Latest news with #MsRachel
Irish Times
4 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Seán Moncrieff: In the not-too-distant future four of my five children may live overseas
When you're a bit older , there can be a sense that your world is shrinking. Like anyone of any age, you do the same things every day, except, with age, you have more of an acute sense of it. There's a decreasing novelty . Looking through the eyes of a child is a vomit-inducing cliche, yet when Granddaughter Number One comes to stay, that's what happens, whether we like it or not. There can be any number of revelations that she will urgently need to share: she has toes or the dog is barking or Ms Rachel is on the TV. (I find Ms Rachel creepy, but that's probably just me.) We will have to do some chasing or help with a jigsaw. We will have to be examined for ailments. (Granddaughter Number One is a qualified doctor. She has all the equipment any way). We also have to negotiate around the usual toddler sticking points on bedtimes and meals. We never win. It's all hauntingly familiar because, of course, I've done this sort of thing before. But the familiarity is more of a feeling than a specific set of memories. My recollection of her mother, her uncle and some of her aunts at that age is more of a blur: like dealing with a herd rather than a specific child. Often, they parented each other, and they still tease me about not being able to tell them apart. Well, one of them does. The blonde one, I think. This time round, it's easier to focus on Granddaughter Number One's specific foibles. She's not big on tantrums, but instead has learned to weaponise politeness: 'no thank you' is her preferred method of refusal. That's why she's a master negotiator. READ MORE And while it's energising to be sucked into her enthusiasms, it's also exhausting to consider the amount of information a two-year-old can absorb on a minute-by-minute basis. Sometimes, Daughter Number Four and I have to tap out for a few minutes. Herself never does. She has the uncanny ability to morph into the personality of a (very responsible) 14-year-old girl: one who is endlessly excited by baths and wearing pyjamas and knows all the words to every song on all the Disney films. In the not-too-distant future, we won't get to do this as much. When Daughter Number One mentioned they might move to France, I thought it was a bit of a bonkers idea, and for all the obvious reasons. But you could never accuse her of not being super-organised, and she has a detailed plan covering language and schools, tax and accommodation and other eventualities I hadn't thought of. Now they have a place to live and a date when they are leaving. Son Number One is back from Colombia for a while, but will be heading back to that part of the world soon. Daughter Number Three is loving her life in London, while Daughter Number Two and her partner are actively considering where they might live in the future: a future where four out of my five children, and a granddaughter, may live some distance away. [ An encounter near Barcelona's Sagrada Família taught me a lesson about other tourists Opens in new window ] The housing crisis is a huge factor, of course. You could blame the current Government for this, or the government of 20 years ago which failed to plan for this. Which is the same government. You'd wonder why the parents of this emigrant generation kept voting for them. Not that my children, or any of their peers, are without agency. They've made decisions about the shapes of their lives. And with every change they make, I'm forced to expand my thinking, to reshape my familial mental map and how much of the globe it covers. My world isn't shrinking. Quite the opposite. That expansion might even involve language. In a year or two, I may have a granddaughter who speaks French as easily as English. As she may well say to me one day, 'c'est la vie'.
Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
A day in the life of a Google-dependent grandparent
They say young children ask many questions – Why is the sky blue? Why are trees green? Why is Trump President? – but it's nothing on the information sought by a grandparent. Here are my requests for information, on a day when Nana happened to be in Brisbane. Our transcript begins one minute after the children's arrival. Google searches (7.11 am to 7.50 am) How to draw a lion. Step by step. Easy. How to draw a lion except lion has tail of a serpent. Step by step. Easy. How to draw a lion except the lion is also a goat and it has a tail like a scorpion. Step by step. Easy. How to draw a lion-goat-scorpion with a four your old when his younger brother is simultaneously climbing the handles on the kitchen drawers so he can reach the stove top? Easy. Post on Facebook parenting group (7.50am) Does anyone have a Ms Rachel link? Urgent. Response to kindly Facebook parent (7.51) Thanks! Great Job! Log onto the newspaper. Read paper for 60 minutes while children are happily hypnotised by Ms Rachel. In spare time, send text to Nana in Brisbane (8.51) All well here! Very relaxed! You should go away more often! Google searches (8.52 am) How to make slime? Recipe. Simple. How to make slime? Recipe. Simple. No contact lens solution. Slime without contact lens solution, baking powder or PVA glue? Crying four-year-old, what to do? Dan Murphy App, virtual assistant (8.55). Do you deliver before 10am? Google searches (8.56 to 9.30) Why do termites eat wood? For child. How to make a termite out of pipe cleaners and ice-cream sticks? For child. How to paint a termite once you've made one from pipe cleaners and ice-cream sticks? Four-year-old child. He is here with me. In this room. Videos of Godzilla. For kids. Not too scary.
