Parenting Hell Podcast #4

[Whatsallthisabout]

She needs to realise that the flip side of her doing the majority of the childcare means that this enables Rob to go out and earn money, which she benefits from in many ways - big house, multiple holidays each year, no pressure from a 9-5 job etc etc. That’s the way it is when there is one stay at home parent and one out earning the money (whether it’s the mum or the dad) - the parent at home naturally does a lot more in terms of household/parenting because they have the time and that’s the role they’ve agreed on for how their family dynamics will work. If she was out doing a full time or part time job then obviously the balance would shift and things would split according to time available.
Reality is many households have both parents rushing out the door to work every morning, plus trying to juggle the school run.

 

[frillylilly]

Sorry for the double post.

I think they're probably at a point with the pod where it's grown so much and they're not sure what to do next with it - and one of them is handling that better than the other.

I agree that there are other pods that cover the more hard-hitting issues but then some of the standout episodes of PH (for me) have been Tom Davis talking about surrogacy, Kiri Pritchard-McClean talking about fostering etc. So there is a place for a light-hearted approach to more serious issues. I think Josh is better at these episodes, whereas I think Rob is a bit nervous about them and comes across a bit strange.

It seems, from the outside looking in, that they don't really have a 'strategy' for the pod and just do it off the cuff, probably because they are overstretched with other projects.

In terms of Rob, I think he has more of an ego than Josh. Which doesn't make him a bad person, but I think he goes through periods where his ego is triggered and that's when he's kind of jarring to listen to.
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The article was highly complimentary. It was the comments that were scathing.

Oh right sorry, ignore me!

 

[Whatevesmate]

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?

I agree. Who needs unsolicited parenting advice from another parent. It's condescending and patronising. Rob & Lou need to be mindful to not come across as superior and smug as its very off-putting! Lou does try to appear like a super efficient mum who's got it all sorted sometimes. I definitely don't want anything like parenting advice to be made into a pod feature. No ta, much prefer hearing about real, messy lives that I can relate to.

 

[Weefa]

I haven't seen Traitors so didn't know anything about Leanne, but I thought it was a good pod.

I like the way they ask questions about potentially awkward subjects, and they don't pretend to know all about them. They ask questions that other people might feel a bit stupid asking, or things as they occur to them in the course of conversation. I like that instead of a scripted list of issues.

I can picture my husband chatting to someone in a similar way - asking questions while trying not to pry, but he has a genuine interest in finding out about the topic/experience

 

[NoHintOfDrama]

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

Disney has always looked like hard work to me! My kid was never interested so I’ve never been, it just doesn’t appeal. Too many people as well!

 

[DontQuoteMe]

I genuinely would be incredibly surprised if anything bad ever crawled out of the woodwork about Josh. He seems just a really nice chap who's probably never been in trouble, or said anything really offensive. Rob I can imagine has done/said some things that could be mistrued. I may be wrong of course!

I agree. I imagine if Josh said anything even slightly offensive, he’d stress and worry about it!

Seems a genuinely nice bloke, despite his tiredness

 

[TravellingPants]

I don’t get the Disney thing as a holiday choice at all, and the way he talks about it is as if they have discovered this brand new and little known place to visit Today’s episode had a really odd vibe for me. I think they should maybe think about moving into doing it more as short series with a gap, rather than endlessly recording and only taking a couple of weeks out every now and again. It worked much better when we were in lockdown and they had less work stuff on.

 

[CaptainHolt]

I am quite pleased they are doing a seperate Disney episode, I can skip I.

 

[DontQuoteMe]

How cute was Josh on Strictly??? Bless him, looked like he was having a great time!

 

[Katienana]

I think Rob and Josh both seem to do their fair share parenting wise, I'd be happy with the arrangements they have in place! I think Josh in particular puts everyone else first. A lot of stuff seems to.fall on him being the only driver as well.
Lou needs to remember that while being the default parent can be a pain the fact that she doesn't work a 9-5 job does mean they can go on loads of holidays every year, way more than she'd get with regular annual leave or even as a teacher.
Maybe my kids are just really well behaved but I've never found the mornings that bad, my 8 year old basically sorts himself out and the 12 year old makes me a tea these days!!

 

[frillylilly]

I know Josh always jokes/says about him and Rose never getting the chance, but I think they seem very happy?

It could’ve been in an old episode or more recent where he said he was happy that doing the interior design stuff was helping Rose to feel like herself after having the kids and I thought that was really nice.

 

[DontQuoteMe]

Love Stephen Mangan and enjoyed the episode yesterday.
I also love how much research Josh does on his guests.

 

[ToTheWindowToTheWall]

Couldn’t get the link to work for me unfortunately but a quick Google using the title in the article and I found it on YouTube. Couldn’t be bothered to watch it all. From what I did see it‘s not very practical decor imo as a holiday let but each to their own. Must cost a small fortune to holiday in though. It’s huge

Some of the comments on the YouTube video are amusing: 'this house looks like what it is. the home of a probably perfectly nice woman with money and without any aesthetic sense who makes impulse buys from etsy'

 

[Tatvam]

Just listening to Friday’s episode and had to come running here when the advert came on for Uber eats where they’re both bigging up Halloween. Didn’t Rob say he HATED Halloween the other day
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After reading here I think I’ve become more sensitive to Rob picking on Josh! Now Lou seems to have joined in and has told Rob that Josh needs to get an entertainer for his daughter’s party. Love the fact that Josh immediately told Rob that she didn’t want that and Rob had to get back in his box!
I’d be annoyed if my friends had been analysing my plans for my child’s birthday party and then tried to advise me on it! Seems like they both think they know better. I wonder how Rose feels about it.

Yes!! You could really tell from how Rob relayed that conversation that Lou and Rob had been slagging it all off!
They do remind me of that bitchy couple that judges everyone else's parenting and can do everything better!

 

[Fauxphiehinchcliffe]

Loving the Disney spam Lou …genuinely making me laugh out loud

 

[frillylilly]

The house isn't totally my style but I do think it's beautiful - it was almost a ruin when they bought it.

I think Rose is doing what I would certainly do if I didn't have to worry about money that much - indulging a hobby and seeing if she can turn it into a business without too much pressure.

I've said it before but I'm definitely a Josh apologist and I guess by extension a Rose apologist. They live a nice life and enjoy it and I don't begrudge them.

 

[BaggyBertha]

I am quite pleased they are doing a seperate Disney episode, I can skip I.

Oh ME TOO!
I’m SICK to death of hearing about these bloody holidays. Bores me utterly shitless!
Fair enough ,each to their own but, it’s sodding relentless imo
WE GET IT, Lou likes these holidays !
🥱
They need to get this pod back on track.. it’s quite jarring of late !

 

[CaptainHolt]

I can't help but adore Giles Brandreth, he's so interesting and I felt he was very respectful on the podcast - he knows when to play it for laughs and having seen him on various panel shows etc he can run away with his stories but he did try to keep them on track somewhat with the boys.

Much more enjoyable than last weeks, I had never heard of the footballer they interviewed and thought he came across as a bit of a prick in regards to his daughter going to uni.

 

[CaptainHolt]

I think Josh is quite secure in who he is, whereas Rob feels the need to prove that he's worthy of being where he is.

 

[N-NewGirl]

You did indeed TravellingPants !!