Professional Documents
Culture Documents
million mums
massive difference
how to be
Welcome
to this first ever online edition
of mummomag, created
entirely by mums for mums to
celebrate Mothers’ Day and the
launch of a very exciting
campaign ‘million mums’ ...
As mums, we are privileged to experience the rollercoaster ride of motherhood. The ‘ups’, the ‘downs’ and the
‘in betweens’. The love, the laughter, the tears and the shouting. Those precious moments of pure joy, those
gut-wrenching moments of terror, those ‚why me?‛ moments of despair ... and those frequent ‚banging your
head against a brick wall‛ feelings of frustration! And, of course, the kisses and cuddles and snuggles and hugs
that make your heart almost burst with happiness.
In all this, we know, deep down, that motherhood is the most amazing journey of our lives. In a recent
Mummo survey, 95.8% of mums who responded to the question “Are you glad you had children?” answered
with a resounding ‚yes‛!
Which makes it all the more tragic that many women have their experience of motherhood cut needlessly short.
Did you know that pregnancy and childbirth are the biggest killers of young women of reproductive age in the
world today? No? Neither did I until I discovered the White Ribbon Alliance and found out about the
shocking statistics on maternal mortality. Having spent far too much of the last five years moaning about the
everyday challenges of motherhood, I suddenly got a great big kick up the backside! How dare I complain
about something I was so lucky to be doing? I decided to see how I could help ... and the result is ‘Million
Mums’, a joint initiative between the White Ribbon Alliance and Mummo. It’s all about harnessing the
enormous power that we possess, as mums, if we act together. Collectively, I believe we can change the world.
And it doesn’t take much. Two minutes and a couple of quid ... that’s all. A million small gestures add up to a
gigantic impact. Please turn to page 62 to find out more and get involved.
This first ever mummomag is concrete proof of what we as mums can achieve, individually and collaboratively.
It’s taken just a couple of weeks from having the idea to making it happen. Every single bit of the magazine has
come from a mum, and between us we have created something that, hopefully, will be enjoyed by lots and lots
of other mums. In it, you’ll find examples of the huge variety of of skills, talents, knowledge and expertise that
we have. From the mum who adopted three children from the other side of the world ... to the mum who is
gearing up to leave her husband, kids and business (temporarily!) to go on the trip of a lifetime. From the
mumpreneurs ... to the mummies who blog. From journalist mums to designer mums. From fit mums to bendy
mums to imperfectly natural mums. From us to you, with love.
prosperity
money saving tips Gemma Johnson, Babeecard 66
party like it’s £19.99 NixdMinx, mummy blogger 68
happy here
and now ...
There’s so much pressure There are days when perhaps it’s easier to be happy.
The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the kids are
for perfection these days running around outside playing nicely for a change <
so of course the house feels a bit bigger and stays a lot
that, if you’re not careful, tidier! Your hair’s looking good < and your partner
noticed. Your work’s going well < and your boss
you can end up putting noticed. Suddenly you’ve got bags of energy and
enthusiasm for life!
happiness on hold <
Then there are the other days. Those days. You know
waiting for < ??? the ones! The days when everything that can go
wrong does go wrong (or so it seems). When you roll
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
And today? Today is a gift.
That's why we call it the present.
lovely fuzz
small and so simple could make me so happy. And
Sue Llewellyn shares a few it’s a lesson in life that I’ve never forgotten.
tips on how to squeeze big So what is happiness and how, when we’ve all got
such busy lives and 101 things to worry about, can we
joy out of small things ... take steps to be happier?
and to be happy. But why wait to be happy? Why These days I prefer to go with the flow and not against
not simply stop being such a ‘busy body’ and start it. I’ve finally learnt to accept the things I can’t
living and being happy now? change, change the things I can < and hopefully still
have enough marbles left to know the difference.
Happiness expert Robert Holden suggests that we all
do a ‘busyness audit’ where we think of three ways to I believe it’s all a question of attitude. Think happy,
be less busy and more fulfilled. act happy and you will be happy. Just try it. Try
smiling right now and I’ll bet you feel better. Go on;
So, in my case, what’s the problem if I haven’t done let a great big smile spread across your face.
the ironing that day or if there are a few stray socks
lying around or if I am not a perfectly attired See what I mean?
Domestic Goddess cooing over my cupcakes? There
isn’t a problem. It’s just a question of attitude. Now think of a baby giggling as you blow a raspberry
on its tummy or tickle its toes or simply marvel at the
There’s no such thing as a Perfect Mother so in my fact that he or she has found something inexplicably
view we shouldn’t even try to be one. Simply be the hysterical. It’s a sound of the purest joy and it makes
best you can and look at what you have done each day my soul sing whenever I hear it.
and not at what you haven’t.
In a noisy world full of man-made machines, it’s the
It took me years of feeling like chewed string to realise natural sounds that soothe and lift the spirits. Gently
that I wasn’t, nor ever could be, Superwoman. By running water, a light breeze softly whispering
trying to be all things to all people it was all go all the through the grass or the sheer operatic wonder of the
time < and I was burning myself out. Now I dawn chorus. Hundreds of little birds joyfully
appreciate that I am what I am, my kids still love me tweeting and apparently so delighted by the start of a
and I’m happy. new day. It sure beats the sort of ‘Tweeting’ and
‘Twittering’ that seems to occupy us humans.
Sometimes I look at people who are
Go for a walk on a beautiful Spring day; close your
exhausting themselves, just as I did, eyes, take a deep breath and just listen. Can you hear
and I see a parallel with the salmon what I mean?
fighting its way upstream only to Music is renowned for lifting the spirits and I just
spawn and die. can’t resist joining in and singing along - much to the
horror of my kids < but at least it makes them laugh.
