Parenting expert Gina Ford has reignited controversy with her latest comments suggesting that parents who prioritise their children over their partners are putting their relationships at serious risk.
The parenting debate dividing Britain
Ford, author of the bestselling The Contented Little Baby, told The Times that many parents "forget about themselves" while trying to create perfect lives for their children. She warned that this approach can lead to stress and ultimately result in children from "broken homes."
These comments have drawn strong criticism from writer Polly Hudson, who admits to having a complicated history with Ford's advice. "Gina Ford ruined my life," Hudson confesses, explaining how following Ford's strict routines during early motherhood made her feel like "the worst mum in the world" when her baby didn't conform to the book's expectations.
A personal perspective on parental priorities
Hudson strongly disagrees with Ford's latest position, arguing that putting children first comes naturally to most parents. "I put far more effort into pleasing my son than my husband," she writes, adding that she would consider it "a red flag and total ick" if her husband didn't do the same.
The writer describes the overwhelming emotion she experienced when her son was born, stating she would "unquestioningly take a bullet, illness or bad hair day to spare him." She estimates that most parents feel similarly, prioritising their children "not because they think they have to, but because they want to."
Is there a right answer to the parenting dilemma?
Hudson recalls a telling anecdote about a friend who was asked whether he would save his wife or child from a burning building. The friend quickly chose his wife, reasoning they could have another child but he could never find another her. "Reader: he had not given the right answer," Hudson notes wryly.
Ultimately, Hudson concludes that there are no universal right answers in the parenting debate. "Some couples might eventually break up because they prioritise their kids, while that will be the reason others fall more deeply in love," she observes.
In a final humorous jab at Ford's influence, Hudson announces her own fictional parenting manual: Lying on the Floor Sobbing While Cursing Gina Ford's Name, highlighting the very real struggles parents face beyond theoretical advice.
