THERE’S nothing like a rant on social media when you’re annoyed. And Helen Flanagan certainly let rip this week, telling her ex Scott Sinclair: “You really are a piece of s**t.”
She was calling out the retired footballer because he didn’t turn up for their son’s nativity and instead boasted online that he’d been living it up in Abu Dhabi at the Grand Prix, telling his followers: “Happy Days, blurry nights.”
I agree with you, Helen. If it was the father of my kids, I think I’d be saying something similar.
While Scott was partying in the sunshine, the actress was doing three pantomime performances a day to make ends meet while juggling childcare — and nativity plays — for their three young children.
You could argue it is distasteful to air your dirty laundry so publicly online, but he clearly flaunted his trip, and by naming and shaming his part-time parenting I think Helen actually deserves a round of applause.
She has shown what so many “co-parenting” mums have to put up with.
And I’d like to think that Helen’s actions may make some of the thousands of deadbeat dads around Britain stop and think for a second about their behaviour.
Because they desperately need to. Of course, there are also plenty of shocking mothers out there too, I am not denying that, but tragically statistics show that after a break-up, many men just abandon their daddy duties.
And it is clear that a lack of positive male role models in this country is leaving a gaping void for negative influences — and influencers — to prey on our boys.
On Thursday it was revealed that teachers will be given training to spot and tackle misogyny in the classroom as part of a government strategy to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.
They will get specialist training around issues such as consent, the dangers of sharing intimate images, how to challenge unhealthy myths about women and relationships — and how to identify positive role models.
But wouldn’t it be simpler if boys could simply rely on the men who should be their most positive childhood role models — their own fathers?
Maybe, instead of the Government spending money on these classes, they could put cash into encouraging families to stay together.
Parenting isn’t always easy after a break-up — things can get so nasty and bitter, and there are always two sides to a story too.
But one thing is clear in the case of former Corrie star Helen and ex-Bristol Rovers player Scott — they really, really can’t stand each other right now.
When they split in 2022 after 13 years together they vowed to keep things amicable for their three children, but now they only communicate via family members because they’ve blocked each other on WhatsApp.
Before I became a mum, I’d have wondered what the fuss was about over Scott skipping their son’s nativity play.
After all, it’s just 30 minutes of watching your child stumble on their lines and sing out of tune in a dodgy costume.
Dodgy costume
But now I am a parent myself, I do get it. I even took last week off work to make sure I could attend my son’s Wiggly Nativity.
To see his little face when he saw me on the front row (I was early, for once in my life) made my Christmas — and his.
And just as importantly his dad went the next day to witness his second Oscar-worthy performance.
The Geordie is not — by any stretch of the imagination — a saintly dad. But by simply being there he showed commitment, love and support for his son. And he visibly showed respect for me by sharing in our parenting duties.
It’s obviously easier when you’re still together, like us.
But even if you’re not, the responsibilities of leading by example should never just fall on to the shoulders of one person — or be abandoned altogether.
Unless deadbeat dads start pulling their weight as fathers, we will have more angry and disappointed women calling out their feckless exes on social media.
And those teachers who have the task of giving those misogyny lessons will have a terrifying battle on their hands.
JAMIE’S LESSON ON VEG
JAMIE OLIVER has been banging on about food in our schools for years. And what he says always has a fair bit of common sense about it.
His latest idea is to dish up only vegetarian meals because he says it would improve kids’ health and free up cash for other needs.
Schools need more cash and if it means just one less request from the PTA then it can’t be a totally bad idea, can it?
But maybe just do a meat-free veg-packed Monday because for some kids the meat they eat at school is the only protein they ever have. I am sure the kids would not complain.
They may love to hate vegetables at home but stick them around a table with their mates eating carrot sticks and oddly they gobble them up like Haribo.
CHEERS KEIRA
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY has flogged the £3million vineyard where she got married because it was too difficult to keep it going.
But in explaining why they bought it in the first place, she said: “I like drinking wine.” I’m with her.
Presumably after starring in the Waitrose Christmas ad she will take the easy route now and just buy it off the shelf, like the rest of us.
A YAPPY XMAS TO PETS
WHOEVER was in charge of organising the Christmas show at Pooches Playhouse in Failsworth, Manchester did a paw-fect job. Sorry – couldn’t resist.
I am as guilty as the next smitten dog owner of treating my pet like a child at Christmas.
My boxer dog Layla has in the past appeared in a nativity show, she’s been to see the big man in a Santa Paws grotto and this year she has (don’t tell her) a new lead and a squeaky toy under the tree ready for Thursday.
There have been reports all week about garden centres being overrun by dogs clambering to visit Santa. Even Legoland opened its gates to our four- legged friends.
It’s barking, isn’t it? A waste of money while we are all skint.
But our pets are part of the family, we love them as much as the kids and they deserve a bit of festive joy too.
So Happy Christmas to all the dogs out there – and their human readers too. Hope you have a wonderful time.
CHEESY DOES IT
THE results of a new study this week were terrifying.
It showed that symptoms including a loss of confidence, feeling strung up and having concentration problems when you’re middle-aged could be a warning sign of dementia.
Find me a middle-aged person who doesn’t feel like that from time to time – especially at this time of year.
But then it was good news all round when another study showed that people who eat generous amounts of full-fat cheese can reduce the risk. Never has there been a better excuse to tuck into that cheese board.
PAIR SHOW ORANGE IS THE NEW BLEURGH
CELEBS in matching outfits isn’t anything new. The Beckhams were doing it in the Noughties.
Now Timothee Chalamet has twinned with girlfriend Kylie Jenner on the red carpet in full-on orange ensembles to promote his new film Marty Supreme. Great look for the red carpet.
Dreadful look for real life. In fact, terrifying.
He reminds me of the irritating orange man from the Tango advert who would slap people across the cheeks.
That’s the kind of outfit you should keep in the back of the wardrobe for posterity – but never wear in public again.
IF Tom Skinner really did receive more votes than the BBC said he did it is a disgrace.
It’s conning the viewers and makes the entire Strictly voting process utterly pointless. It feels quite sad this glittering show has become synonymous with scandal. Year after year.
As a northerner I love the idea they’re going to move the show to Manchester to clean it up so I could attend the live shows.
But if Tom is right, you wonder if there will soon be a show to watch.