Where’s the fun in that? In addition to his All Request Fridays where listeners
can pick their all-time favourite tracks, Chris Evans
has another regular slot on his Radio 2 Drive Time
show where he gets kids to ring in and tell everyone
about something they did for the first time that day.
The pride in their little voices over their simple
achievement is a joy.
Sue Llewellyn is a former BBC journalist and producer, now a media consultant
running her own business, Many Hands Media (www.manyhandsmedia.co.uk). She
also works as a healer and loves cooking and teaching her children to cook. Result:
her second son is apparently a genius in the kitchen!
My children: I'm lucky, lucky, lucky to have three absolutely gorgeous 'children' -
Charlie (22), Otto (19) and Rosie (18) - who, for some unknown reason, call me
Moon. I love them to bits. A family who laughs together, stays together!
flower power
Best for fear Bach Original Flower Remedies retail at £5.95 for 20ml
Mimulus helps you overcome fears of known things and are available from Holland & Barrett, Boots and
such as flying, spiders or the dark. It can also be most independent chemist and health food stores.
beneficial for people who are generally shy and timid.
Also try: Aspen, if your fear has no identifiable origin. For more information visit www.bachremedies.co.uk.
Amy Lydall is a mum and Registered Bach Foundation Practitioner with her own
practice in Sutton, Surrey.
chill
We all know what we should be doing, or what we I first began practicing power yoga to deal with a
want to do, but for some reason we tend to put stressful job. Then I used it to get back into shape and
ourselves last and end up running out of time for ‘me’ find space for myself after having my daughter. It
time! Or, at least, we don’t create the time for it. And changed my life and I now practise every day (even if
yet, just 20 minutes can make all the difference in the just for 20 minutes) because it gives me the energy and
world, refreshing you, recharging your batteries and patience to manage whatever comes my way.
enabling you to function far more effectively.
I want to share a few postures with you that will help
More and more, yoga is being seen as a great way to create a sense of calm and well-being. They can easily
stay not only physically fit, but also mentally fit. be done at home.
mummomag
Splinters
If there’s a problem with physical removal, put a tiny
piece of good quality bread on it and tape it over with
a plaster. Believe it or not, the yeast content is said to
draw out the splinter.
Bruises
Arnica has become almost as common as aspirin, and
is fantastic for bruising and for shock. Most high
street chemists sell it now. Use the arnica cream and,
if severe, take a pillule of arnica 30. Apply a cold
vinegar compress to the bruise if inflamed or use
witch hazel. For more serious situations - for example,
when you know you are about to have an operation -
take arnica 200 for a few days before the op and
continue again during the recovery period.
Kimberly Rothman is a mum of three and a medal-winning athlete, who only took
up sport seriously at the age of 31! She has now set up Fit Camps to help people
get the most from their workouts and kickstart new healthy lifestyles.
Just had to include these images, which show a few pieces from the Spring / Summer ‘09 collection by German
label Bellybutton. Okay, I admit, I’m a sucker for aspirational marketing < but who wouldn’t want to look like
this and live a life like this?! They’re such feel-good photos I want to rush out and buy the clothes < and I’m not
even pregnant. Yes, believe it or not, this is maternity wear! Bellybutton also offers their own children’s clothing
range and a skincare range. If by any chance you’re tempted, you can find a list of UK stockists and also order
online at www.bellybutton.co.uk.
All photos courtesy of Bellybutton - www.bellybutton.co.uk
According to the head of Ofsted, for example, children Even the venerable Plato said ‚Not by force shall the
who play traditional board games at home do better at youth learn, but through play.‛
school. He said the games help children to think for
themselves, to wait their turn and to hold a So what can you do to reap the benefits of game
conversation with adults. And he expressed a concern playing with your own children? Here are 8 steps to
that computer games and television can discourage help you get started <
mummomag
Get some good games ‚What are all the different options you have?‛
Buy or dust off some games that are old favourites. ‚What will happen if you make that move?‛
Games like draughts, dominoes, connect four and card ‚What might be a better move that you could take?‛
games, are not only terrific fun but they are also ‚I can see a way that you can win, can you see it?‛
stimulating, challenging and involve concentration
and strategy. Whether your child wins or loses, at the end of the
game summarise what you learnt from the game and
Make it a regular thing then ask your child:
Choose a convenient slot in your weekly routine that
is an ideal time for your family to sit down together ‚What did you learn from that game?‛
and play a few games, such as a Friday evening or a ‚What might you do differently next time we play?‛
Sunday afternoon, for example.
Keep it fresh
Set the scene Keep people interested in ‘game time’ by regularly
Add some elements to help ‚game time‛ become a introducing new games. Surprise everyone by giving
family tradition: add favourite foods (bowls of the family a new game as a present every few weeks.
popcorn or mugs of hot chocolate perhaps?), a comfy Games that can be played within an hour and involve
warm setting (in front of a roaring fire?), invite thinking, memory, strategy or calculation are
grandparents, etc. recommended - for example: Othello, Guess Who,
Mancala, Nine Man Morris, Scrabble, Chinese
Cater for all ages Chequers or Rush Hour.
Start with games that are suited to the youngest age
group present, or have a few games going at the same We hope you enjoy and learn from ‚game time‛ in
time that fit the various age ranges. Make sure your family as much as we do in ours!
everyone understands the rules and aims of the game
being played. Give everyone a chance by Mind Lab Europe was established in 2003 by Suri Poulos
demonstrating good moves and strategies on the and her husband, Darrel. Mind Lab believes that the best
game board before beginning the ‚real‛ game‛. way of learning is through experience. We use carefully
selected board games from around the world as a tool to
Discuss game etiquette engage children and teach them effective thinking together
Explain that to enjoy playing games we all have to with social and emotional intelligence. Over two million
play by the rules, respect our partners and respect the children in 34 countries have benefited from this innovative
outcome of the game. In order to have fun playing and enriching programme.
games together, we can’t gloat when we win and we
can’t get upset when we lose. If we play lots of games Email suri@mindlabeurope.com or call 01628 509021
together, there will be lots of chances for each of us to www.mindlabeurope.com
win sometimes, and lose sometimes. Either way we
will have had a fun time playing together.
