Jilly Cooper

I'm not against Jilly Cooper. I enjoyed some of her books when I read them years ago and I really sympathised with her when she wrote about her feelings on discovering her husband Leo had been having an affair for 8 years.

It's not that what she says isn't true, in an ideal world, but some of make the decision to help out when it's really necessary and that's up to us.

I wonder if what we decide to do is influenced by what we experienced in our own childhood. My grandmother had a huge positive influence on my life and still does in my memory. In fact, she was a bit of a lifesaver.

JC was probably away at boarding school at age 7.

It's a pity it's Jilly Cooper that has written this and not someone like Katharine Whitehorne, whose articles I used to love reading inthe Observer when I was a young mum [she does still write for them in the magazine]. The words Drudgepuddle and wool woozies were words she used that stuck in my mind at the time. What she has said would have been given more creedence and I'm sure she would have written pretty much the same stuff.

Also, somewhat unusually she is still working at age 75.

JC probably isn't faced with either seeing her children go under financially or agreeing to do some childcare.

She may have annoyed some people in the wording of her article but I do agree with her. There is nothing wrong in Grandparents helping out, taking the children for the weekend etc. Some of my happiest memories are staying with my grandparents. However, I do think it's shame that some g/parents are full time 'nannies', rearing young children is exhausting that's why it's suitable for young people. I have friends who have a regular slot in the week to look after a g/child, they enjoy it and so does the g/child, but all say they couldn't do it full time. They have done their child rearing, it's not their responsibilty to look after the next generation, perhaps before embarking on parenthood some thought should be given to how they are going to manage work and children.

In the late 70s, Jilly Cooper wrote a series of books with girls' names as the title. They were gentle, innocent love stories and one had my name, so I am quite kindly disposed towards her (most people say 'pardon' when told my name)!

She also wrote a column for one of the newspapers which really chimed with my life at the time and I'm sure that, despite her background and money, her life has not always been a bed of roses - similar to the rest of us.

She wrote a really funny book called 'Class' which was a real tongue in the cheek poke at the differences in society during 1970s or 80s (I think).

That said, her latter books are trashy (but not necessarily unreadable!) and she appears to have no idea of how the other half lives now.

And some do get totally taken for granted .

Any person who cannot distinguish between Nanny as an alternative for Granny, and thinks that Nannies are only paid employees, really isn't worth listening to.

She comes from a background and lives a lifestyle that is insulated by wealth and has no idea how hard it is for young couples to manage without the help of grannies - and grandpas, quite apart from failing to understand that many grannies / nannies find it a joy and a privilege to be entrusted with their grandchildren.

Being taken for granted is a different matter, but I find the woman an insufferable pain, and her books unreadable trash.

You would think with all her money she would get a decent haircut. LAL

And mine.....it doesnt come naturally..

What a ghastly woman that Jilly cooper is, noticed how she managed to get a plug in for a book , theres a surprise

Great article! A woman after my own heart!

Very similar to the 'I'm the grandmother not the childminder' article that I read when I was feeling down about my family problems. Still can't cut'n'paste that I'm afraid, but it summed up just how I was feeling [but hadn't actually realised it until I became exhausted]. However, unlike Jilly Cooper I do/did enjoy making playdough and doing jigsaws, it's just that I got tired and sometimes found myself wanting to do something more 'grown up'; something I never felt when I was raising my own kids.

Certainly not me , don"t want to get MY head bitten off ![grin grin]

Good for her! The article should be required reading for those parents who appear to take their own parents for granted as child-carers. Anyone care to refer Mumsnet to it?

Breath of fresh air, in my opinion!

There u go Notsogrand has done it for you ! Thank her nicely

You know you teasers , she written an article entitled "Grannies are not Nannies" , that will put the cat among the pigeons I am sure . Who will agree and who will disagree ? I am not in that position myself as they all live too far away .

typecast.bo.lt/jilly_cooper_grannies_arent_nannies!t

Come on Nonu spill the beans!

What has she done....