able to say to people 'this is hard!' and not to feel judged for that. Offering a realistic view of modern parenting helps so many people feel like they aren't alone in a world where the media puts too much pressure on women to be perfect. I think you are all awesome! Keep on keeping on!!

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  129. Brilliant response. Well done!

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  130. What a plonker!
    As a new mum-of-one with PND your posts lift me... Because they make me feel like I am doing something right, that it's okay to take a few shortcuts if that means I can survive another day, if I can enjoy my boy more as a result.
    I'm so grateful to you and the other Slummy Mummy's for that x

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  131. I'm not even a mum and I LOVE reading your stuff!!! The ridiculous #precious #blessed #savouringeverymoment wankers make me want to vomit and, inspite of my strong wish not to have children, those arseholes do make me feel like I'm less of a woman for this. I see all my friends struggling just to get through every day, as superwomen want and need to work AND have a family and I take my hats off to you all. X

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  132. And so say all of us.
    Up their bums.

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  133. Ironically the types of people who actually read the Daily Fail do only cook their children Icelands oven food so who the fuck is that story for?

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  134. The best response ever! I bet she's got a face like a slapped arse right now! 😂😂😂

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  135. Never change! :)

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  136. I can't stand her article. Your books sum up the highs and lows perfectly. "Hurty heart" is spot on for how the good stuff can feel. Her children clearly are blobs that don't have the imagination to make an assault course in the living room 😂. It really is hard and your blog has helped me no end through the first few years!!

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  137. Go you Sarah, love this response x

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  138. Go go go!! Great response. Have just finished the Tesco online shop and fish fingers were at the top of my list :)

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  139. It was a jealous rant by a playground bully. I'm glad you said something in response. A very good response!

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  140. I don't normally leave comments online but I just wanted to say CHEERS! The little one is in bed, full of chicken nuggets and I'm sitting down sipping vino on a school night. Your book made me laugh, cry and feel normal again. I felt like I was reading about my experiences the whole way through it. All my friends who have had baby's since all get a copy from me in their gift! Your book helped me through a dark time.. I know I'm not the only one. I'm sure it's not easy reading all that shit about you. I think people forget they are talking about a person when they're hiding behind a keyboard. That article said more about the author than it did about you. Just know that for every hater there's a dozen people who you have made smile on a shitty day. Fuck her!

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  141. what is wrong with fish fingers? Did I miss something?

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  142. Oh Unmumsy - I truly adore you. Your entire article is so true and so entertaining but my absolute favourite part was the comment about the kids having their fish fingers raw! Fuck her - she's nothing but a Ruth! And just as the comment above says - I have also just had another shitty parenting day but your article has made me feel human and normal again (as you do every time I read your blog). THANK YOU. We love you in our house - please keep doing what you do best xxx

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  143. Like many Mums who have commented on here, I found you three years ago, in the midst of undiagnosed PND. A 36 year old former "professional" who had all of her shit together, all of a sudden, totally unable to cope physically and mentally after a traumatic delivery and a sickly baby. Your blog totally saved my sanity and has made me feel comfortable being open with other Mums about my own struggles. This stuff needs to be said, however unpalatable it may be to those who think we should all be text book mothers who have perfect babies (and toddlers and children) and a joyous birthing experience. It is hard,it's totally the toughest thing I've ever done and I've done some tough things. Sometimes it's a bit well, crap. It's also brilliant. It also means I drink more wine and gin now. Thanks for normalising all of that. For me. For thousands of Mums like me.😊

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  144. And just in case anyone prissy out there is in doubt - yes, an aging slummy mummy turns into a slummy granny!!! And has laid-back fun.

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  145. I flipping love your response. I had major trouble getting my little boy. Do I adore him? Absolutely. Do I cherish him. Of course. Is every day perfect. Absolutely not. Some days his inability to actually listen to what he's been asked or told and just ignoring me or doing his own thing literally makes me want to weep. But I look at him sleeping and still think 'I made you'. Doesn't mean I don't love him because occasionally I can't be bothered to cook and order papa John's instead! See I'm too lazy to even put fish fingers in the oven!

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  146. I'm sorry Daily Mail, I will ensure to appreciate and embrace every nappy change, projectile vomit, floor mop (post dinner thrown on floor episode) and tantrum from here on out. How dare I even consider thinking about where my identity may have gone!? Shame on me. I will strive to raise my daughter to be a true mother, putting aside any self doubt or ambition she may have and solely focussed on dedicating her life to raising an immaculately behaved human.