Suri Poulos is
Be a positive role model American by birth
Show your own interest and enthusiasm for the game, but has been in the
give it concentration and effort, both for your own UK for over 21 years.
enjoyment, and also as a role model for your children. She lives with her
husband and their
Rather than play ineffectively to ensure your child four children in
wins, instead, help your child learn from your game Henley-on-Thames.
playing skills. Discuss out loud the moves you are
making and why, to help your child understand the Favourite smell: gardenias
strategies you are using. If your child makes a move Things that make me happy: gardening, walks,
that is to their disadvantage, encourage them to look chatting with good friends around a dinner
again and guide them to see a better move by asking table, helping someone else
them open questions such as:
do as I say,
not as I do
Are you a hypocritical parent? No. Are you sure? Have you ever insisted that your children finish their
dinner because it’s full of vitamins which they need to
Are you absolutely positive? grow big and strong, and then eaten a frozen pizza
(with salad, of course) after they’re in bed?
Ever said to your child ‚No, you can’t have any more
crisps, they’re full of salt and fat and very bad for No?
you‛ and then finished the packet when they’ve left
the room? Me neither.
Have you ever said ‚Right, that’s enough television Potty Mummy is a former marketing consultant
for now. Let’s get outside into the garden, it’s a lovely with two little boys who writes a blog called The
Potty Diaries. She started it to talk about potty
day‛ and then spent the evening watching mindless
training her eldest son but, now that both boys
drivel and repeats of ‘Friends’? are „done‟, sees it more as a way of stopping her
going potty! Here‟s how she describes herself …
Have you ever commented on the fact that your
child’s bedroom is a tip and insisted that everything is “a stay-at-home mum still coming to terms with not
also being a career woman. Really. You’d think I’d
tidied away before the fun stuff happens, whilst
be over it by now: it’s been 3 years since I last
stoically ignoring the fact that your own bed looks as worked - and went to the loo with the door shut -
if it’s a stall at the local Bring and Buy fair? after all …”
mummomag
extreme
motherhood
Jodie Hampshire tells us how
her life changed when she
adopted three children from
the other side of the world <
For my husband Robert and I, adoption has always Sierra Leone has the highest maternal
been the way we imagined we’d create our family. It’s mortality rate in the world. 1800 in 100,000
not a choice that is easy to explain, I think it is one of women die during childbirth, compared to 8 in
those decisions that either feels right, or doesn’t.. 100,000 in the US.
When we moved from London to Dubai for Robert’s
job, I stopped working < and starting our family Approximately 64% of Sierra Leoneans do not
moved from being something we talked about for the have any access to medical care.
future to a more immediate reality.
After going through the home study process to
International adoption was the right choice for our prepare us for adoption, we waited and waited <
family and we started to investigate the options. We until finally, in August 2007, we were asked to travel
came across an amazing man who had lived in Dubai to Sierra Leone to bring home our little girl. Then, in
and who had adopted four children from Sierra December 2007, the three of us returned to Sierra
Leone, West Africa, as a single dad. After discussions Leone to adopt our other two children, on our fourth
with him and other families, we started to look wedding anniversary.
seriously at Sierra Leone.
I will never forget meeting each of our
Many people have heard of Sierra Leone only through
the movie Blood Diamond, or the Kanye West song. children for the first time, it still sends
While the civil war has been over for some years now, shivers up my spine when I think
Sierra Leone is still recovering. It is ranked last out of
177 countries evaluated by the United Nations in an
about it. It is such a precious moment
index comparing poverty, life expectancy, literacy, for us and so scary for them.
education, and other factors.
When adopting children, most people concentrate
Sierra Leone has the world’s worst infant their energies on helping the kids settle. We were
mortality rate. Roughly 1 in 4 children die completely focused on this, but did not really prepare
before they reach the age of 5. More than half of for the adjustment we ourselves had to make to being
these children will die of preventable causes. parents. Probably this is something you can’t prepare
for until you are in the middle of it! We had gone
from living the life of London professionals with a Sure, it adds to the stress of life but is incredibly
funky flat in Clerkenwell, lots of dinners out and fulfilling. I think it is great for the kids to see that
weekends reading the paper over coffee, to kids, mum works too, and I’d be delighted if they were
schools, playdates, all multiplied by three and all in a entrepreneurial as life is a lot more fun that way!
matter of months. We had language and cultural
issues to bridge and lots of things to learn quickly as Our life now is crazy, full-on and completely different
new parents. I didn’t realise how grumpy months of to our life just 18 months ago. I do have moments
interrupted sleep would make me, or how full-on where I go, oh, what happened here? But it is the best,
being a mum really was. Parents we spoke to would most perfect life I could have imagined.
say we were taking on a lot of change in our lives, but
it wasn’t for ages, in the middle of sleepless nights and I have a gorgeous family full of love
trying to figure out ways to deal with tantrums, that I
stepped back and thought, aha, now I understand that and am living life at full speed. I
this is hard work! But the most rewarding work ever! wouldn’t change a thing.
