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We didn’t start the mummy wars

November 20, 2015 By Emily 66 Comments

The mummy wars. GROAN, right?

Don’t worry. I’m not here to provoke them. I’m not here to stir the pot, poke the bear or perform some other cliché of anger-mongering.

I’m here to calm them.

In song format, of course. Because that’s what I do. That’s how I handle conflict.

We-didn't-start-the-mummy-wars

Early last year, I published some new lyrics to We Didn’t Start the Fire. The lyrics? We Didn’t Start the Mummy Wars.

They went gangbusters. It was easily the most popular post I’d published until then. It still regularly cracks my top five.

And there were many calls to turn it into a clip.

So I’ve finally done it. With the help of some wonderful bloggy friends of mine.

Please join Maxabella (Maxabella loves), Em (Have a Laugh on Me), Grace (With Some Grace), Jess (Essentially Jess), Kylie (Kylie Purtell – A Study in Contradictions), Rebecca (Seeing the Lighter Side), Mumma McD (Toilets aren’t for Turtles), Renee (Mummy, Wife, Me), Rhianna (Rhianna Writes) and yours truly as we sing for you!

(Phew. What a line-up. Thank you, lovely ladies. Thanks also to my step-sister Issy for putting all the clips together for me. Legend.)

Here we go…

 

Gwyneth Paltrow’s in the news
Kochie’s got breastfeeding views
Celebrity post-baby pics (the 57th take…)
This one thinks that it’s a doddle
That one thinks you mollycoddle
Seems you’ll make the wrong choices whichever ones you make

(awkward instrumental staring bit)

Conceive early, trouble trying
IVF, egg buying
Single parent, loved up, part of a parenting team
Natural birth, C-section
Water home birth election
Hospital stay, home the same day, whatever the dream!

We didn’t start the mummy wars
They’ve been always flaring since we’ve been child-bearing
We didn’t start the mummy wars
If we didn’t ignite them why do we still fight them?

Breastfeeding, latch on
“It’s too hard!” “You’ll catch on!”
Bottle feed, formula, pump milk with a machine
Mastitis, milk flow
Solids, babycino
Strict schedule, bub-led weaning, something in between

Gluten-free, lactose-free
Fish and chips with sauce for tea
Organic, probiotic, low in salt and fat
Pre-packaged, processed
Superfoods are best!
Allergens, additives, what’s with all of that?

We didn’t start the mummy wars
They’ve been always raging but we’re still engaging
We didn’t start the mummy wars
No we didn’t plan them so let’s try to can them

Bassinet, bed, cot
Video feed, zoom shot
Baby sling, pram, stroller, capsule in the car
Controlled crying, let ’em weep
Cuddle always, co-sleep
Shush now, earplugs, twinkle little star

(Twinkle, twinkle, little star…)

Love the mum life, afterglow
PND, feeling low
Out and about, social life, stay at home at first
Nappies of cloth or plastic
Stud buttons or elastic
Up a size, wear ’em loose, wear ’em ’til they burst

We didn’t start the mummy wars
Someone just decided mums should be derided
We didn’t start the mummy wars
So please stop the scoring ’cause I’m sick of warring

Only child, pigeon pair
“The third one was an accident, yeah?”
One year gap, ten years, match it up to your peers
Stay at home, full-time work
Part-time work, freelance work
Home all day or childcare – why does everybody care?
Kindergarten, primary school
Ballet classes, swimming pool
Home school, learn through play – what else do I have to say?

We didn’t start the mummy wars
But we’re always sparring, feathering and tarring
We didn’t start the mummy wars
If you haven’t worn my shoes then don’t mock what I choose

Disciplined, “in a cage”
Let ’em loose, “free-range”
Time outs, mummy doubts, baby whispers, toddler shouts
Devil baby, angel child
Feisty player, meek and mild
Pays attention, likes to learn, ants in pants, energy to burn

Big tantrum in public
Everybody’s frantic
Shoulda, coulda, woulda done, stranger tries to SMACK your son
Loud yelling, deep discussions
Excuses, repurcussions
She should know better – she’s only four
I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!

We didn’t start the mummy wars
People judging others, focusing on mothers
We didn’t start the mummy wars
I hope that when I’m gone
They don’t still rage on and on and on…

 

Are you sick of the bleeping mummy wars?

Filed Under: Rewrites, Songs Tagged With: Billy Joel, family, mummy wars, music, parenting, We Didn't Start the Fire

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Comments

  1. Amy @ HandbagMafia says

    November 20, 2015 at 6:33 am

    Bahahahaha! Fantastic! Well done ladies!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:37 pm

      Thanks Amy!