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  147. I really hope the Daily Fail publish this........ ����

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  148. Fucking love this response!! I find your posts so so reassuring & anyone like Anna who disagrees can stick their opinions up their arses. What you & the other Mums do is show how hard days can be with kids. For me this is getting rid of the stigma slowly but surely around pressure of having to be the "perfect" mum, which I felt huge pressure to be until I starting following blogs exactly like yours. More importantly has helped many ladies suffering with PND I am sure of it. Thank You all for your honesty keep strong of haters 😘

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  149. Fucking love this response!! I find your posts so so reassuring & anyone like Anna who disagrees can stick their opinions up their arses. What you & the other Mums do is show how hard days can be with kids. For me this is getting rid of the stigma slowly but surely around pressure of having to be the "perfect" mum, which I felt huge pressure to be until I starting following blogs exactly like yours. More importantly has helped many ladies suffering with PND I am sure of it. Thank You all for your honesty keep strong of haters 😘

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  150. Brilliant and spot on! Well done Sarah for such a classy, respectable but outragously funny and sarcastic response. Her article rings of jealousy.... and it backfired! Karma is a bitch 😉 xxx

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  151. Bravo. I would applaud you but I don't want to spill my wine.

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  152. If you're living your life in a way the Daily Mail disapproves of, you're doing it right. If you're raising your kids that way, even better.

    You help mums (and dads) on a daily basis. That's how history will remember you. History remembers the Daily Mail as the paper that supported fascism.

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  153. High fives x a million!! We are raising human beings ...it's fucking hard work! Anyone who thinks it's all hugs and handstands has obviously been floating around with rose tinted glasses on and maybe smoking too much of something they shouldn't! I raise my breakfast glass of pepsi to you and all the mums out there working their tits off!

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  154. Tai Ray - Norwich17 May 2017 at 08:52

    I love this response, it has made my morning reading it! I am currently reading the first book you released, with the second one sitting in my draw ready to read and I must say you make me feel more and more normal and human everyday. If feeding my child freezer food is wrong, then so be it, if swearing about my child leaving sh*t everywhere is wrong then I am a slummy mummy. But aside from that, I work five days a week to provide for my family and I think that allows us women to have a few wines, or swear about toys everywhere or just shove a few fishfingers in the oven, because I know I love a great fishfingers sandwich. The sad thing about this article which was released is that the whoever wrote it probably does all the same things us normal mums do, she is just ashamed to actually admit it! I may not spend the right amount of time teaching my daughter the things she should know, I may put a dvd on to get an hours peace to sit down in the quiet, but do you know what, my little girl could not be more loved than she is and I will not let any rubbish article take that away from me. So yes, I will carry on being a slummy mummy, and I will be proud of it!
    Your books have made me feel that I can now say how I feel about motherhood and the good and bad times and I do not feel bad for them, a few months ago I may have done!

    Anyway ladies, hope you all have fabulous day! Lets raise a glass to us all! Were all FAB!:) xxx

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  155. Fucking awesome! Brilliant response. It was notable that there was no ability to comment on the original story in the mail. Not that i read that arsewipe excuse for suppressing women but I've been happy to share my thoughts with them.

    Keep doing what you're doing. xxxxx

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  156. Just wanted to add my support! Refuse to read the DM, it's utterly misogynistic. You write really well. Hope the backlash from your reply to the DM helps to send the books soaring ...

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  157. I've never read any of your blog, or your books, before, principally as I'm not a parent, and certainly not a mummy. However, I love the fact that the Daily Heil has seen fit to have a right go at you. This proves you are doing everything right.

    Carry on. I like fish fingers.

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  158. If your blogs didn't exist we'd all be spending a lot more time wallowing in mum guilt & depression about how we're not doing a good enough job of looking after our kids, managing a household, career & trying desparately to hang on to a social life. These blogs help us have more self compassion when we realise others are in the same boat cos it is so hard!! Doesn't mean for a minute we don't think we're blessed! xxx

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  159. You are the aces. Keep kicking ass and making the rest of us slightly clueless mums feel OK about ourselves! xx

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  160. As an undadsy dad, it is quite clear that we need to all be better parents, I will certainly do my bit to improve following this wake up call from the daily mail. Now does anyone know how to stop two little angels from being bastards so I can cherish every screaming fit? Had an argument with the two year old darling this morning because she wanted toast for breakfast, the fact she already had a plate of toast in her hand obviously escaped her notice!

