Nick Clegg versus Gina Ford
Oooh we love a good public cat-n-dog fight on MumsRock. And last week's doozy featured leader of the Lib Dems Nick Clegg who, some might say foolishly, stuck his head above the parapet to offer his view on parenting. Much to the dissatisfaction of the person he proffered his views on, one Gina Ford (aka Miss Contented Little Baby Book).
This is naturally a hot topic that gets polarised no matter how you work it. Follow Gina Ford and people label you as one of those unfeeling, uncaring, Robo-mums. Follow a Spock-crunchy-granola mix of other areas, and people say you’re too soft. In the Mum Support Wars, you simply can’t win.
But no matter which way you view the CLBB routine, reading the interview was a real insight into the personalities:
Nick Clegg: It was like following a sort of Ikea assembly instruction manual.
Read: I am an every man who is prepared to assemble furniture for my family using an Allen Key! I am a real man! Look, I reach out to you – you, the plebeians of the world – by mentioning a Swedish mass market furniture giant! I am in touch, people!
Gina Ford: We live in a democracy, and parents are entitled to choose whatever style of parenting they wish.
Read: I am taking the passive-aggressive high ground here and insinuating that if you choose to not follow my parenting style then truly you are not worth me taking out my thesaurus to find nobler ways to insult you.
Nick Clegg: With our first one [Antonio], like all new parents, we religiously followed Gina Ford. Instructions like, stick him in a broom cupboard at 7.46am.
Read: I have a broom cupboard! I do! Our housekeeper showed me where it was a few months ago, I am quite certain I can find my way to it again!
Gina Ford: What is sad about this statement is that it comes from a supposedly intelligent man who would have us believe that he is capable of running Great Britain.
Read: Gina, seriously. Davina McCall has more of a chance of being running the country than the Lib Dems.
Nick Clegg: I remember saying to [my wife]: ‘Okay, we have got to stop this. I have subcontracted my parental instincts to this book’.
Read: Have you checked for a penalty clause in the subcontract? Often there’s a charge for ending your commitment early, but you could get out of this one with a few well-earned remarks. Wait – what was that? You’re now reversing your position on free child care? You really are a man of the people!
Gina Ford: Clegg may think his comments are funny - and indeed in one way they are, as he has just insulted the parenting choice of more than 2m British voters.
Read: No really. He’s not funny. And I have 59m more people in the population of Great Britain to get to read my book and he’s not making this any easier.
When asked about the rather litigious manner that Gina Ford is known with hitting her detractors with, he had a response.
Nick Clegg: Clegg shrugged off the risk of incurring her wrath, saying: “Go for it! Go for it!”
Read: I am He-Man! I am the son of a banker, your lawsuits hit my Teflon suits and slide right off me! I’m not scared of a 54 year old former nanny!
And finally...Nick Clegg’s spokesman: 'We are not seeking a row with Gina Ford, Nick spoke personally about something very prominent in his life.
Read: Retreat! Retreat!
In the divide between Nick Clegg vs. Gina Ford, we might find it safest to whistle and walk in the other direction. One route will get you the smackdown by the Queen of Routine, the other will make you rub elbows with a yet another politician in everyman’s clothing.
What do you think of the Gina / Clegg debate? Let us know (but keep it 'polite', we don't want to end up in court. No. Really!!!)
You can read more from Shannon at her regular blog Everydaystranger.net
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