While taking on three children in the space of a year
has been tough for us as new parents, we can see how
happy the kids are to be together. They all knew each
other well before coming home, so have taken comfort Jodie Hampshire
from having each other around. In fact, the kids lives in Dubai with
desperately want another brother! her husband,
Robert, and their
three children aged
Our life is slowly getting into some sort of routine, 13, 5 and 3.
which we’re grateful for. 2008 was a blur as we all
adjusted to our new family. Our eldest came home In and amongst
with malaria, so we started off our new family life caring for her new
family, Jodie has also
with a hospital stay, which was not at all fun for her. I
been busy setting up a new business - Aunty
then homeschooled her for the first months, also not at Ollie - a range of bedding and clothing for kids.
all fun for her. In the end, I got some help with that
before (thankfully!) finding a good school. Our Things that make you happy ...
youngest was not at nursery until later in the year. I
really cannot remember how we managed this, but am I am a great believer in making your life as
beautiful as it can be, really taking pleasure
pleased that all of the kids are now in a little routine from the simple things - a beautiful cup to drink
they are happy with. coffee in the morning, a gorgeous framed
picture in the kids‟ rooms. I am mad for printed
fabrics so use these all over the house!
Seeing the kids’ personalities take
shape is amazing. They are each so Living in the moment - something I was not
really great at pre-kids. Having my three
different but somehow, as a family, we children makes me very focused on the here
and now.
seem to work.
Laughing with the kids and about parenthood!
The kids are all full of charm and energy, we are After we adopted the children, our life (and
definitely not a quiet family. We like to get outside theirs) was turned upside down in ways I could
and play, to have music on to dance around to, to not have imagined. Last year was a complete
blur for my husband and I, and when we get
swim and tickle and laugh a lot.
stressed one of the best strategies is to have a
laugh at ourselves. And of course three little
In the midst of everything I decided it would be the ones fond of dancing, tickling and running
perfect time to start a business, Aunty Ollie. I started about does give us lots to laugh about. As life
with kids bedding and am now producing a range of gets crazier we tend to laugh more and more -
kids clothing with cool, funky unusual printed fabrics. bring it on!
mummomag
The Republic of Sierra Sierra Leone emerged from a decade of civil war in
2002, with the help of Britain, the former colonial
Leone, in West Africa, is power, and a large United Nations peacekeeping
mission. The country now faces the challenge of
Movies – I‟d say I watched maybe a movie a year before the children came
along. Now, when I‟m feeling tired, I convince them we need to go to the
cinema to watch a kids movie (all so I can have a rest … when not being the
popcorn police!)
Magazines – visitors are shocked at the stacks of magazines around the house. I can‟t really justify it as
imported magazines cost a small fortune here. I know I need to downsize this addiction but, hey, I do
recycle them!
Virtues: As with all of us mums, I am great at multitasking! After school, I help with homework, cook
dinner, referee barneys between the kids, bath, visit some of my suppliers, answer emails, sort out our
teenager‟s Facebook glitches and so on and on (and on!)
Motto in life: I wish I could say something profound here but I think I live my life along the lines of just
getting on with things.
Favourite book: I really like Jhumpa Lahiri‟s books and also Rohinton Mistry, especially „A Fine Balance‟.
These books are full of colour and personality, and are so easy to escape into.
Favourite film: My two favourite films are both Mexican: „Like Water for Chocolate‟ and „Y Tu Mama
Tambien‟. Like the novels I love, these have beautiful imagery, larger than life characters, quirky stories.
Favourite smell: I love the smell of chlorine, it smells like childhood to me, and now, of tired, happy kids
who will fall into bed easily! I‟m also a bit of a premature Nana and adore the smells of rose and lavender.
Favourite piece of clothing / outfit: Continuing with my granny tendencies, I love dresses. If I ever get
some spare time, I‟d like to expand my kids clothing business, Aunty Ollie, to include vintage looking
adult dresses, skirts and tops.
Most treasured possession: The things I treasure are things like photos, memories (and sanity!)
My children: Our eldest girl is very caring and creative. She is quickly becoming a typical teenager with a
High School Musical obsession! Our little girl is about as girly as you can get. She has a collection of bags
to rival the Queen‟s, each sensibly packed with a pretend mobile phone, lip gloss, pretend money (all the
essentials in life!) If she could wear Mum‟s “high hill” shoes to school, life would be complete! And the
baby of the family, our little boy, is quickly morphing into a real boy. When he was a little younger, he
spent his days being dressed up in princess dresses and high heels by his sisters. While he is still partial to
lip gloss, he is showing a preference for pushing his toy cars around endlessly - hard as a woman to
understand but hey, it keeps him entertained...
A day in my life: Our day starts early as we get the kids up and out to school and nursery by 7.30am, I
head back to my (lovely, quiet!) house to work until lunchtime, when I head out for my horrendous school
run. The girls are in different schools and our boy is at nursery … so the afternoon is spent driving from
one school to another and trying to find something to do for the hour or two in between the different
finish times. This is usually a park in the winter, but more of a struggle when the temperatures hit 45
degrees over the summer! I am a slummy mummy and we don‟t do organised after school activities – the
logistics are impossible and, conveniently, I am a believer in letting kids play without being
overscheduled! The little ones head to bed before 7pm and my husband and I spend time with our eldest
girl, at the ent we‟re taking turns having a swim at night which is great. I fall into bed around 10pm and
never, ever have any trouble going to sleep.
mummomag
happy
meals
dinner table < The research makes interesting reading but doesn’t
really come as a surprise. I have always been a big fan
of family mealtimes and over the years I’ve found that
my children have come to love the time we spend
For many busy parents the words ‘quality time’ together at the dinner table. We talk about important
instantly conjure up feelings of guilt! Juggling home events, people moving away, new jobs, new schools,
and work is hard enough but finding room for that and precious anniversaries. Our conversations build
magical hour of quality time every day seems a near a rich family history. My children seem to soak it all
impossibility to many stressed-out parents. Well, I in, they never tire of hearing stories about when they
think I may have found the solution and it’s been were younger, when me and my husband met, where
sitting under our noses all the time! we lived and what we did. It all fits together and
helps to build their identity - sharing our stories
Family mealtimes can offer so much more than just keeps family lore strong!
