Parenting Hell Podcast #4

[softlygently]

Rob has annoyed me today saying that Glastonbury is cringe af. That’s rich coming from someone who’s married to a Disney adult!

 

[Whatevesmate]

The podcast has lost its way IMO. I don't want to hear two wealthy, successful men moaning about how tired they are, their busy showbiz schedules, their house renovations on their various properties, mega expensive holidays, how irritating fans are etc. The podcast worked during lockdown because we were all in the same boat. They are forgetting who they are and who their audience is. They need to become more relatable again or its over. Josh tries but someone needs to have a word with Rob.

 

[softlygently]

Just finished listening to the Theme Parks Special. Came in here to see if anyone else agreed with me that a Lou and Rob ep on Disneyworld would be the worst thing ever and wasn’t disappointed!
I feel like Lou has brainwashed Rob into thinking that what the audience want is a load of advice on stuff, like ‘your audience is mainly women and I know what women want to listen to’ sort of thing.
Well actually, I don’t want to listen to any unsolicited advice. As soon as you become a parent you’re bombarded with it. I just want to hear funny stories about meltdowns and people microwaving keys etc. not a step by step breakdown on what I should do if I decide to spend tens of thousands of pounds on a holiday from hell. A special episode on children’s sleep is also one of the worst things I could imagine.
I remember Rob once saying that he was going to make an announcement about Lou’s new career idea or something. Did anything ever come of that? Does she work?

 

[Katienana]

I find the endless holidays coupled with Loys ever so tragic rant about being the default parent a bit hard to take. I'm a sahm so I'm obviously the default parent. I don't get to go on holidays like they do!!! If Lou went back to any other job than teaching she wouldn't get the annual leave needed to do all these trips anyway. She also goes places with friends which have been in term time.
Really just not in a position to moan!

 

[Tuliptulip]

I’m a bit horrified at the amount of plastic tat Lou bought on their US trip. It will all end up a in huge pile of garbage. I get wanting a bit of merchandise but it’s kind of cringe to be posting so proudly about such a huge haul when there is a climate crisis

 

[RachRN86]

I think they are in a position where they can't win. They are successful and don't live the same lives as us, but I do think some stresses related to parenting are universal. I don't listen to them to relate, I listen to them to be entertained and I think they just play up to their loose neck/stiff neck roles

 

[Whatevesmate]

To say 'this is how it is' suggests that as parents we are helpless to marketing and the effects of social media on our children. I'd be telling a 7 year old that she doesn't need and won't be getting expensive skincare just because it's trending on Tiktok. I think that kids need to be made aware that so much of this is capitalist BS rather than just going along with it.

 

[frillylilly]

This comment might mean nothing because I don’t have kids and am not a Disney person, but it is quite funny how there’s this whole world of online content that acts as if going to Disney is like exploring the Amazon.

Seems like a lot of work for a holiday

 

[Gertie2610]

I'm not sure if buying multiple shoes, then going into store to return them is the life hack Rob thinks it is

 

[Veebee123]

I listened to the ‘walking the dog’ podcast with Josh earlier in the week and in the second part, the way Josh speaks about Rob is very sweet. Even to say he’s changed his life with how wise he is, they are clearly very close, it was lovely to listen to

 

[1ranksenior]

Josh is brilliant on radio 2 right now.
Total natural, much more so than Rob or Romesh are on the radio.

I think Josh is underrated for how good he is at comedy! His chaos distracts from it on the pod !

 

[MissTeddy]

I think a lot of mum's would dream of having her life - and the luxury of being the default parent.

Imagine never having to worry how you're going to take time off if they are sick, or during the holidays when they can afford to go on all their days out, she can attend every school concert and assembly without thinking twice. I'm sorry that's a real privilege.

And tbf - Rob does loads. i know he's away touring and recording a lot - but most husbands are busy working. But he does loads when he's around. A lot more than a lot of men do.

 

[MissTeddy]

“Still so much space ”

Also something really irks me about the way Rob and Lou bang on about their children being really fussy eaters as if all children are.

Imagine if all Josh’s children ate was plain pasta … oh my god, Rob would NEVER let it lie. Whereas Josh never brings it up, or provides ‘helpful’ tips that work for him and Rose.

 

[N0sey.P4rker]

Mumsnet is the worst for bloody abbreviations .

Darling daughter DD
Darling husband DH
Darling son DS

Fuck off ... its so twee. I am not on that forum but I would make a point of refusing to such ridiculous terms.

These ones I can normally figure out, not a mumsnet user, but have seen them used widely.

The ES one I just couldn't figure out - I'm so glad someone asked. The best I came up with was excellent shagger

 

[Whatevesmate]

Lou is allowed to struggle despite their wealth. I just think that she should remember her very privileged lifestyle and get appropriate support from a therapist rather than moaning about it and writing a blog for public consumption. If you put stuff into the public domain then the public will have an opinion, not all positive.

 

[Pattycake19]

I’ve really gone off Rob recently, used to find him really funny but he’s such a different person? Still listen to the pod because it is really funny

 

[CaptainHolt]

You all know I'm a huge apologist for them both so for them to annoy me it's pretty big

My god the moaning today. Yes you work away a lot, yes you work unsociable hours... You do understand that you can just stop it all and get a 9-5 if you don't like your current work/life balance.

I'm the daughter of a nurse who worked for the NHS for 35 years. In that time she had maybe 5 Christmas days off. It wasn't unusual for her to walk in off a night shift at 7am on Christmas morning.*

So Rob and Josh, respectfully, wind your necks in and check your privellage please.

*Edit to add she's still bitter about the Christmas morning when me and my brother were 5 and 7 and my dad had promised that we'd meet her half way on her walk home. She got half way and we were nowhere to be seen. She found us still snoring in our beds when she got home

 

[welshgirl2021]

TBH I’d sooner have an episode and Josh’s strictly journey

 

[CaptainHolt]

I don't think Rob is wrong to prioritise his daughter's comfort over a fan selfie. As he said he's more than happy to interact with fans when he's not in dad mode. He's allowed a moan and he is allowed some time "off".

I never like the "your fans pay for your lifestyle so suck it up" shtick. It doesn't make sense to me - he's never allowed to be incognito because he's famous and well paid? It's a confusing take on things.

I may be antsy though because my mum was a district nurse for 35 years. She also was a bit of a petrol head. She had many patients make snarky comments along the lines of "so that's where my tax money goes" when seeing her nice car parked outside. I know it's different to the Rob scenario, but it's a similar attitude IMO.

 

[happygirl4699]

I’ve really gone off Rob recently, used to find him really funny but he’s such a different person? Still listen to the pod because it is really funny

Think it's the new hair