      Reply
  2. Hugzilla says

    November 20, 2015 at 6:55 am

    BAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHA! I am in the presence of so much genius. LOVED IT!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:37 pm

      Genius?! Oh stop, I’m blushing! Thanks Hugzy x

      Reply
  3. Lydia C. Lee says

    November 20, 2015 at 7:00 am

    Ha! I hate it – I don’t get how people can be bothered…interestingly, I like to think all that patronising self-righteousness will come back and bite you as a mummy of a teen….

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:38 pm

      I know, right? We’re all experts at parenting until we become one. Even then, everything we think we know with one child is undone by the next! And the next…

      Reply
  4. Renee Wilson says

    November 20, 2015 at 7:03 am

    You are one talented lady! Love this.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:39 pm

      Thank you. Right back at you. Thank you so much for being a part of it. You and the girls played it perfectly!

      Reply
  5. Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages says

    November 20, 2015 at 7:06 am

    Well done ladies, well done.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:39 pm

      Thanks Malinda!

      Reply
  6. Zoe | A Quirky Bird says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Oh Em this is gold, no wonder it was pilfered before you posted it to Youtube. Thanks to all the bloggy mummys who contributed. xx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:40 pm

      Ha, thanks Zoe! All that YouTube stuff was sorted pretty quickly in the end – all good. And ditto that thanks – how good is everyone?

      Reply
  7. Michaela Fox says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:26 am

    FREAKING BRILLIANT!!!!
    I am in stitches. Well done all involved. Em, you’re hilarious!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:40 pm

      Thank you so much! And thank you for sharing it on Facebook, too. So appreciated. x

      Reply
  8. Sarah Cox says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:26 am

    This was brilliant! Thank you for sharing, great performances from everyone. And also, crammed into one song like that, doesn’t it make it look ridiculous all the judgement that mums have to endure. Just leave us alone to parent our own children as we see fit. Great message!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:41 pm

      Isn’t it ridiculous?! I had more verses as well but at four minutes, the original song was already long enough without extending it. But we’re judged for far more than that. Awful, isn’t it?

      Reply
  9. Bec Senyard says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:30 am

    Brilliant!! Just brilliant!! Well done everyone involved!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:42 pm

      Thanks Bec! It’s so handy to have blogging superstar friends.

      Reply
  10. Mumma McD says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:46 am

    Awesome Em, great job pulling it all together!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:42 pm

      Great job contributing! Thanks so much for being a part of it. x

      Reply
  11. Toni @ Finding Myself Young says

    November 20, 2015 at 10:09 am

    OMG I love this!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:43 pm

      Thanks Toni!

      Reply
  12. Natalie @OurParallelConnection says

    November 20, 2015 at 11:09 am

    Yeah love love love this ladies…. Congrats on all the Wonderful singing, great outfits, wine accessories and the best looking microphones I have ever seen. You have made me laugh and wet my pants – yet again.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:43 pm

      Bahaha! TMI! Thanks Nat – glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I’m a big fan of all the microphones too. And just the creativeness of everyone in general.

      Reply
  13. Maxabella says

    November 20, 2015 at 11:20 am

    You are so funny, lovely Em. Thanks for asking me to be part of it. You know how embarrassing it is when someone stops you in the street and says, “excuse me, your dress is tucked into your undies at the back?”… well, this is my online equivalent of that. And as soon as I saw it I thought “why didn’t I do something cute with the kids like my talented fellow mummies” Gah. x

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:44 pm

      Embarrassing? No way! YOU ROCK! Thank you so much for being a part of it. And I like that everyone did different things! I think it all works, and way better than if I’d tried to think of and direct all the different things.

      Reply
  14. KezUnprepared says

    November 20, 2015 at 11:51 am

    Haha love it. Very clever.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:45 pm

      Thank you so much, Kez!

      Reply
  15. EssentiallyJess says

    November 20, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    You’ve done a stellar job Em. I knew you would 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:46 pm

      You did a stellar job too! Thanks for contributing. (Hubster loves your little tap/acceptance face at the end of your bit. Yep. That’s parenting!)

      Reply
  16. Haidee@Maybe Baby Brothers says

    November 20, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    Hahahaha! Love it! You girls are awesme, well done! 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:46 pm

      Thanks Haidee! I’ll have to rewrite another song and get the girls together for a reunion tour.

      Reply
  17. Kirsty @ My Home Truths says

    November 20, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Bravo! How awesome. Love the lyrics Em (very clever) and how good are you at singing! Well done to everyone who was a part of this – fantastic work!!!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:47 pm

      Thanks Kirsty! And thanks for the singing compliment, but all I hear are pitch issues. (You’re always your own worst critic, right?) Still love it, though! All worth it.

