PJ-gate: slummy mummy or cultural rebellion?
So the news, social media, and school playgrounds up and down the country have been ferociously debating what is now known as “PJ-gate”!
A head teacher in Darlington seems to have caused uproar amongst some people for sending a letter home to parents asking them not to do the school-run dressed in their pyjamas.
The media have grabbed this story with both hands and pointed the fingers at the “slummy mummy” generation that seems to be evolving. If you actually read the story and hear what the head teacher has to say, it’s not just the school run but also parent’s evening and Christmas performances where some were turning up in their bed attire.
There’s seems to me to be 2 opposing arguments being voiced (quite loudly by some I’ve spoken to!)
1. The “slummy mummy” who can’t be bothered to get dressed and goes straight home to lounge on the settee watching Jeremy Kyle (no dig here about JK mind – my guilty pleasure !)
2. The opposing argument of a “cultural rebellion“. Who is she to tell us what to wear? Why does society dictate what I do? I can do as I jolly well like! (Does anyone actually say “jolly well like” anymore or is it just my Mum????!!!!!!)
In truth though, I imagine the reality is somewhere much more in the middle. The parent / carer may have come home at 4am from a hard night shift, gone straight to bed, disturbed their sleep to tend to their child and get them to school, then straight home to bed in readiness for the next night shift. They may also be suffering from an illness / anxiety that prevents them from leaving the house, so to have made it as far as the school gate may actually be such an achievement for them – regardless of what they are wearing.
But as for parent’s evening and school performances……..hmmmmm, I’m struggling a bit with that one.
Those that oppose this – and I was surprised to see the argument on social media as pretty much 50 / 50 – say that it shows lack of respect for themselves, their children, and the school. They also say we as parents, should be setting examples to our children, and being well-turned out and presentable when with others.
To be honest, I personally wouldn’t go out the house in my “jarmies”, much as I feel like it sometimes! I’m not always perfectly presentable either (dependant on how many times the baby was up in the night!) but a change of clothes and a quick wash has always been achieved!
Each to their own I guess, but it’s certainly lived up the school playground with gossip this week!
Gayle
The link to the interview with the Darlington Head Teacher is here, if anyone actually missed it on the news this week
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-35413153