AN INFLUENCER has been universally slated after suggesting that being a “landscaper” is a harder job than being a stay-at-home mum.
In a podcast episode, the YouTuber took aim at those complaining that looking after their kids at home is one of the most challenging roles there can be.
And Jack Neel then went on to list a number of other jobs he considers much harder, including being a landscape gardener.
“I know it’s like not a popular thing to say, but being a stay at home mum is not a hard job,” he said.
“Like hot tar roofer, that’s a hard job. Landscaper, that’s a hard job.
“And we’ve even created a culture – motherhood is the hardest job in the whole world…
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“We’ve got people gassed up on this idea that like, oh my God, the hardest job in the world is being a mum.
“And it’s like, guys, it’s not, it’s not.”
Jack, who is a dad of two himself, went on to say that a case could be made for being a stay-at-home mum being “the most important job in the world”.
But insisted it’s far from the most “physically taxing”.
He also said that the job is “transient”, adding: “No, I had two kids, trust me.
“(Age) two, really hands-on, really challenging. (Age) eight, still hands-on, but in a very different way. (Age) 18, not really that hard anymore.
“Psychologically, maybe you have to be there in different ways and discipline in different ways.
“But the like hands-on part of it, it’s not as difficult.”
Unsurprisingly, the comments section was immediately filled with people slamming Jack for his remarks.
“Are you a mum?” one wrote.
“Sir, why do you think men don’t sign up for this job…” another sighed.
“‘Not that hard’ is the tell of a secondary parent,” a third insisted.
Money expert Gemma Bird’s hacks to help make your Christmas more affordable
UK HOUSEHOLDS are expected to spend around £1,626.46 on presents, food and decorations – a reminder of how quickly festive costs can add up. However, there are some hacks you can try to keep costs down…
1. Start with a Christmas budget: It sounds obvious, but many households skip it. Set an overall budget and divide it by category, for example, gifts, food, social gatherings. An easy way to do this is with a spreadsheet or try banking or budgeting apps to split money into pots for each category.
2. Shop early to beat price hikes: Many shoppers now start their festive shopping as early as September to avoid last-minute markups, but the biggest savings are still to come. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime opportunities to tick off your gift list with discounts on the lot.
3. Sign up for bank switches or cashback schemes: Free money sounds too good to be true, but it’s even stranger that you can get it from the bank. The big banks can offer up to £200 if you open an account with them. That’s a healthy amount to add to your Christmas fund.
4. Always check for discount codes: Before buying, always search for discount codes online. If your search comes up empty, here’s a hack: sign up to the brand’s newsletter. Many will offer a discount if you sign up. It’s usually around 10%, or an amount off with a minimum spend.
5. Embrace the four-gift rule for kids: To encourage the little ones to appreciate what they get, save money and reduce clutter, parents are embracing the ‘four-gift rule’: Something they want, Something they need, Something to wear, Something to read. Introduce the idea to your children, then allocate a budget for each to keep spending sensible and ensure gifts are truly appreciated.
“Being a stay-at-home mum is the most unappreciated job,” someone else said.
“Try it, please try it, for 1 year with two kids under four,” another urged.
“Oh please, please try it!”
“Sorry buddy, stay at home mum here!” someone else commented.
“It may not be the most important job to you but it is a hard job.
“And yes if you have a colicky baby with 2 other toddlers – extremely exhausting.
“Hands on, sorry bud, very hard!!”
