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 Caroline!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
My name’s Caroline, I’m 30 years old, wife to Matt and mum to Logan and Florence. Logan is 5 and Florence is 2. Logan primarily lives with his dad about ten miles away from me. I work part time at home and in my spare time enjoy blogging and being a mum.
Describe a typical day in your life
A typical week day starts at around 6am when my husband gets in the shower. Soon after my daughter Florence would come padding into our room and clambering into our bed. We tend to chat and cuddle for five or ten minutes before I get up and throw some clothes on (sometimes I just put a jumper over my pj’s).
Matt gets himself ready for work while I get Florence a snack and a drink and pack her bag ready for nursery. Florence starts nursery at 7:30am where she has breakfast and will stay until about 5:30pm-6pm. Some days she’s not in at all – it just depends on my working pattern.
Once Matts gone and Florence is at nursery I either head to the gym or come home, have breakfast and do a few chores before turning my laptop on at around 8:30am for work.
The rest of my day mainly sees me hunched over my desk. I try to take a break when I eat lunch and move into another room.
Matt doesn’t usually get home until about 8pm so I bathe Florence and put her in bed at 7pm. Once Matts home we eat dinenr together and chat before going to bed around 10pm.
What is the best thing about being a mum?
The best thing about being a mum has got to be the moments the kids make you want to cry – through pride I hasten to add! I still shed a tear at my sons assembly as he looks so small but grown up at the same time. I wonder where the years have gone and feel proud to have such a beautiful and inquisitive little boy that can read and write.
Florence makes me proud in other ways. The way she’s never physically hurt the other kids at nursery like some of the other children have hurt her makes me think we’ve done a good job raising her, the way she always asks for two crackers when Logan is home so she can give him one and the way she tells me and Matt that we’re her best friends. These moments make the sleepless nights worthwhile.
What have you found hardest about motherhood?
Leaving Logan’s Dad and therefore Logan, just before his 2nd birthday, was the hardest thing I have ever done and I still cry about it now. We lived with Logans grandparents on his Dads side and so it was up to me to move out. I couldn’t afford to stay at home and look after Logan and get a place to live so Logan stayed put and I worked full time to continue to support Logan and eventually have a place he could come and stay with me. It’s been four years now and Logan has built a fabulous life for himself in the village where he has lived all his life. I see him every week and we have a wonderful relationship. I did what was right for Logan and not for me – that, to me, has been the hardest thing about motherhood.
How has your body changed?
I absolutely despise my body. I really didn’t make the effort in my first pregnancy to look after myself and eat correctly. I ate for two from the moment I found out. Food
helped stop the nausea and I craved carbs and grease. Battered sausages and Donor Kebabs were a favourite.
A year after Logan was born I found the will power to lose 47lbs and I felt amazing. I could wear anything I like although I would never have revealed my tummy and all its stretch marks!
After Florence was born, again I managed to lose the weight but I have since gained whilst trying to conceive and I really wish I could lose the weight again. My hips are massive but I have a small waist. I feel very out of proportion since having children.
Do you wear makeup? If so what does your routine look like?
My make up routine really does depend on what my day involves. As I work from home I rarely wear make up. If I know I am meeting Matt after work for a drink I’ll stick some on but even then it’s minimal. I like to think my skins going to be in better condition if I don’t wear make up all week.
I always wear make up at the weekend which would consist of foundation, concealer, bronzer, blusher, eyebrows, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara. I’m not a fan of lipstick.
What’s in your handbag?
A lot of stuff! I’ve actually recently done a vlog on this exact question!
What is your relationship with housework?
I love housework, I can’t settle in the evenings if there are toys all over the floor. I like to create a clean and relaxing atmosphere for Matt to come home to as I know he works really hard to help support our lifestyle. I wish I could dedicate more time to keeping the home in order and my dream would be to have a daily schedule of cleaning so I keep on top of it but for the time being I just do it as needed.
How do you relax?
Relaxing on my own would involve a glass of wine, a candle and some trashy TV or You Tube videos.
As a family we like going out for long walks and stopping for food at country pubs. I’m hoping to talk the other half into getting a puppy in June so talking him out will be another time for stress relief.
What’s the best parenting advice you have ever been given?
I can’t recall an exact piece of advice but when I get the mummy guilt because Logan didn’t have his favourite sandwich filling or Florence fell off her bike when I wasn’t looking I simply remember that they actually won’t remember any of this. They won’t hate me forever and within 5 minutes they’ve forgotten all about it and are on to the next thing. Don’t feel guilty!
For any new mums out there, what would you like to tell them?
Enjoy every moment as it is soon gone. I was told this many times but didn’t really appreciate just how fast it goes. You’ll soon be throwing out the bibs and scratch mitts and believe me, it’s a sad time!
What makes you happy?
When my family are happy, I’m happy. Being with them makes me happy. I really dislike my current job so when that’s over and done with for the week and I can be homemaker and mum I’m the happiest I could be.
And finally, complete this sentence:
I am a great mum because….. I am a great mum because I have the support of my husband every step of the way.
Caroline, you are so brave! I cannot actually imagine how hard it must have been leaving Logan behind like that. What an absolutely selfless thing to do, allowing him to keep on living with his dad. I also love your final sentence- you are the first to attribute being a great mum to the support of her husband, what a lovely thing to say!
You can find out more about Caroline and her world over at her blog Mrs Magovern
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