Angie Sullivan, known as “Pumps” on the podcast I’ve Had It, recently made some unvarnished remarks about her feelings toward her own children.
During a segment where she and her co-host, Jennifer Welch, were responding to a caller venting about the challenges of homeschooling, Sullivan took a strong stance against the concept, leading to some surprising comments about her own kids.
The caller expressed frustration about how some homeschooling parents seem to see their choice as a way to prove their parenting skills. Sullivan jumped in, labeling homeschooling as fundamentally flawed. She implied it was strange for parents to want their children around them constantly.
“I think homeschooling is a bad idea, from soup to nuts,” Sullivan remarked. “I don’t care if you’re a nuclear physicist. I just think it’s really odd to want your kids around you all day, every day, and all night. And then there’s the issue of socialization.”
“Personally, I would have gone to great lengths, even crawling on my hands and knees, just to get my kids to school to be away from them,” she added. “So, I can’t trust someone who wants to be with their kids 24/7. I think a lot of people do it because it’s easier, and that worries me.”
It’s striking how openly she suggests she’d rather distance herself from her kids, framing it as a relatable stance. She seemed to imply that wanting to be away from your children suggests a sort of intelligence or normalcy—almost finding something suspicious in parents who enjoy having their kids at home.
Sullivan appears to view regular parental instincts as unusual. Typically, parents, especially mothers who have chosen to raise children, develop a natural urge to nurture and stay close, particularly in those early years. Still, Sullivan, without hesitation, boasted about her willingness to limit her time with them.
Most mothers might acknowledge the educational value of school while also treasuring family moments. Yet, Sullivan utilized her anti-homeschooling rant as a platform to express just how much she dislikes being around her children.
She seems to be encouraging her audience to embrace the idea that disliking time spent with one’s children is acceptable, perhaps even commendable. It’s interesting to think about how loving motherhood could be seen as “right-wing” now.
This negative attitude toward motherhood isn’t healthy. It undermines the quite tough yet gratifying aspects of daily parenting. Many mothers endure challenging days because the connection matters, both for their children and for themselves as women.
This is just another instance of extreme views disrupting societal norms, potentially harming many women who may find themselves influenced by such messages. Sullivan openly expressed her disdain for being around her children, and it seems she wants other women to share in that sentiment.
