'I shouldn't have let my Toddler watch Netflix's Ms Rachel, it's now banned'

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

All of the reasons we as a family had to completely ban Netflix's Ms Rachel from our household
I embarked on my motherhood journey just over two years ago and I've been learning the ropes of this wild ride, each day unveiling a new facets of a world I had absolutely no clue about until my child came along.
Speaking from the trenches as a working mum, I'm well-acquainted with the daily struggles we face, from striving to be exemplary role models and juggling household duties, to maintaining a career and all that falls in between.
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In truth, there's never a moment's rest for us battle-worn contemporary parents. Even on so-called "days off", our time is entirely consumed by parenting duties – chaperoning to clubs, cooking meals, supervising baths and bedtime – the relentless list is often overwhelming.
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Let's offer a salute to those incredible single parents out there too as you command my uttermost admiration.
Consequently, with the immense pressure we're under, it's hardly surprising that we often find solace in our faithful friend, "the trusty remote". FI bare no judgement, even I'm not above snatching the sacred remote for a slice of tranquillity, reports the Mirror US.
After all, doesn't a frazzled mum deserve a break? Let's be honest, we're all just trying to keep our little ones safe from everyday hazards all while keeping them entertained. If a popular children's show like Ms Rachel can distract them for a few minutes, surely that's a good thing? It must be beneficial for everyone's sanity, right?
That was my initial viewpoint, which allowed me a precious moment to perhaps savour a rare semi-warm cuppa as I engaged in the ongoing mummy group chat debate about children's vitamins, the advantages of homeschooling and which suncream is safe for babies. The usual parental minefields and daily dilemmas we face today.
Taking a break from the discussion, I glanced up from my phone, observing my two-year-old for the first time engrossed in the top Netflix children's programme, utterly captivated by what was on the screen before her.
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I paused for a moment, taking in Ms Rachel in all her splendour, noticing my usually non-stop toddler was transfixed, completely mesmerised by the bright colours, repetitive tunes and constant high energy on the screen.
What was so captivating about Ms Rachel? I continued watching to see what all the fuss was about, and for me, now on the wrong side of 30, I found the experience entirely overwhelming as an adult.
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I watched with a mix of bemusement and dismay as the over-the-top antics of Icky Sticky Bubble Gum and Can You Say Mama unfolded, led by an ex-teacher in a pink t-shirt and denim dungarees, and wondered what was going through my little one's head.
Initially, it all seemed harmless enough, and we let the buzzed-about children's show play on repeat for several weeks. But alarm bells rang when my toddlers behaviour took a nosedive.
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Ever tried switching off Ms Rachel or flicking channels? You'd be greeted by earth-shattering wails, flailing limbs, and dramatic drop-and-thrashes on the floor—a clear warning sign of withdrawal from her newfound screen fix.
Intrigued and a touch frantic, I turned to the trusty forums of Mumsnet and Reddit, where fellow perplexed parents gather, seeking insight into this Ms Rachel phenomenon.
True to form, the online chorus echoed similar tales of "excessive tantrums" stirred by the "overstimulating content". Dealing with the monstrous terrible twos is already testing enough, enduring hysterics over routine tasks like teeth brushing or showering adds another layer to parental purgatory.
I've made the tough call to now completely ban Ms Rachel from our viewing list, regretting the day I ever hit play. Most days are now a battle to resist the incessant pleas for us to revert to our old habits, but I am standing firm in my parental resolve and refusing to return to that place.