food. It’s a time when your family can reconnect,
listen to and focus on each other - in a nut shell it is The regularity of dinner time, the comfort and security
prime quality time, and it’s available everyday! it seems to offer at the end of a long day is reassuring
to us all. Our mealtimes have evolved in to something
more than just routine, I would say it has become a when the ‚what’s for dinner?‛ chants start at 4pm
ritual. I think Miriam Weinstein, author of ‘The Sur- each afternoon.
prising Power of Family Meals’ puts it perfectly when
she says this ... Make it fun
Keep the conversation enjoyable, avoid nagging and
steer clear of any ‘heavy’ or potentially dangerous
subjects! Talk about happy memories, an upcoming
"Sitting down to a meal together family event or holiday, or use conversation cards like
draws a line around us, it encloses the ones we produce at Fink Cards. Questions like
‘Would you like to be famous?’ or Would you rather
us and, for a brief time, be an adult or child?’ are usually enough to get
strengthens the bonds that conversation started.
connect us with other members of
Involve the whole family
our self-defined clan, shutting out Make sure everyone is included and has the
the rest of of the world." opportunity to speak and be listened to! Be careful to
ensure that the topics of conversation are appropriate
for all family members.
a reminder ...
This was created
by Jill McDonald,
an American
illustrator and
mother of a little
boy, to remind
her of the
comforts of
home. Here’s
what she says
about it in her
blog:
www.jillmcdonalddesign.com www.jillmcdonald.blogspot.com
selfish??
< or essential?
One of the first things I encourage mums to do is to
remember what they enjoyed doing before they had
Parent coach, Sue Atkins, kids. This releases positive happy memories and
helps to relax you. Was it sitting down with a cup of
argues that ‘me’ time coffee and a magazine for half an hour, going to a film
with your partner, or having a bubble bath with your
makes mums more favourite fragrance and a scented candle?
effective ... Thinking about this will help you to tap back into
what makes you smile, relax and feel nurtured. As a
mum, you are often so busy looking after other people
that you end up neglecting your own needs and,
before you know it, you’re running on empty.
Being a mum is a wonderfully fulfilling, rewarding
and joyful experience. But it can also be an exhausting, I believe it’s really important to look after yourself
frustrating and overwhelming business too. first because then you are in better shape emotionally,
physically and mentally to look after your family in a
As a mum, you are often the lynchpin of your whole positive way.
family. If you are tired, stressed and snappy, chances
are your whole family is tense, as they take their lead That’s why on planes they tell you to put your mask
from you and pick up on your vibes. on first, so that you are then in a position to help your
child with his or hers!
So, how do you get the balance right between your
family’s needs and your own? How do you find a Overleaf is a wheel I use on my Work-Life Balance
way to be upbeat and enthusiastic rather than selfless Workshops. Take a few moments to relax and breathe
yet exhausted? deeply and slowly. This helps you to become creative.
mummomag
Delegate
Now you’ve got seven ideas that you can act on once a Now just relax, close your eyes and daydream.
week, once a month or even once a day - whenever Imagine your family happily and willingly doing their
you feel the need - to help you unwind, restore your jobs easily. Make the picture in your mind full of
energy and lift your spirits. Pop these ideas in your colour and sounds, and bring the picture up close to
diary, keep them by the phone or pin them up on the you. Feel how good it feels when everyone is pulling
fridge to remind you. their weight and being part of a family team.
BANISH THE BIG GUILT GREMLIN! What will be the benefits to your children if they
learn to help? (independence, confidence, co-
I’m here to tell you that looking after yourself and operation, responsibility?)
nurturing yourself is one of the key ingredients of
being a brilliant mum. What will be the benefits to you?
Let go of being the perfect parent What could be some of the obstacles in the way to
this happening?
Lots of mums feel that only they can do all the jobs
that need doing properly. Only they know their kids’ How will you get round them?
bedtime routines or little foibles. But being a
perfectionist is unrealistic and exhausting. It also What do you need to do to make these new ways
denies your child the broader experience of others into habits?
contributing to their lives and doing things in
different ways. Relax, daydream and rehearse what you want to say,
how you want to say it and where you want to talk
So allow people to help you and don’t take it as a with your family. This gives you confidence, clarity
weakness or a criticism or an indication that you can’t and purpose.
cope. We all need a break so that we can bounce back
full of renewed energy and raring to go. Imagine it going well, enjoy those feelings and relax.
that’s
and ‘me time’ is a vital part of respecting yourself and
valuing your very important role as a mum.
result!
The Mummo motherhood
survey suggests we’re
happier now we’re
mums ...
A while back, we launched a Mummo survey to find
out more about motherhood. I’ll be the first to admit
that I found becoming a mum a really big deal! And
that’s despite the fact that I had my children relatively
late in life so I should have known what I was getting
myself into! That’s despite the fact that I wanted them
desperately and was (still am, of course) utterly
thrilled to have them. Nonetheless, the transition to
motherhood rocked me to the core. I wanted to find
"Muuuummmy!" Son 1 yells from the loo. 60.2% say that the statement ’I am happy’ is more
or much more true of them now than it was BC
"What?"
67.6% say that the statement ‘I am fulfilled’ is
"I've got one more poo and I can't get it out! It's huge more or much more true of them now than BC
and it just won't come out!"
Great news, and some consolation for the physical
"Well, what exactly would you like me to do about it?" price many of us have paid for motherhood. Over
half of the mums surveyed (66.2% in fact) are less or
"Get something and stick it up my bum to get it out." much less satisfied with their bodies and the way they
look since having kids! Luckily, it appears that our
"I don't think we can do that." post-baby saggy baggy bits don’t detract from our
overall contentment. And why should they?!
"C'monnnnnnnn. It juuuust woooon't cooooome
ooooooout! I think this poo has been in my bum since, Want to have your say? Take the survey right now
since < since I was born!" and tell us how you found the transition to
motherhood. Go on, it’ll only take a few minutes
Who says I don't get scintillating conversation? and, for each completed questionnaire, we’ll give
25p to the ‘million mums’ campaign as a thank you.
