Actress Madeleine West has hit back at her critics who criticised the mum-of-six for claiming she sometimes puts her children to bed in their clothes for the next day.
West’s new book, Six Under Eight, explores her experience of having six children under the age of eight and has recently made headlines for what many perceived to be unconventional modes of parenting.
However, the actress has taken aim at her critics, explaining that we will find ourselves in a vicious cycle if we keep tearing parents down online and that it will eventually lead to parents not asking for help or advice for fear of being judged.
Appearing on Today Extra this morning, West said that her words had been misinterpreted and that she wanted to clear the air on the entire fiasco.
"I'm not talking about full school uniforms or anything that requires ironing, god forbid, I'm just talking about tracksuits, stockings, t-shirts. Something simple to get them out of bed that bit easier," she told Sonia Kruger and David Campbell.
Madeline West spoke to Holly Wainwright on I Don't Know How She Does It, Listen here
"It was misinterpreted by some people as me doing it every night, full school uniform, not changing them if there are any accidents overnight which is not the case."
When probed by Kruger as to whether she was shocked at the swift and harsh reactions to her very frank admissions, West joked that after six kids there wasn't a lot that shocked her anymore.
She did, however, lament the current state of social media and the fact it is becoming increasingly easier for parents to jump online and criticise each other on their respective parenting styles.
"What did concern me, was that in this day and age when families are becoming increasingly isolated social media forums for me are sort of like the village that we had in the olden days," she told the program.
"It takes a village to bring up a child. People go there for support and advice.
"And if we're tearing each other down on social media, then people who really do need help and a shoulder to cry on aren't going to reach out for fear of being judged.
"That was my concern."
Although West did acknowledge that she believed everybody "deserved an opinion" and that people "can say what they like" about her, her biggest worry out of this controversy is for those who need help now not asking for it "out of fear".
And for that we can't disagree with her.
Top Comments
Dressing the babies the night before is actually a tip I got from other mums of twins when I was pregnant. It's not uncommon, and only for those occasions when an early start is required. PJs are a custom that came from a time when people didn't have daily baths or clean work clothes to wear each day. Usually it was just petticoats or long johns that the day clothes were put back on top of during the day. It's ridiculous that people get so upset about a clean set of clothes just because they weren't marketed as pyjamas.
Just once I would like a celeb not to explain it out further, and just say "you got a problem with that, well f***k it!"
What's going to happen are people going to boycott her movies?Though I suppose there would be a relentless campaign for her to apologise, where the press and twitter hound her for weeks till she gives the obligatory apology and tells us that she is currently seeking counselling to adjust her behaviour.