ITVA stressed out mother has been criticised after comments she made on Good Morning Britain.
Kerry Davies appeared on the breakfast show to debate whether or not school summer holidays should be reduced. She was firmly of the opinion they should, risking the wrath of many a teacher.
The mum of two argued how trying to keep her kids entertained throughout the six week holiday proved too stressful, making a flippant remark about wanting to ‘kill them and throw them out of the window’.
Far from the wonderland of bike rides and seaside trips one would usually associate with these six glorious weeks, Kerr instead described a grim and tedious nightmare where her children treat her as a ‘taxi service’.
This women on Good Morning Britain saying she thinks summer holidays for schools are too long ‘I now face 6 weeks of financial and emotional stress’ here’s an idea don’t have kids!!!!! @GMB
— Grace Brooks (@gracebrooks_xox) July 20, 2018
For gods sake the 6 weeks hols have always been a thing. Kids need a break and so do teachers. Yeah they may get bored but it makes them look forward to going back to school after the hols. Doesn’t have to be expensive, have friends over, go the park, go camping, play outside
— M (@melissa88429477) July 20, 2018
If both parents work full time, annual leave doesn't cover all the half terms, christmas and then 6 weeks in summer. It's nice and easy for stay at home dad's or mum's. The system in place now has been running since the 19th century..the system needs to be current not Victorian
— Geoff Lucas-Mapstone (@geoffmap) July 20, 2018
I used to love spending time with my children in the school holidays. They are adults now and i would do anything to have those times back again. So my advice is to enjoy every minute with the kiddies whilst you can ?
— Dawn (@DawnDoust) July 20, 2018
According to a Good Morning Britain poll, 50 per cent of viewers believe the summer holidays are just too lengthy and so it’s clear Kerry is not alone.
Explaining her position, Kerry – who gets five weeks holiday a year compared to her children’s thirteen said:
It just causes tension in the households. The moment you hit week one, by the end of week one they’re bored for starters, by the end of week two I want to kill them and throw them out of the window.
So as far as the pressures are concerned, just emotionally and financially, it is ridiculously long. We don’t live in the 1930s anymore.
Watch Kerry put her controversial argument across for yourself below:
However, many people did not like what Kerry had to say, with some describing her as being ‘spoilt and self entitled’.
Many people came forward to say how Kerry was taking her children for granted, and how she should be cherishing these precious summer days with her eight-year-old and 12-year-old.
One person raged:
I think she will regret her words, she will never get this time back, her loss. She appeared to view her children as a liability I hope they weren’t watching!!
Another fumed:
6 week holidays aren’t new. This lady had them when she was at school. Stop bloody moaning about financial & emotional stress & have fun with your kids while they’re off for 6 weeks. Be thankful we actually have some sunshine this summer!
What a spoilt, self-entitled human being she is.
Imagine having kids and then having to support that decision financially and also, then, actually having to spend time with them.
What is the this country coming to?
— Asa Duke (@Duke_Asa) July 20, 2018
Emotional stress???? You’re a parent you signed up to the ‘emotional stress when you gave birth!!!
— Victoria Hanson (@ToriaHanson) July 20, 2018
I think she will regret her words, she will never get this time back, her loss. She appeared to view her children as a liability I hope they weren’t watching!!
— JudithW (@nelle49) July 20, 2018
6 week holidays aren't new. This lady had them when she was at school. Stop bloody moaning about financial & emotional stress & have fun with your kids while they're off for 6 weeks. Be thankful we actually have some sunshine this summer!
— Fads (@the_fadwar) July 20, 2018
Miss the time during the Summer with Mum and Dad, constantly at the Beach. Packed picnic, sand castles, playing Ball …..
Thank you for my Childhood memories, you were the best parents ever xx pic.twitter.com/F95G18YA8M
— Shaun W ? (@ShaunWatchorn) July 20, 2018
However, others sympathised with Kerry’s plight, reasoning how it wasn’t always easy to get the time off to care for young children.
After all, many parents just don’t have the time, money or support to give their children a storybook perfect summer.
One person said:
Childcare is a nightmare to find during the holidays and it can be just as expensive taking them on days out etc.
Another empathised:
As a parent…. I dread the start of the school holidays because it seems so long and finding things for them to do constantly…But it goes so quickly by the end.. I’am wishing they had a few days !!
Mmmm? Not that the holidays are long but we as parents are struggling. We both work and childcare costs are crippling us for the summer. £800 extra per month on top of mortgages and bills. We have no spare cash to do anything. Working families get no help!
— Louise McMonigle (@xXxsqueegexXx) July 20, 2018
Yes they are, childcare is a nightmare to find during the holidays and it can be just as expensive taking them on days out etc
— Gillian Andrade (@andrade_gillian) July 20, 2018
As a parent…. I dread the start of the school holidays because it seems so long and finding things for them to do constantly…But it goes so quickly by the end.. I’am wishing they had a few days !! #schoolholidays !!
— Gill ? (@Holliehoover001) July 20, 2018
So do you agree with Kerry? Or do you think she could have put her point across in a less offensive way?
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.