I beg to differ with the writer of this very 'man-sided' view article. There is absolutely nothing wrong with women (mums or not) wanting to look good. Who says that to be classified as a good mum that it must come endorsed with strain or stress enscribed all over your face! I agree with Elena, every child dererves a happy mummy ,and if that means she is sipping on those lattes, with impeccable manicure in a coffee shop somewhere, so be it! Mummies have lives too, and may I say that you dont have to be rich to look good. A good dress sense and basic hygiene goes a long way. I dont have the luxury of au pairs or nannies, and I have been through all those sleepless nights and teething phases children go through, but that has never encouraged me into wanting to look like a slob to prove to a baseless theory that that is what defines being a good mother! We love our kids and we love ourselves too. Well done to all you mums out there who choose to want to look great...YOU GO GIRL!!!!

Sharon, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire

This article seems more a work of fiction on the writers behalf than actualy reporting on fact! He has put all mothers into neat little catagories, looks great but is a bad mother, or looks " fat and dishevelled" and is an amazing mother.

His comments about the mothers in the coffee shop may well be true, perhaps those women do farm their children out to nannies and see thier offspring as nothing more than the latest fashion statment, but did he go home with this women and view what they did in thier own homes? No, i don't think so.

As a mother myself i felt fat and unattractive after the birth of my daughter, you body changes and you feel as though you lose your idenity and just become MUM, so why should women be branded as bad mothers because the get their hair cut, their nails done and lose thier baby weight in an attempt to re-claim some of thier own identity?

Clearly a man who has NO idea how women think or feel.

Kirsty, preston,

ha ha
I say let's have a full on 'chav versus yummy' war..........gone are the days of snooker balls in socks in the 'dog and duck', the new era has dawned ..............
pirelli shock absorbers V the barbie pink buggy (without the dread locked sprog)
Angela (mother, writer, chav for back bencher!

angela, norwich, norfolk

It's a pity that British women in general need a glossy mag with some celebrities mums pictures to want to look good. I'm strong believer before and now having a child that simple self-respect is sufficient enough to lead a HEALTHY life style; i.e. not overindulging in fatty & sweet food, keeping the basic hygiene (wash and brush), hence look nice. The designers attire is completely optional and don't define your parental qualities. Every child deserves a truly happy mummy, so be one.

Elena, Leeds, UK

Fantastic article, very funny! Dont understand the people who have taken the article so personally, its naturel for a women to want to look good, if getting your hair and nails done makes you feel good then so be it, it is not however naturel not have the desire to get up at night with your infant, or endanger your baby and your self by having an elective c section. I think the point of the articlr was just to point out that the new standard of yummy mummy is not one to be aspired to, its ok not to look great if you've had little sleep after being up with a fretting infant all night, its ok to admit that your tired and parent hood is tough. The celeb led facade of mother hood is not naturel and not achievable for most, so chill, if you wanna take pride in your apperance then please do so.... but dont feel like a lesser mum if you dont look/ feel/ act fab all of the time. The precious days of infant hood are short lived, enjoy them!!

Jude. I, London, England

imagine being in HIS head....5mins was enough for me.

padd wagon, manchester, uk

Pissing myself laughing so much so, that I can't type a proper reply.

Janie, Glasgow,

Funny - all this from a man who absolultly HAD to let the world know that his marriage had not dissolved, he had merely 'chosen' a yonger and prettier women to 'share my life with'. Will she be having your children Nirpal?

Louise, Bedford, U.K

Absolute rubbish from someone who clearly hates women.

Totally agree with every word that Siobhan says except I have two children who have completed the missing part of the jigsaw of life for me.

However I am a woman as well and I also like to look nice with the limited funds I now have available! I work part time to keep our family afloat and I love spending every available minute with my kids - I find what they say fascinating and the things they scribble are like works of art to me.

This article really annoyed me and I am often fat disheveled and exhausted but don't want the outside world to see that!!

kath ball, sale, cheshire

I think this article is an absolutely absurd generalization from someone who clearly does not have children. I'm a mother, I have one child, and I do not feel that because I take pride in my appearance that I should be pigeon-holed. Yes, I like to have my hair and nails done, I lost my baby weight, and I like to wear nice clothes. Since when was it a crime to want to feel good about yourself? If you'd spent the last nine months 4 stone heavier, unable to shave your own legs, throwing up every morning, then topping it off with squeezing an 8lb baby out of you for 36 hours, I think you'd want to pamper yourself a bit. I adore motherhood, but that doesn't mean sacrificing my own identity. My daughter is certainly not raised by a nanny, I breastfeed her and I get up every night to do so, and I do not rely on my husband's wages, I started my own business from home so that I get to spend as much time with her as possible. This article could not be any more ignorant if it tried.

Siobhan Mitchell, Edinburgh, Scotland

at a great article even though i am in the US. I was starting to feel terrible about myself because i still carry extra weight and wear sweat pants from walmart with spit up stains on them. i just got my second hair cut in six months. My daugher (6 months) has taken over my life, my house, my car...everything. Thanks for letting me know that iI am normal.

jen, memphis,