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  161. Give it to them girl!
    Think the need a reality check... We all can't Cook fresh meal everyday, I try but if my baby teething and the other ill psshh... I cracking the oven love.... Love your blog nd think I have to purchase your book.. I know probs abit late...lol tc xxx

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  162. Give it to them girl!
    Think the need a reality check... We all can't Cook fresh meal everyday, I try but if my baby teething and the other ill psshh... I cracking the oven love.... Love your blog nd think I have to purchase your book.. I know probs abit late...lol tc xxx

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  163. i need the unmumsy mums and undadsy dads or i would drown in self hatred and guilt.
    This bullshit all babies are gifts and you have to feel cherished or blessed having them is true if you want that particular screaming shitting shade of gift. I conceived mine through rape. He was no sodding gift or anything i am thankful for though i am told to be every other day by non parents or family members.
    I love him though to pieces, i chose to keep him, and through hell and high water i deal with it, but having people shove down my throat that my pregnancy was a gift, or that every day spent changing nappies, cleaning up mess and crying whilst friends my age are getting jobs/careers, experimenting and exploring the world is a blessing, adds to my guilt/shame. This is especially so when i have no choice to be on benefit, i cannot afford child care so i can get a job, am isolated at home 24/7, dependent on the goodwill of my partner to support us, and feel like a total drain on society with takeaway addictions due to exhaustion.
    Unmumsy mums, and slummy mummies, well real parents as i have come to know them, help me to remove my guilt, normalise some of my daily parenting struggles and emotional agony. For me, a tantrum resulting in stuff thrown down the loo or a mug broken can trip emotions/voices saying if that guy didnt do what he did, then i could be working right now, making friends, chilling in the bar, being independent but nope; i am cleaning porridge off the floor and wall again because of that one day.
    It is hard to distinguish normal parent pain from pain i perceive unique to my experience, but when i read other mums who haven't gone through my shit, talking about crying in the bathroom, watching their kids run riot because they have had enough, going through days of hating them, letting their toddlers eat chips because this week they cant face the battle of varied diets and vegetables, i feel BETTER. I feel less alone, less like a freak, less like a terrible mum, less like i am gonna ruin my sons life, less like that person ruined MY life. Learning that kids are complete bastards sometimes is something I WISH I HAD KNOWN SOONER. I dont think it would have impacted my decision to keep my son when i found out i was pregnant, but it would have at least prepared me for how crap i was about to feel the years after he was born, and prevented my depression and PTSD from worsening.
    So thank you for standing up for those that talk honestly about parenting, thank you for removing the glamour and perfection from motherhood, thank you for creating a way for parents to feel understood without actually being present <3

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  164. What's wrong with fish fingers anyway?

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  165. You books are awesome, hilarious, realistic and a joy..The Daily 'Fail' is a poo rag.. 💩 stuff them

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  166. Hello token cliched 'Useless Dad!' here. I love your blogs as they make my marvellous wife smile and feel better in ways my words of encouragement are useless... the mail does not.

    So therefore you win.

    Carry on! And i hope you buy a case of Sauv B with the extra profit from higher book sales.

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  167. Bloody well said. I have one little boy and have had multiple miscarriages. I love him more than I could imagine but he still challenges me every single day as only a two and three quarter year old can. The pressure to cherish every moment and not to even mention when things were tough added to my anxiety and PND massively. Having other mums to talk honestly to and honest mum blogs eased it. Had I read the hate mail article at that time, I'd have been even worse. They are just dicks and cannot see how damaging their article could be. Keep on keeping on, we'll all be reading.

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  168. Oh get over yourself Sarah,the other bloggers and the Daily Mail

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  169. Awesome! Well done and well said !

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  170. I'm not a mum (yet - expecting my first in December) but I love reading your blog, it gives me hope. I'm not one of your typical "all babies are adorable and I can't wait to have a hundred of them", I would much rather cuddle my cats. I was shown a picture of a baby at work the other day and because I didn't react with adoration they thought I was weird. I was asked how I thought I could cope when I had my own and it was suggested that maybe I shouldn't...imagine the reaction once they find out I'm already expecting. Your blog makes me feel okay for not fitting into their stereotype.

