Real Mums #04 Tin Box Traveller

I started this feature to celebrate real mums. Mums come in all shapes and sizes but sometimes we can feel alone, we can feel as though we are the only ones struggling to keep on top of things. I want to lift the lid on motherhood so we can all feel a part of sisterhood, to feel proud about our own achievements and know that we are doing the best we can!

Without further a do let me hand over to Claire!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

I’m a mid-thirties mum to one lively 22-month-old with another little person in the oven. My passions are enjoying the great outdoors with my family and writing. I work part-time and do some volunteering for an armed forces families club on the side.

Describe a typical day in your life

I’m never sure when the day starts and ends as I’m quite often up in the night to reunite Tin Box Tot with a lost bunny, administer Calpol or offer her a cuddle after a bad dream. However, Mr Tin Box’s alarm goes off at 6.15am and the Tot’s internal clock wakes her up not long after. I plonk some toys in her bed to keep her occupied while I jump in the shower.

If it’s one of my working days I’ll drop the Tot at nursery at 7.30am and leave Tin Box Dog with my parents just after 8am. Work starts at 8.30am and I finish at 4.30pm.

I pick the Tot up just after 5pm and the dog a short while after that. We are usually home in time for CBeebies bedtime hour, which we watch with a cup of milk. The Tot’s bedtime is 6.30pm-ish and I can spend anything from 10 minutes to half an hour settling her. She does cute things like sing and tell me she’s pooed in and effort to stay awake a little longer.

Meanwhile, and luckily for my tummy, Mr TB cooks tea. I usually crash out in front of the TV for the rest of the evening and cross my fingers that we have a good night. Some evenings I find a bit of time to blog and flick through my social media. My iPhone is never far away. By the time 10pm comes around, and often earlier in my pregnant state, I’m so tired that I ask Mr TB to remove the contact lenses from my eyeballs. He pulls a disgusted face and refuses!

What is the best thing about being a mum?

The feeling of pride when the Tot masters a new word or skill and knowing that ‘I made that’.

What have you found hardest about motherhood?

Not being in control. I hate the trial and error nature of being a parent. It’s a massive responsibility and I can’t abide the thought of messing up.

How has your body changed?

My body is currently home to Tin Box Baby 2 so is changing all the time. I love my growing tummy but wish that my hips and bum wouldn’t expand in equal measure. I plan to breastfeed, which I hope will help with weight loss like it did first time round. But I’m going to be 30-ahem when I give birth so know losing the extra pounds is going to be tough unless I work really hard.

Do you wear makeup? If so, what does your routine look like? 

I don’t leave the house without my war paint – the first morning after 39 hours of labour with the Tot I had my slap on. Last month I had conjunctivitis but I would still trowel on foundation and blusher. I have to admit that missing out eye shadow and mascara saved me a lot of time in the morning!

What’s in your handbag? 

My purse, keys, two mobile phones (work and personal), business cards, Vaseline lip balm, a pencil case, doggy bags, a ball, Galviscon tablets, a bruised apple, gum, a hair brush and a few sticky pennies.

What is your relationship with housework?

House what? I hate mess and will find the odd five minutes to tidy up but I really don’t vacuum or dust as much as I should.

How do you relax?

I’m most relaxed when I’m offline and this usually happens when we are away in our caravan. It’s a waste of time getting stressed about what witty anecdote you are going slip into your next tweet if you’ve got no 3G.

What’s the best parenting advice you have ever been given?

Don’t buy kids loads of expensive plastic toys – they prefer the cheap stuff like pots and pans, cardboard boxes, and your time.

For any new mums out there, what would you like to tell them?

When people tell you being a mum is tough, they’re not lying. But you’ll never really understand what they mean until it happens to you. You also can’t appreciate the real value of sleep until it’s taken away.

What makes you happy?

Bed, chocolate, warm summer evenings and family hugs.

And finally, complete this sentence:

I am a great mum because….. I’m not afraid of mud.

Thank you so much Claire! I love that you aren’t afraid of mud- my girls would love you as I am not a fan at all! Peppa Pig would not be happy with me!! You are right about the sleep and no amount of ‘sleep as much as you can before the baby comes’ helps! You never catch up!

  You can find out more about Claire and her world over on her blog, Tin Box Traveller.