I started this feature to celebrate real mums. Mums are amazing and 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 part of a 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 Helen!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
My name is Helen and I am wifey to Adi (married for 5 years and together for 15!), I have two beautiful children (I’m biased I know!), Alfie who is 3 on the 26th May and the latest addition, Elarna who was born on 15th April. We also share our house with 2 crazy ASBO cats Winston and Louie.
Describe a typical day in your life
This depends on the day, Alfie goes to Nursery on a Tuesday and a Thursday so those days are a little manic on a morning but quieter during the day! Generally though Alfie wakes at about 7am/7:30am, he’s a great sleeper.
Elarna is waking a couple of times a night and usually has her morning feed at about 6:30am. We get Alfie down from his room and we have half an hour of him watching a bit of Milkshake while I grab a shower and sort my face out before going down for breakfast. If I’m at home on my own with Alfie I’ll sort Elarna out while he’s having his cereal and then try and grab a cuppa. This is all still quite new to me sorting out 2 children so I’m kind of just winging it!
During the day I’ll play with Alfie, we usually set up his Thomas track and play with those for a while or do some drawing and then when Elarna needs my attention I’ll let him watch a couple of things on the tablet. I try to stick to a similar feeding time as his nursery otherwise he gets very cranky, so lunch is around 12pm and then tea at pm with a couple of snacks in between! My husband works in London, although he does work from home at times but when he’s in London we walk down to the station at 5:45pm to meet him which Alfie loves.
Adi then spends an hour with the 2 of them and we then get them up for a bath, have some quiet time, read a book to Alfie and then it’s bed by 7:30pm, I am then sorting Elarna out before myself and my husband then collapse on the sofa and wonder where the day has gone! I head to bed at around 10:30pm and my husband does the last feed before bed and that’s the day over!
What is the best thing about being a mum?
That everyday no matter how hard a day it’s been or how tired I am at some point during the day my little boy or baby can raise a smile from me.
What have you found hardest about motherhood?
Having to deal with a toddler’s unpredictable behaviour and tantrums, one minute he will be a sweet little boy and the next a devil child! You just can never tell when it’s going to happen. Also adapting to not just being able to pop out to the shops or have a date night to the cinema. Funny how you take those things for granted before you have children.
How has your body changed?
Before Alfie my body wasn’t in a great shape anyway, I’m curvy and I know I’m never going to be a skinny girl! I have my wobbly bits and love handles (ergh) but bizarrely after both pregnancies I have lost weight and gone down a dress size! It’s so random but I’m not complaining. I don’t love my body though and doubt I ever will.
Do you wear makeup? If so what does your routine look like?
I wear makeup everyday, I always have unless I’m poorly, on holiday in a pool and swimming. The amount I wear just depends on how much time I have on a morning but you can usually find me with at least foundation and eye makeup on. If I do have time I will have a full face on, it’s just who I am and I enjoy putting it on.
What’s in your handbag?
Well I’m now back to using a changing bag again but prior to that you could most definitely find in my handbag baby wipes, a spare pair of pants for Alfie (not me!), my purse, contact lens solution, pens, various items of makeup, most definitely several tubes of lipbalm deodorant and some snacks. I’m always amazed when I do properly look in my handbag what I’ve accumulated over time!
What is your relationship with housework?
I used to be quite stressed about the state of the house and at times I still am but since having children I’ve learnt that sadly housework sometimes needs to go on the back burner and not be too house proud. Obviously the house is clean and welcoming so surely that is more important than been worried if there are toys all over the floor! Once I’m back to work after my maternity leave I am totally getting a cleaner!
How do you relax?
I try to relax by having a bubble bath a couple of times a week when I can, the 15 minutes of being on my own without being poked and prodded and questioned by a small child are pure bliss. I like nothing more than chilling on the sofa on a Saturday night with a glass of wine, I also like to read for 10 minutes or so before bed to unwind.
What’s the best parenting advice you have ever been given?
Go with your instincts and do what you feel is best for your children. Also, don’t take yourself too seriously, parenting is a tricky task and having a sense of humour helps.
For any new mums out there, what would you like to tell them?
The first few weeks with a newborn are very hard but you do get through it and your baby will sleep through after a few weeks. Stick to a routine no matter what you do and where you go and you’ll have a child that will be willing to go to bed and sleep. I recommend a book called Baby Secrets for tips and hints to help you out with this, I swore by it.
What makes you happy?
Mostly having a healthy family and 2 beautiful children. However, Friday night when I know I’ve got my husband at home for the weekend, wine, chocolate and shopping. Also it goes without saying that seeing my family and friends always makes me happy.
And finally, complete this sentence:
I am a great mum because….. I feel like the luckiest person alive to have these 2 children in my life, they are the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I go to bed. I would do anything for them and I can’t imagine my life without them in it now. Everything I do is for my children and I think that’s what makes me a great Mum.
This was such a lovely read. I laughed about wondering where the day goes every evening- I know exactly what you mean. Your spare pants also made me giggle! I am impressed you manage 2 bubble baths a week- I am lucky to get a shower! 🙂
You can find out more about Helen and her world over at her blog, Beautiful Things.
She is also on Twitter so go say hi!
If you would like to take part in my Real Mums series then email me at katy@whatkatysaid.com. x
Pen
Friday 31st of July 2015
This is a really lovely interview. Great idea to host them. I really enjoy reading about other mother's lives. We really are all so very different. X
Katy
Monday 3rd of August 2015
You are very welcome to join in if you like x