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  171. Well everyone, Hurrah for Anna with all that playing, baking, painting and for detailing such fantastic parenting skills that just come so naturally to most (apparently) I am sure that all parents/carers of little people out there will endeavour to fit such happy and rewarding activities into their daily routine from now onwards, I am certain that a mummy with PND or anyone caring for a young baby with reflux or colic will make it top of their list, obviously in between the hour upon hour of screaming, cleaning up sick and could even pass the hours while pacing the floor night after night while totally exhausted with a chant of how great this is and how blessed we truly are, Maybe those of us bringing up a toddler who has just hit the terrible 2 stage (So sorry everyone it does exist!) could embrace Anna's article while having Cheerios trampled into our carpet at 8am on a morning, or maybe while trying to get the weekly shopping done on your day off work while your little one decides they just ain't going in that trolley! We must consciously remind ourselves never to complain, yet to fill others with the blooming, joyous, rewarding and happy bubble that not only Anna's article but those of many of the Coloumn writers for those ridiculous jackanory story type 'Parenting' magazines which are rammed down our throat with glorious pictures of slim, happy, healthy, fully made up mummies on the advertising leaflet as soon as your first bounty pack arrives! Life is a blessing but sometimes it's flippin hard going, Just like bringing up children, Personally I find the Unmumsy mum to be somewhat of a parenting bible, I would also say that bloggers and writers such as Sarah and the other (And I quote) "Slummy Mummies" out there are showing that times have indeed moved on, we no longer need to be suffering in silence in our homes feeling like we need to be a child rearing goddess all of the time, because some hours, some days, even some weeks, we are not but that doesn't make us any less of a fab parent/carer it just means we are normal. If you find you can relate to the articles in the glossy magazines then great, but some of us can't, and I think if we were all honest, we all have a bit of slummy mummy in us somewhere! PS Do frozen turkey dinosaurs come under the same terrible category as fish fingers? 😂

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  172. Good on you, Sarah! I'm not a mum but I know of you from around the interwebs. People really love to find someone to pick apart don't they? Glad you got some book sales out of it. Yay for free advertising right? ^_^

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  173. I am so glad you said something in response - I am just trying to find my feet as a mum and a blogger, and her comments got right under my skin. Women should be empowering each other not tearing each other down :(

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  174. I love how united this has shown the wonderful blogging community to be as it really is a wonderful community to be part of. Brilliant response. xxx

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  175. You are actually amazing and I am so glad I found and read your books. I've just finished the second one and it's finally dawned on me that being a great mum is about just loving my boy. I've wasted three years trying to be the best of everything for him, work full time, all home cooked food, lots of activities and do you know what....it's miserable. He got my best efforts but he didn't get the best of me and neither did hubby.No more. Pressure off. I'm going to settle into the chaos that is our life and enjoy every bloody minute of it. I've written that line from your book on a post it note to remind me what I'm now aiming for....average with bursts of occasional brilliance. Thank you so much. Xxx

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  176. I'm not & never have been (nor will be - currently enjoying the wonders of menopause) a mum, but I still read and laugh at your posts. Thank you! x

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  177. After having 'one of those days' where you sit down and just need a good moan and sob, I thought "I know, The Unmumsy Mum might help". Then, long behold, this entry. Someone actually thinks that having one or two 'winges' about how irratic a mum's brain can be (particularly after cooking several meals to find one that your kiddies will even try, whilst forgetting to feed yourself...tonight it was indeed...fish fingers) defines you as a mother. Well it doesn't. In fact, I find a good moan every now and then enables me to relax and enjoy them even more. And this is down to you, Unmumsy Mum, and all of the other mummy bloggers. I feel so much better having read your blogs, and knowing I'm allowed a bad day, just like anyone else. Your response to the Daily Mail made me laugh, it was so accurate. So, if you read none of the above, THANK YOU :)

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  178. Yours get oven cooked? one and a half minutes in the microwave and 4 fish fingers are done. BAM. If they never get oven cooked ones, they don't know what they are missing.

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  179. Do you know what, I've spent the last week or so beating myself up about the hours I work and how this impacts on my kids. I do work from home so yes I'm around, but that comes with a whole host of other worries! My 10 year old holes himself up in his bedroom on his xbox, my 2 year old runs trains up and down my legs whilst I type, my daughter bounces around like a loon regardless. My husband has given me a good talking to this morning though about how I'm doing what's best for OUR FAMILY. Stuff the mummy bashers, I'd love to be a fly on the wall in their perfect lives. I love your blog Sarah and it's inspired me to start my own so please keep going and stuff 'em!

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  180. InthekitchenAmz11 July 2017 at 09:02

    I am not yet a Mum but I love your books and blogs etc, although I much prefer the books audio format as you really bring them to life. I have listened to them both several times. Makes it feel like I am laughing with you. I listen whilst cleaning or driving etc getting used to multi-taking before we get confirmation of our own little bundle of joy. Keep it up, your blogs and advice are brill...can't wait for the next book xxx

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