How do I be a Supermum?
You would think that after just coming back from a week’s holiday in a gorgeous cottage in Devon, complete with swimming pool, Jacuzzi and games room, I would be feeling completely revitalised and ready for anything!
Ok, so it didn’t aid the relaxation that SnugBoy#1 came down with chickenpox on day 3 of the holiday, and the last couple of nights I barely slept (or the night after we got back, for that matter). And the even-more-contrary-than-usual nature of SnugBoy#2 during the holiday, meant that some of the holiday was rather tense to say the least.
Still, a holiday is a holiday, don’t you think? So, why is it then, that when I come back, I seem to have even more work to do, and even less time to do it in?
What I would like to know is how the “Superwoman” mums that I read about manage it? You know the ones, work 42 hours a day in a high flying city job, then come home in time to read, and play with educational toys with their perfectly behaved little darlings, before cooking a delicious, yet superbly healthy dinner for their equally successful and gorgeous husband. And after all that, they still have time to do the housework, all without complaint, AND STILL have perfectly manicured nails! Do they live in some strange 3rd dimension where they have no need for sleep, and the days are twice as long? 
My days are spent trying (and often failing) to get a bit of work done around the children’s Thomas The Tank Engine set, resolving disputes and doing the ironing. On the days where we don’t have to be anywhere, I am lucky to have the children dressed before 9am. Don’t get me wrong; my house isn’t like something off Kim and Aggie (although I did find SnugBoy#2, aged 2, trying to clean the downstairs loo this morning) but nor is it quite as organised as I would like. By 11am this morning we (SnugBoys and I) had had breakfast, put some washing out, played with various toys, made a card for SnugBoy#1’s teacher, tidied the kitchen and done the ironing.
But none of it has been exactly stress-free.
So, if anyone has any tips on how to be a fabulous, non-shouty type mummy, successful businesswoman, and wonderful wife, I would love to hear them! Maybe I need another holiday…
July 15th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
As a mum of 2, who runs a business and has a day job as well, I sympathise.
I know the answer though – childcare. Good, reliable, old-fashioned Nannies. Of course, they probably earn more than I do so…
xx
July 15th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
At least you’ve got the successful and gorgeous husband
July 15th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I don’t think those women you mentioned exist. The high flying women hire cleaners to ensure an emmaculate house, have nannies to do the playtime, come home just in time for bed and story, are probably ignored by their gorgeous successful husbands until they’ve slaved over a hot oven, and pay stupid amounts of money to have their beautician see them at home or work in their own time on a weekly basis.
I’d rather run around my kim and aggie home, be there to step in when my kids begin to strangle one another, and having a long to do list can only mean long term success surely? Or at least I hope, because this to do list is not ending any time soon.
Any tips…? Keep it up! You sounds like a super dooper mum to me!
Ask the boys, I’m sure they’d agree.