The Age
5 days ago
- General
- The Age
A day in the life of a Google-dependent grandparent
They say young children ask many questions – Why is the sky blue? Why are trees green? Why is Trump President? – but it's nothing on the information sought by a grandparent. Here are my requests for information, on a day when Nana happened to be in Brisbane. Our transcript begins one minute after the children's arrival. Google searches (7.11 am to 7.50 am) How to draw a lion. Step by step. Easy. How to draw a lion except lion has tail of a serpent. Step by step. Easy. How to draw a lion except the lion is also a goat and it has a tail like a scorpion. Step by step. Easy. How to draw a lion-goat-scorpion with a four your old when his younger brother is simultaneously climbing the handles on the kitchen drawers so he can reach the stove top? Easy. Post on Facebook parenting group (7.50am) Does anyone have a Ms Rachel link? Urgent. Response to kindly Facebook parent (7.51) Thanks! Great Job! Log onto the newspaper. Read paper for 60 minutes while children are happily hypnotised by Ms Rachel. In spare time, send text to Nana in Brisbane (8.51) All well here! Very relaxed! You should go away more often! Google searches (8.52 am) How to make slime? Recipe. Simple. How to make slime? Recipe. Simple. No contact lens solution. Slime without contact lens solution, baking powder or PVA glue? Crying four-year-old, what to do? Dan Murphy App, virtual assistant (8.55). Do you deliver before 10am? Google searches (8.56 to 9.30) Why do termites eat wood? For child. How to make a termite out of pipe cleaners and ice-cream sticks? For child. How to paint a termite once you've made one from pipe cleaners and ice-cream sticks? Four-year-old child. He is here with me. In this room. Videos of Godzilla. For kids. Not too scary.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
People deletes Olivia Munn story after Ms. Rachel comments draw 'threats'
In a rare move, People magazine deleted a story from its website on Wednesday after it triggered 'violent' threats against its subject, the actress Olivia Munn, and her family. The story was about Munn's distaste for children's television and bore a headline specifically citing the popular YouTuber Ms. Rachel — which apparently triggered some fans. 'There is no excuse for these abhorrent attacks, and we will always prioritize safety above all else,' the publication acknowledged in a statement explaining the decision to remove a story. It's an unusual move for any news outlet to delete, rather than amend or update, a story — even People, which is generally considered a friendly go-to outlet for celebrities to share their stories. When asked for further information about removing the article, a People representative pointed back to its original statement. The post was drawn from the magazine's recent interview with Munn for a cover story, which published online June 4. The 44-year-old actress, who was promoting her new Apple TV+ series, talked about life with her husband, 42-year-old comedian John Mulaney, their children — a 3-year-old boy and 8-month-old girl — as well as her 2023 breast cancer diagnosis. People also published several separate exclusive items using material from the Munn interview, including one in which she discussed her fertility treatments, and another post headlined, 'Olivia Munn Doesn't Let Her Kids Watch Ms. Rachel. Here's Why.' In the story, according to sites that repeated quotes from it before it was deleted, Munn shared her irritation with children's TV programming. She specifically cited Ms. Rachel, a major celebrity to young children and their parents. 'I know kids love [Ms. Rachel], but the thing is, if I can't watch it, I'm not going to spend the rest of my life going crazy,' Munn said, and added she was not a fan of 'Blue's Clues' or 'Spider-Man' either. (She did admit a tolerance for 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood,' because it helped her son prepare for the arrival of a baby sister.) However, the framing of the People headline drew attention on social media, especially given that Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has been in the news for speaking out about the plight of children in Gaza — though it's unclear if this topic was even addressed in the People story. All of this was surely heightened by the strong feelings many fans harbor about Mulaney and Munn's relationship, and its timing relative to his divorce from an artist, Anna Marie Tendler, with her own significant social media following. Various publications and social media accounts started regurgitating Munn's comments, and Accurso herself expressed disappointment when she left a comment on People's Instagram post, now disappeared as well: 'WHO CARES?! I'd rather you cover me advocating for kids in Gaza who are literally starving, largest cohort of child amputees in modern history, thousands & thousands killed — no medical care, no education, no homes… do better!!!' Accurso wrote, according to multiple reports. 'Not against [Munn] at all and don't care that she doesn't want to watch the show — all my love to her and her family — disappointed in the outlets.' Later, she wrote on her own Instagram account that she and Munn had spoken and were on good terms. 'Please be kind to Olivia & her precious family,' Accurso wrote. 'I don't believe in hate, attacks or hurtful comments.' Munn also criticized the coverage. 'To Ms Rachel and your fans, I hear and respect the passion behind your support. I never anticipated the media would single out one small thing I said and distort it like they have,' she wrote in an Instagram story earlier this week. 'Every parent understands the importance of finding meaningful programming that helps us connect with our kids. I don't want something taken out of context to be a moment that steals even a minute of joy for anyone.' Mulaney weighed in Wednesday, calling for a stop to the 'violent and threatening' comments that Munn had been receiving in online comments and direct messages. 'An innocent comment my wife Olivia Munn made about what children's programs we like has somehow — unbelievably — been conflated with not caring about the deaths of children in Gaza,' he posted on Instagram. 'The people doing this are so wildly out of line and so unhelpful to any conversation. You took a nothing comment to a dark and dangerous place. This kind of behavior isn't activism.' Accurso has been creating educational children's content on YouTube, where she has more than 15.2 million subscribers, since 2019. With the help of silly and cheerful music, Ms. Rachel teaches children how to spell and use the bathroom, while also offering lessons on emotional support. Outside of her YouTube show, Accurso has been outspoken about Gaza, which led to backlash from right-wing media commentators and StopAntisemitism, a prominent pro-Israel group, which called on the U.S. attorney general to investigate the children's entertainer. (Accurso said earlier this month that she stands against 'all forms of hate.') But, Accurso told WBUR, 'I wouldn't be Ms. Rachel if I didn't deeply care about all kids. And I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for them.'