      Reply
  18. Kelly says

    November 20, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    Bahaha! Go you girls! THAT’S AWESOME. Well done. xo

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:48 pm

      Thanks Kelly!

      Reply
  19. Zoe Meunier says

    November 20, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    Sooooo good! Love your work, ladies!! Awesome lyrics, Em!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:48 pm

      Thanks Zoe! I should have updated ‘Kochie’ to ‘Pricey’. Or ‘insert middle-aged-man-with-current-opinion-on-breastfeeding-here’.

      Reply
  20. Bec @ Seeing the Lighter Side says

    November 20, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    So much awesomeness in just over 4 minutes:-) Well done for pulling it all together Em (and Issy) and awesome lyrics!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:49 pm

      Thanks Bec. And YES, another BIG SHOUT OUT to Issy. Love it. Thanks for being a part of it – and at the last minute, and with such a quick turnaround! x

      Reply
  21. Raychael aka Mystery Case says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    My video isn’t working. Will have to pop back when I’m on the computer.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:50 pm

      Please do! Would love you to see it. Thanks for all your support of the others.

      Reply
  22. Ellen @ Potential Psychology Blog says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    You clever funny ladies! Great work 🙂

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:50 pm

      Thanks Ellen!

      Reply
  23. Sam - Journo and the Joker says

    November 20, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    Haha! That’s fabulous. Well done all you brave and talented ladies.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:51 pm

      Thanks Sam. Brave? Yeah, probably. I just had the thought that future potential employers will see this if they google my name. Interesting thought!

      Reply
  24. Angie @ The Little Mumma says

    November 20, 2015 at 6:38 pm

    So clever!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:51 pm

      Thanks Angie!

      Reply
  25. Ms Bellini says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    Very clever. Here I was congratulating myself today for changing the lyrics to “pippy long stocking” to suit my baby girl. Ha ha ha. Not quite in the same league..

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:52 pm

      All lyric rewriting (and writing – and songwriting!) deserves congratulations. So congratulations! Sounds like a lovely song.

      Reply
  26. Jules @toddlersplusteens says

    November 21, 2015 at 1:31 am

    Love it ! Great work Em and such a great line up of talented ladies

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 21, 2015 at 7:53 pm

      Thank you so much! And yes, I’m feeling rather honoured to have such great talent in the clip. Talent and loveliness.

      Reply
  27. Grace says

    November 22, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    OMG! I’ve watched this like half a dozen times now! Gets funnier and funnier! Thanks so much for inviting me to do this. HULK SMASH!!!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 23, 2015 at 4:03 pm

      Thanks for being in it, Grace! Seriously love your work. And I love that you’re still watching it!

      Reply
  28. Jo @ You had us at hello says

    November 23, 2015 at 2:35 am

    How you remembered all the words?!! Thats talent right there! Lovely seeing some super cool bloggers – well done girls xx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 23, 2015 at 4:04 pm

      Ha, thanks Jo! That’s just how my memory works. Write it once, remember it for ages.

      Reply
  29. Simone Emery says

    November 23, 2015 at 10:18 pm

    Great Clip!
    Well said 🙂 #backyourself is my parenting motto (let’s give up the wars) x

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 26, 2015 at 11:22 am

      LET’S give up the wars! No need to justify our parenting decisions, and certainly no need to judge others while attempting to justify them!

      Reply
  30. Kathy says

    November 24, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    Well done Em and your song stars – great lyrics and ”interesting’ singing!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 26, 2015 at 11:23 am

      Thanks Kathy! Your ‘interesting’ is interesting – it’s BEAUTIFUL singing! Beautiful!

      Reply
  31. Melissa {Suger} says

    November 24, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    LOL. So good. Nicely done team!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 26, 2015 at 11:23 am

      Thanks so much! I had a ball with it, and hope the others did too.

      Reply
  32. Sonia Life Love Hiccups says

    November 26, 2015 at 7:57 pm

    Oh this made my day – Heck it make my whole month!!!! xx

    Reply
    • Emily says

      November 30, 2015 at 3:55 pm

      Oh, thanks Sonia! Glad you liked it.

      Reply
  33. Joce @ In Our Gumboots says

    July 2, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    Hahaha! Brilliant!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Work/life balance/juggle/ebb-and-flow says:
    July 4, 2016 at 8:22 pm

    […] of mine and write blog posts about the usual things – grammar tips, music group programs, quirky ditties, even random acts of kindness – because I. Just. Don’t. Know. What. I. Want. To. […]

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Hi! I’m Emily

I parent. I write. I blog. I play with words and numbers in my head. Constantly. It's crowded in there.

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