Homeofficemum - blog post - 5th February 2009
© Mummo Ltd : March 2009: www.mummo.co.uk 35
family and home
A mother’s
love
Rosamond Lehmann,
‘The Swan in the Evening: Fragments of an Inner Life’
Favourite book: “I
She shrugged her shoulders and said: don‟t know how she
‘It wasn’t your baby.’ does it” by Allison
Pearson
mummo ‘preneurs
Anna Gibson is one of the Micro Scooter mums. She has three boys - Edward
(8), William (7) and Jack (4).
Five words to describe me: happy go lucky … although that was before I
started a business!
Motto in life: Learn as if you were to live forever, live as if you were to die
tomorrow (Mother Teresa)
Things that make me happy: sailing, skiing, playing music, a walk on the beach
Favourite film: Erin Brockovich Most treasured possession: my cello Vices: a pint of lager!
The Scooters have become a real ‘trend’ particularly relationships are the difference between being happy
round urban areas. Why do you think this is? and unhappy. I am able to take my children to school,
pick them up and put them to bed. I sell a scooter that
The products speak for themselves and their success is I love and work with a Swiss design company that is
due to the fact that once someone has seen them in passionate and inspiring. Friends and my wonderful
action, they can immediately see the value. The husband will testify that it’s not all plain sailing and
stability and ease of use benefit even the youngest of the stresses and strains show as we grow from two
toddlers as soon as they start using them, giving them mothers to eight full time staff. However, I never take
independence and confidence. They offer parents not for granted how lucky I am to have a business that
only a good value toy, but one that benefits them and meets my emotional, intellectual and financial needs.‛
their children in numerous ways: an easy and fun way
to get exercise, a way to speed up a slow walk, plus Anna, how has your previous career as a lawyer
they are portable, stylish and light. helped you with this business?
‚Although my professional background as a lawyer
What are the ups and down for you and your family might perhaps, at first glance, not seem the natural
of being involved in a business like this - which breeding ground for budding entrepreneurs, it has in
clearly takes a lot of your time? fact stood me in really good stead. I’ve learnt that
establishing a successful business requires a balance of
Anna: ‚Having worked as a litigation lawyer for big vision with the ability to absorb small detail.
seven years I then gave up to start a family. Four When you’re negotiating with the big retailers and
years later I found myself the full-time mother of three sorting major distribution deals, there’s no doubt that
active boys who wanted to be on Clapham Common you can potentially be overwhelmed by the scale of
every minute of the day. The Mini Micro Scooter the opportunity presented to you. To realise the
literally saved my life. I no longer had to struggle success of that sort of association and create a more
with two in a double buggy and one on foot. I was level playing field, the devil really will be found in the
stopped by numerous mothers on Clapham Common contractual detail – something that is second nature to
with enquiries for the scooter and knew then that it me as a lawyer.
was a necessity for every mother and child to have
one. I would never have imagined that four years later Equally, I never thought of myself as a sales person,
our whole family would have come to depend on the but when you are genuinely passionate about what
business as my husband Ben left his job to join our you do, you don’t need technique because you’ve got
ever growing venture. I feel privileged to work with integrity and that, I believe, is what people ultimately
people I totally trust and to build a venture that we all buy into. We’ve had a fantastic four years and, with
believe in so passionately.‛ our global expansion plans currently underway, it
feels in many ways like we’ve only just begun!‛
Philippa: ‚I wake up every day unable to believe that
my dream is a reality. I work with my best friend and And what does the future hold for the company in
people I love and, whatever anyone tells you, good terms of product development?
Philippa Gogarty is the other half of the Micro Scooter mums. She also has
three children: Georgia (14), Thomas (8) and Dominic (7).
Five words to describe me: upbeat, optimistic, outgoing, friendly (at best),
stressed and bad tempered (at worst)
Favourite food: anything that anyone has bothered to cook for me!
Favourite piece of clothing: grey suede boots by Michael Korrs - bought in sterling hey day (2:1) and down
from $400 to $80 making them just £40!!!!
Anna: ‚We feel that Micro Scooters Ltd is very much a Anna and Philippa demonstrate brilliantly how
reflection of our values as individuals and mothers. motherhood, rather than limiting your career options, can
Within that, our philosophy is that we will only sell open up a whole new world of opportunity where your
products that either make our lives easier because of previous professional skills can be combined with your
the benefits they bring to family life or because they current life skills and circumstances to create an
have some intrinsic educational value. As a result of unstoppable force!
the success of the Micro Scooter range we have been
inspired to search for other toys that meet that criteria Their success with Micro Scooters is living proof that the
and have recently discovered and added to the range best ideas come from identifying and meeting real need.
a couple of great new concepts including ‘Mic o Mic,’ You don’t necessarily have to come up with something
an ingenious self build set of toys that are fun to create totally new, you just have to spot, and then seize, an
and make great and long-lasting play-things, and the opportunity. Anna and Philippa also demonstrate that, if
award winning Weykick, a fastpaced table-top soccer you have a clear vision of how things can and will work, it
game for two players. is possible to be both highly successful career
women and fully involved, hands-on mums.
The new
They also understand and place great value on
Maxi Micro mother-to-mother recommendation. From the
Scooter is start, they were able to inspire and motivate other
women with young children to become involved as
intended
agents and ambassadors for Micro Scooters Ltd.
The Mini for children This not only helped to spread the word but also
Micro from 6 - 11, established an income stream for these women that
fitted seamlessly with their lifestyles as mothers.