Scottish Sun
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I've tried for ages to potty train my toddler, then he watched ONE Ms Rachel's video and started doing it immediately
A MUM has been left stunned after her toddler managed to conquer potty training after watching just one Ms Rachel video. The 32-year-old explained in a clip on TikTok that she had tried for some time to potty train her little boy, but it hasn't "been going that well". 3 A mum has shared her shock after her son nailed potty training after watching Ms Rachel's new video once Credit: tiktok/adhdandlatina 3 The much-loved star sings about "poop feelings" and when to use the potty Credit: youtube/msrachel 3 And it's working a treat for loads of children all over the world Credit: youtube/msrachel So when her husband sent her a video of someone saying that their toddler had potty trained themselves after watching Ms Rachel's new video, she thought it couldn't hurt to try. And imagine her surprise when just one viewing of the catchy video was enough to make her son start taking it seriously. "I watched it today with my toddler and later, as he was eating a popsicle, he stopped and said 'I have a poop feeling', which is what Ms Rachel says in her video," she marvelled. When he said that, she told him "let's go", took him to the potty and he did it. "And wow everyone, Ms Rachel!" she said. "I mean I'm sure we all know Ms Rachel for so many reasons, she is a real one!" And in the comments, the mum quickly found out she wasn't the only parent to have found the Ms Rachel video a game changer. "That episode completely changed our potty training journey too!" one wrote. "Protect Ms Rachel at all costs!! "MY ONE AND HALF YR OLD WATCHED IT TWICE- TWIIIIICE," another shouted. Ms. Rachel reveals she secretly welcomed a baby girl via surrogate and announces 'sweet' name after YouTube absence "He's been using the damn potty ever since- it's been like what a WEEK since it released? "THANK GOD FOR THAT WOMAN!" "My 22 mo watched the episode Thursday and by Sunday she had pooped in the potty," a third admitted. "The video is brilliant. My toddler is only 18months and she's doing so well in her potty training," someone else wrote. "We watched this episode for a few days and out of nowhere, my toddler is running to the bathroom saying, 'I have to potty!!!'" another gasped. "How many times did he watch it before this happened???" someone else asked the mum. Who is Ms Rachel? SHE'S arguably the most famous person on kids' TV at the moment, and has just had a whole line of toys and booked released for her fans. But just where did Ms Rachel come from, and how did she find fame? Ms Rachel's real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, and she worked as a music teacher in a public pre-school in New York before starting her YouTube channel. The Songs for Littles channel was created after she discovered there were barely any resources for her son, who had a speech delay. The tunes, made up from classic children's songs and nursery rhymes, with a twist, were composed by Rachel and her husband - Broadway composer Aron Accurso. She also started on TikTok, where she acquired over two and a half million followers by March 2023. She has also faced her fair share of controversy, such as when she offered to sell Cameo videos to raise money for Save the Children - mentioning the Gaza Strip, Sudan, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rachel said she was "bullied online" for the move, and has since disabled comments on some of her Instagram, TikTok and YouTube posts. The highly-anticipated Ms Rachel toys were released in September, and are expected to be one of the biggest sellers this Christmas. To which she replied: "Just once!" "What juju did Ms Rachel activate to get all these kids hypnotised into action???" another questioned. With someone else replying: "I'm not a mum but let me tell you... I had my baby nephew while my brother and wife was out of the country and Ms Rachel saved my life!"
