PARENTS have blasted a mum who admitted she is happier now that her children have left home on This Morning.
Author Liz Hodkinson appeared on the ITV daytime show to discuss a recent study that claims that children do make their parents happy – but only once they have left home.
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Speaking to hosts Eamonn Holmes and Rochelle Humes, Liz revealed that she had not seen her own children since Christmas and was “delighted” when her two sons flew the nest.
She said: “I was absolutely delighted when they left. They were so big and answering back and we were getting on each other’s nerves.
“It was just time for us to each live our individual lives.
“I have to say that we do have a fantastic relationship with my now middle-age sons but there’s no emotional blackmail, there’s no clinging on, I don’t even give them a second thought.”
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She later added: “I didn’t want these 6ft giants in the same house anymore.
“We get on very well but we don’t exert any emotional pull on each other. I’m not one of those parents who says ‘I shall be so upset if you don’t come for Christmas’ for instance.”
Her words shocked viewers who took to Twitter to share their outrage.
One said: “If you’re happy when your kids leave the nest, why would you have them?
“Surely you’d want to care for them forever; being a parent is never over.”
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Agreeing a second added: “This woman on #ThisMorning is the worst type of parent. How can she be proud not seeing her family since Christmas?”
And a third agreed adding: “I miss my married daughter constantly. Would love to have a huge house and all live together.”
Agreeing with them was Vanessa Feltz, who also joined the debate, admitting that she missed her two daughters desperately.
She said: “I still haven’t got over it I can’t stand it.
“I thank God every day of my life that my kids live in very fast commuting distance, they haven’t disappeared to the other ends of the earth, and I’m so thrilled about that.
“I love my friends, I love my job but my family that’s the absolute heart and soul.”
In other parenting news, these YouTubers have been accused of “child abuse” after “punishing” their two-year-old daughter with a cold shower.
And this TV show where boisterous toddlers are trained like pooches using clicker training, doggy “tapas” and treats has sparked a fierce row.
