MOST grandchildren have the ability to twist their grandmothers around their little finger. But Emma Parsons-Reid, 57, isn’t your typical sweet granny. Emma claims to be the country’s “meanest gran”.
She runs her family home like a military operation and never pulls her punches. When her five granddaughters, who range in age from eight to 17, misbehave Emma has a failsafe way of getting them back in line — a short, sharp blow on her whistle. She says it takes just one blast and the girls immediately line up, silently, in age order, knowing they’ll face her wrath if they step out of line.
In the past, severe tellings-off have made them all cry. But Emma firmly believes tough love is best. “I’m very mean at times,” she says.
“People often say I’ve been too harsh. But they’ll face much worse in the real world. “I don’t want my granddaughters to end up as snowflakes .
“You don’t get anywhere in life by crying the whole time. "I don’t want them getting upset just because someone has looked at them the wrong way or is not giving them what they want. “Kids have got to toughen up.
” Retired civil servant Emma, from Cardiff, says while her own grandparents didn’t feature much in her life, her dad was strict. “I had to use a knife and fork correctly or it was slapped out of my hand,” she says. “I only spoke when I was spoken to and it did me wonders.
"I pride myself on being consistent. I won’t take any nonsense from anybody.” Now marrie.