Scooter is so years
It’s an approach that remains core to the success of
now the more fun! the business and that is being used as the model for
best-selling international expansion. There are now
opportunities in Micro Scooters’ new markets for
scooter in mothers living there to get involved at the start and
the UK help build success both for the company and for
themselves as part of the Micro Scooter network.
www.micro-scooters.co.uk
mummomag
oh well,
never mind ... A Modern Mother is an
American mummy
blogger living in the
Thames Valley with her
Scottish husband and
their three young girls
… known in her blog as
Emily, Alexandra and
HM (which is short for
A Modern Mother talks High Maintenance or
Her Majesty, both of
which are apparently very relevant!).
about how close she came
In her own words:
to fame, fortune and never
“I dove into motherhood head first. I had no idea
having to do her own what I was getting myself into. I had three
children in less than three years. Starting a blog
was cheaper than therapy, so I created A Modern
laundry again ... Mother.“
.
This morning an idea popped into my head. It was a
you need
fabulous, marvellous, ingenious idea.
7. People!
Build good relationships with everyone (staff /
suppliers / customers / postmen / courier drivers <).
Spend more time concentrating on the very important
relationships. Listen. Try not to rush calls and
alphabet cube book for ages 3-6 years conversations. If you have been let down or are facing
with first phonics and a difficult situation, cool off over night before firing
colour matching off that email or making that call. Forge long-term
and healthy relationships. This is a great investment.
10. Publicity!
Recently it was brought to my attention that I have
never really pushed the business forward by putting
myself about and getting noticed - bit of a shrinking
violet. I had never really thought about it like that
before. Then I realised that (luckily) my business has
been pulled through and grown by our lovely
customers, and that I have to get more pro-active.
This is an area for improvement for me and this article
is the first step.
She is the
founder of
Zoobookoo advertising in the mummo
International Ltd, a family business that creates marketplace is deliberately
fun, educational products for children …
inspired by her own kids! intended to be affordable
Five words to describe me: energetic, £5 per month for a standard ad or
enthusiastic, happy £10 per month for a premium ad
Things that make me happy: In order - doing
stuff with my hubby and the boys (film night,
dinner, bike ride, holiday …) – running my
business – that great feeling after a 4 mile run
(definitely not during) – going on holiday –
wine with the girls If you’re interested, just email
Vices: wine!
advertising@mummo.co.uk
to reserve a space!
Virtues: happiness and perseverance
Helen Colley is a farmer‟s daughter, the mother of three children and founder
of Farmhouse Fare puddings.
My office is ... a small building next to my house, kitted out for the sole
purpose of working away at my PC and having meetings - a haven with
everything I need
I relax by ... having a lovely soak in the bath with the door firmly shut!
arty mum
Carolyn Gavin lives in
Toronto, Canada,
with her husband
and 7-year-old
daughter, Lily. She‟s
5‟4”, has curly hair,
Showcasing the work of no tattoos, and a
great big English
bulldog called Ziggy!
Carolyn Gavin, an artist
She is the founder of
living in Toronto < a company called Ecojot, which designs,
produces and sells a “green and delicious”
stationery line, made in Canada from 100%
recycled paper.
You can see more of Carolyn’s work and get great insights into the life of an artist by visiting her two websites:
www.ecojot.com www.designerjots.com
Setting it up
Compatibility: Think about who you want to holiday Travel: Decide whether you’re all going to travel
with before suggesting it and try to choose people together or make your own way there. The latter can
with whom you are normally compatible. Try to be easier as it allows people more flexibility to fit in
choose people with children similar in age to your with their commitments and their departure
own and similar interests to yours. Any more than destinations.
three families holidaying together can get logistically
difficult so bear that in mind too. Before you go
House rules: Have a chat about house rules. There’s
Budgets: Ask everyone upfront what their holiday
nothing worse than one person constantly doing the
budget is. If the budgets are vastly different, have an
washing up or cooking and feeling like they’re the
honest discussion about what type of holiday
only one doing any chores. But equally, holidays are
everyone is after. If you’re not in agreement, agree to
meant to be for relaxing and no-one wants to spend all
holiday separately. If one family feels that they’re
of their time doing chores just so that they appear
having to stretch themselves financially to fit in,
helpful. Agree a rota or a general rule about when
they’ll be resentful of any additional costs on holiday.
dishes will get done or who’s in charge of cooking. It
Equally, a family who is willing to spend far more
can be fun to agree a set budget for each meal and
than the group average might feel that feel that they’re
assign teams to come up with the meal idea –
not getting what they really wanted.
including shopping in the local markets for
ingredients and creating a culinary feast.
Research: If you all know where you want to go on
holiday or the type of holiday you want, it makes
Money pot: Create a kitty. Have every family put in
things a lot easier. If you don’t, you need to get
an agreed amount of money to be used for groceries
together to discuss some of the options. In every
and alcohol. It’s far easier than people feeling as
group there’ll be those who’ll go with the flow and
though they’re continually putting their hand in their
aren’t too interested in researching holiday
pocket while others don’t contribute as much.
destinations, and there’ll be people who like to be in
Families can pay for their own extras when they’re out
control and who enjoy spending hours surfing the
and about.
web for holiday ideas. Agree who will do the research
– no more than two people. They can then present
Children: Discuss your children’s routines and your
their favourites to the group for a joint decision.
no go areas and try to be consistent. For example, if
one family lets their children stay up late in the
Accommodation: Consider the accommodation
holidays and another sticks to a 7pm bedtime, have a
options. Staying in a single large house puts the most
chat about it before you go. Come to a compromise –
pressure on you as a group to get on, as there is little
perhaps all children getting a slightly later bedtime
opportunity to be alone as a family. But it can be fun,
but not staying up all night with the adults. Similarly,
can save on costs and makes looking after children in
discuss your attitudes to treats and extras. If one
the evenings easier. A cluster of properties together is
family happily gives their children ice cream
a good option as each family has their independence
whenever they ask for it and another family limits
but can still benefit from the close company of their
them, it will result in arguments and upset children.
