Outraged, from who knows where?!

No Katy it's not a picture of Britain- just typical of the people who read the Daily Mail!
Comment by Tracey on October 13 12:09

It was the daily mail... I sometimes bypass the article and go straight to the comments section as the stuff written there is so ridiculous its funny. I think you should be more worried if you got supportive comments from that lot. I love your columm and was very disappointed when you disappeared from the magazine.
Comment by tamsin on October 13 12:39

Daily Mail readers aren't known for their intelligence, are they? The people who know you are whose opinions should count, and I'm sure they all think you've both done a marvellous job.
Comment by Fiona on October 13 12:42

Ignore all the insane comments. They are from Daily Mail readers after all. There's nothing wrong with the way you bring up Fergus.
Comment by RJ on October 13 12:47

This is surely a book in itself! The automatic assumptions that you never once used birth control in 3 years (?) the statement that Fergus will become a "feral youth" on a "sink estate" (Berkhampsted must have gone down hill since I was last there) or the woman that says "just buy two of everything" (did you not just say that this was what you had done ...?) to the one that states "To use the famous Jeremy Kyle line" . I love it.
Quite made my day, thank you. Just remember they are out there!!!!
Comment by Sal on October 13 13:18

Katy, your son is lucky to have two parents who love him and seem to be doing a fantastic job of bringing him up (apart from maybe the Crocs incident...). Convention is over-rated in my opinion!!
Comment by Sharon Sneddon on October 13 13:39

Fantastic job you are doing Katy have left a message for Bill from Worcester to go and find his brain! His life obviously goes to plan. I think that two parents with separate lives provide greater experience and love and also provide "quality" time which some parents forget to give with the hum drum of day to day life.
Comment by Sleepless on October 13 14:01

Katy - ignore them! I think they are just jealous! I have followed your story since the beginning and think you are both doing a wonderful thing for your son... you clearly both love him and regardless of the challenges you and Egg face you both give your all to your son.. what more could a child ask for!
Comment by donna on October 13 14:15

I've also read your blog from the beginning & see it for what it is, a funny insight into the ups & downs of everyday unconventional family life. The comment from "Bill" is outrageous & not reflective of what most intelligent people think. Having recently become a parent it's amazing but at times hard, I applaud you both for not taking the easy route & terminating the pregnancy, keeping your pact to stay friends & most importantly always putting Fergus first. He seems a very loved & well adjusted child & much better to be unconventional than to have been in a relationship that didn't work & caused him suffering. Anyway enough of my ranting, well done to you & Egg.
Comment by Sarah on October 13 14:32

Dito everyone else, Mail readers. Aslong as a child is loved, protected and nurtured which Fergus clearly is then its no one elses business how your child is raised. Let alone Mail readers! x
Comment by Anna on October 13 14:36

OMG someone actually put 'shame we don't have workhouses anymore'?! Thats almost laughable if someone hadn't written it in a serious context!x
Comment by Anna on October 13 14:52

Katie - The Daily Mail is the reason why I do not buy a newspaper. I was a single parent for 4 years before I met my husband. It can be hard and lonely, however their are many rewarding moments. I started my son at private school when he was 3 years old, he's now 9, I was treated like a second class citizen by so many of the perfect Mummy's with their perfect families, but how the tides have turned!! I'm happily married now with a 2 month old baby girl while some of the "perfet" mummies are now going through horrendous divorces. The saying, don't throw stones at glass houses comes to mind!!
Comment by Jackie on October 13 14:58

Oh Katy, don't you worry at all about the Daily Mail lot - bunch of bitter, envious saddos they are. You are doing a great job and I love reading about it for almost 5 years now. But I'm wondering why you even bothered to write a piece for them po-faced readers!!
Comment by Zina on October 13 15:19

Like most of the people here, I've followed your story since before you and Egg had Fergus, and I saw your article in the Daily Mail yesterday. I like to read it at lunch and scoff at the terrible stories anc "commentary" by their writers. I was surprised to see you there, but amazed at people's nasty comments. Don't listen, from what I can see most people who comment only say nasty things - we are your friends here!
Comment by Rebecca on October 13 17:55

Katy please take all those Daily Mail comments with a large pinch of salt. I saw the way people had reacted and really felt for you. I too am a journalist and a working mother and have had comments written about me in the press which have cut me to the quick. I think you have to accept that if you write for a paper like the Daily Mail then its readers will be outspoken. You could be the best mum in the world and a DM reader would manage to find a negative slant. All I can say is it must be fabulous being one of those DM commentators and leading such a perfect, blameless existance. I think, like your other blog readers, that it's clear you and Egg always put Fergus first and life is never straight forward, Fergus will grow up having a great understanding and compassion for other people and situations that aren't conventional. Write another piece for the Mail but this time write something that will REALLY shock them...go on I dare you!
Comment by Rachel on October 13 18:11

I was absolutely outraged to read some of the awful comments people have written on the DM site. I wrote quite a long rant in response and support of you Katy! It is not showing up on the DM site yet but hopefully will be up there soon.

