My week: apparently I’m “a dick”

So I put myself out there a bit this week on the iVillage Facebook page, and I got caned for it (just a teeny bit). I’m not really bothered. Controversy is good for business. But it does fascinates me to see what gets people agitated.

Social media is so judgemental and snarky and mean.

When I confessed to getting a $120 haircut, one woman told me: “I think its sad to spend that much money on a haircut when some people cant afford to eat.”

Downer.

I really copped it for announcing: “My youngest is addicted to pre-packaged snacks and I’m trying to wean her off. What do you pack in your kids’ lunchbox for morning tea?”

First there was the woman who commented “addicted?” (I could almost hear her tone) and another who said: “Who ever wrote this is an idiot. The only reason she’s addicted is because – you’re a dick.”

And I wrote: “Read my comment above Katie and perhaps understand why I don’t think I’m “a dick”” The comment above said: “She had really severe anxiety problems after a choking incident and we ended up letting her eat anything … just so long as she’d eat SOMETHING – at one stage yoghurt and mashed potato were the only things she’d try – and it’s lead to bad habits … which I am now trying to break.”

Which is only the tip of the iceberg of the nightmare we went through.

But what I really wanted to say YOU’RE THE DICK.

When they’re not slamming, they’re stealth boasting. For example …

I asked: “Do you let your kids watch TV before school? How about eat breakfast in front of it? Asking for a friend … Alana xxx”

And someone answered:  “My son is only 9 but since he was 6 he has set his own schedule, like this is the time i will get up (6am), and if im still sleeping he would be in his room playing games with his toys, etc. Then 6:30 he would have a shower by himself, got ready with his uniform, while i am up preparing his lunch box and his bfast, then at 7am he would be having his breakfast, and thats it. He then normally would play in his room, or watch tv, reading his book etc. I feel blessed and lucky i dont have to tell him what to do, and he is such a good boy. He set when he does his home work too, as well as his own bed time, he would go to bed by 8:30pm.”

Lucky her.

People also got all breathless and outraged that a post on iVillage called “How to raise a kid who isn’t whiny and annoying” referred to “white girl problems”. Perhaps not the best week for it when Delta is being vilified as racist … Anyway, Here are the offending paragraphs:

“I’ll admit. I’ve been sucked in by the radiating allure of Pinterest and the joy it promises. My DIY bangs turned out to be a hack job. My super easy gingerbread men on a stick looked like the walking gingerdead. And that awesome no-fail dessert everyone was pinning, failed on me. It turned into soup. And our guests politely insisted on sampling it and sipping their cake from their bowls like stew.

“Well, it tastes like pudding,” our friend kindly said. They haven’t been over since. I think Pinterest is trying to kill me. But you know what? White girl problems.

I tell this to my daughter. She is two and blonde and beloved by a whole host of wonderful people. So when she cries because her strawberry pancakes have too many strawberries or because I turned off Mickey Mouse. And not just cries, but throws herself to the ground in a righteous rage, I have three words for her before I walk away: White. Girl. Problems.”

Affronted? I wasn’t. But maybe that’s my wonky moral compass on the blink again.

People were also upset that the woman below said: “Somewhere along the line my rambunctious, wiggly, often ill-behaved son went from spaz to total sweetheart.”

One commented: “I am a little offended at the word ‘spaz’.” Another took to Twitter trying to drum up a witch hunt. Didn’t succeed.

Onto less controversial ground … at HouseGoesHome I wrote:

Love notes from my 7-year-old (latest one: Mum

Sticky Situation (about the bunny ejaculating on Husband’s leg)

I discovered There’s A Monster Living in My House.

And I blogged six recipes from the Southern feast I cooked for my mum’s 70th birthday.

And over at iVillage I wrote:

Angelina’s message of hope: “I do not feel any less of a woman”

I breast-fed my friend’s baby and loved it (well, not ME exactly)

I reminisced about 11 craft flashbacks from Grandma’s house

And I got all outraged about the MP who wasn’t allowed to leave parliament to care for her sick baby.

People went absolutely ape – in a good way – over a post called “You are not a terrible parent if you …”

Among the heartfelt responses: “I cannot tell you how much I needed to read that today”, “This post just made me feel so much better. So refreshingly honest and frank. Thank you” and “Fantastic article! When you have little kids, the months and years may seem to pass quickly, but each day goes by veeeery sloooowly.”

I was in love with a post called “14 photos every mother should have on her phone” – I thought it was clever and it went mental on the site, but some people lost the plot a bit and said “No no no! That list turns a person into an overbearing prepper!!”. They said worse on Mamamia, but they tend to be hotter headed over there.

Also popular was 19 things to say to your son before he’s grown. Java commented:” Bravo… Well stated! I hope millions of guys read this and take heart. Young, old, and in between, it doesn’t matter. Just read it…. Women will love you!”

Kerri Sackville is one of my blogger heroes, she is SO funny. We interviewed her for our weekly column Mum vs Life. Read her responses here.

This video of two men who hooked themselves up to a labour pain simulator as a Mother’s Day gift to their wives went viral. Have you seen it. Click here to watch them writhe.

And I thought this gallery of dog & kid pics was adorable.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK? DID ANYONE CALL YOU A DICK?