I love your blog and your book Katy and it always makes me laugh. I don't have any kids but as a single 30 something in London I can always relate to what you write, and hope that if I ever find myself with an unplanned pregnancy then I can make it work as well as you two have.

Please don't be disheartened with your DM experience. Like life, we cannot, and probably wouldn't want to be, friends with everyone and I think you just have not found the right audience with the DM readers. But you have a lot of fans here on the Marie Claire site.
Comment by Nicky on October 13 18:58

Good lord what a bunch of whingers! Who gives a stuff what they think.
Comment by Jennifer on October 13 20:13

Katie, don't spend a moment wasting your time as to what Daily Mail readers think, they are, after all, Daily Mail readers. Any fool who lives in the modern world can appreciate what a great job you and Egg are doing for your son.
Comment by Rozza on October 14 08:11

Dear Katy,

NEVER write for the Daily Mail. These people have no idea about real life. This is the paper that's constantly telling us that single mums are the root of all evil! Every time I find one lying about and pick it up by accident I end up with my blood boiling and wanting to shout 'I have a life!'. You're doing great X
Comment by Laurie on October 14 09:06

Katy - Ignore all the negative comments and focus on the positive. I have been reading your column since the start in Marie Claire and have never once thought you were selfish or wrong to have Fergus.

There is no such thing as a conventional relationship or family these days. I feel that I am in the minority to have parents who are still married AND best friends after 40 years. And having two parents living seperately who get along must be far better than two parents under the same roof who don't.

Some of those comments are just nasty, but don't surprise me as it's what I've come to expect of vocal Daily Mail readers.

Keep being you, keep writing and entertaining. But don't write anything for the Daily Mail again... it's a waste of your talent!
Comment by Helen Thornber on October 14 12:54

I can't believe that. An unexpected pregnancy is never easy and you kept the baby, worked together and have made so many decisions to benefit Fergus - how can they possibly say you are selfish?
Ps. I read the article (I read as much of your stuff as I can) and thought it was great.
Comment by Rebecca on October 16 12:56

After commenting on here I went back and read the rest of the comments and got angrier and angrier.

Then today I have come home to find people tweeting about another thing in the Daily Mail that made me angry all over again. This time by one of their "journalists".


The writers and readers of the Daily Mail are as bad as each other. Please never write anything for them again, you have been one of my inspirations to get writing on a regular basis. Though they desperately need them, the Daily Mail doesn't deserve contributions from talented people like you.

I ended up writing a ranting blog myself and included a link to your story. I hope you don't mind.


Comment by Helen Thornber on October 16 18:00

I must admit I loved your column in Marie Claire back in the day when Fergus was a baby and all that.
I don't think the barrage of nasty comments you got from DM readers is representative of today's Britain. But it serves you right for choosing to write for them! ;o)
Comment by Pretinha on October 18 18:14

I second the comment about huh Daily Mail readers it figures (not got round to reading the rest of comments) but please ignore these people and the paper!!!! look at the mess jan Moir has got herself in with the disgusting way she's commented on Stephen Gately's life. Anyway real people realise life is not always a story book and go to plan you have a wonderful gorgeous son and have a good relationship (some married parents don't even get that) with Egg and just ignore the fools who have been negative xxx
Comment by Karen D on October 19 11:58

Just read the DM article! I am so outraged by the comments. All i can say is what a bunch of sanctimonious bunch the DM readers are with their 'perfect lives'.
I love the blog and you make me laugh. Keep up the good work
Comment by Becky on October 19 14:42

I had the same relationship with my ex and had the same comments from other ignorant people over the years.
My two boys who are 17 and 19 now, i split up with their dad when the youngest was 2, and they are perfectly well adjusted.
Kids self esteem comes from knowing BOTH parents love them and that's the most important thing.
When people upset me i soak in the Bath with my I Conjure Candles' "Immune" visualisation candle and a hot cup of Cammomile tea, take regular deep breaths and come out feeling great.

Try it, you'll feel much better.

Comment by lizzy james on October 22 12:38