friends. Hotels or resorts can have the same kind of
Also chat about how you all discipline your children
benefits, but you’re likely to spend quite a bit of time
so that everyone is consistent. Even people you think
trying to find your friends amongst the other guests
are similar in parenting style to you can seem very
and it won’t feel quite as personal.
different when you’re staying with them every day.
might be into activities and sports, while others Tots to travel has range of properties suitable for friends
might want to do sightseeing or shopping. You travelling together, from large mansions in France and Italy
don’t all have to do everything together all of with enough space for everyone to have their independence,
the time. Agree to take turns looking after the to clusters of gîtes that accommodate several families in
children so that you get a chance to have some their own properties but with shared outdoor eating
‘me time’ to do the things you want to do. facilities, play areas and swimming pools. The properties
also come fully equipped with all the kit families need,
Talk making it far easier for everyone to travel light. Some
If any problems spring up, the best thing to do properties even provide home cooked meals to cut down on
is chat about them to clear the air, come up with the workload, and babysitting so that you can head out as a
a solution and move on. Otherwise tensions group in the evenings. These houses get booked up fast so
build and the holiday is far from relaxing. plan well in advance.
Enjoy it And now, to get you in the mood, just look at these ...
Holidaying with friends is a really great way to
spend quality time with people you enjoy.
You’ll find that you get to know far more about
them, their backgrounds, what’s really going on
in their world than you would ordinarily have
the time for in regular get-togethers.
www.totstofrance.co.uk www.totstoitaly.co.uk
Wendy Shand set up Tots to France when she had a disastrous holiday in a French
villa and realised what parents needed when booking a villa - peace of mind!
Five words to describe me: energetic, determined, creative, articulate and family-
orientated
Motto in life: leave the party before you‟ve had enough (in other words, if
something doesn‟t suit you any more, stop doing it before you get fed up!)
Favourite food: I love pasta with pesto
Favourite film: „Swallows and Amazons‟
Most treasured possession: my husband, kids and cat, but if these don‟t count then it has to be our bed!
mummomag
a life in photographs
Sticky Fingers muses on
the making of memories
blog post - 10th December 2008
When I was 5 my mother and father sold up You would think that at such a young age I wouldn't
everything and went travelling. We packed our be able to recall much of such a fabulous adventure,
worldly possessions into a van towing a caravan and but my mother had the foresight to help me keep a
travelled through France, Spain and north Africa. Can diary packed with words, pictures, shells and tokens,
you imagine how much fun that would be for a child? all serving as little memory joggers that, along with
the photographs we took, mean that wonderful
snapshot in my life is not just a fog of childish
I spent my sixth birthday on a beach in
recollections.
Morocco gathering shells ...
Now that I have children of my own, I do wonder
I made friends with the locals wherever we laid our how much of what they experience will be
hat and I was 'home' schooled for a year. On my remembered. Will they remember the love and
return to school back in the UK, I was way ahead of warmth hubby and I try to lavish on them?
my contemporaries.
My children: I‟ve got two children, one boy (6) and one girl (3).
Daniel is such a sweet natured little man. He's a really mummy's boy and so empathetic and
considerate. He's just starting to get a bit cheeky and pushing the boundaries a little, but he does it in
such an adorable way it's hard not to just smile. As a newborn he was a model baby - slept, fed and
grew like a dream and 'discipline' consisted of sitting him down and talking. He listened, he took it in,
he stopped doing it. I know!
Mia is the total opposite. She is outgoing, feisty, independent and a real challenge. We didn't know
what had hit us when she came along! She is really naughty at times and really pushes us, but just the
cutest little tomboy and ADORES her big brother.
My day starts at 7am when the children jump on me in bed to wake me up. We have breakfast, get
ready then have a leisurely drive to school (we couldn't get into any of the local schools, grrr). But we
do park a distance away and walk the rest of the way. Then I drive Mia to her preschool nursery where I
spend AGES while she faffs around sorting herself out!
Then I drive home, put my slippers on and start work in my fancy office! I left my hectic job as features
editor on a regional newspaper in November and set up in business on my own and it's the best thing
I've ever done. Now I get to go for a walk in the sunshine at lunchtime, get my head down and work
and pick my children up without the stress of worrying whether there has been a hold-up on the
motorway, or how long I'll get to see them before I have to start getting them ready for bed.
I pick them up at about 5pm (Dan is in after-school club and loves it because he gets to play cricket and
tennis and chess (!) with older children) and we come home and have tea together. Bedtime is great
because they get on so well they just trot up to bed and entertain each other while they brush teeth/
wash etc. Two stories (or Dan reads to us) and that's it. Seriously, these kids are good.
Hubby and I then watch TV or (stop groaning) play on the Wii or sometimes we both still have work to
do so we sit in our little office and work! Before bedtime we always have a cup of tea, I have no idea
where that habit came from, and fall into bed.
Sticky Fingers
teatime tarts
Mummo showcases some
stunning stationery ...
They use their own lives, and the lives of their friends,
as inspirations for a range of quirky, whimsical
greetings cards and stationery. Their love of cakes,
coffee (and occasionally wine) regularly appear in
their illustrations!
mummomag
Hazel Fernandes is one half of the Tea Time Tarts, and the half that‟s a mum
- her experience of motherhood, and the antics of her children, have
provided plenty of inspiration for the range! She lives with her husband
and two little girls. Her background in textile design, together with
Catriona‟s in illustration, combine to create an exciting and unique style.
Things that make me happy: salsa and tango dancing, my girls, shoes,
dinner with my hubby
Motto in life: If it doesn‟t get done, put it on tomorrow‟s „to do‟ list and forget about it!
A day in my life …
My day starts at 6.45am when one or both of the girls climb in my bed and we have cuddles - it‟s my
favourite time of the morning and it all goes downhill from there. Breakfast and what follows is usually
me speaking in parrot fashion in increasing volume … get your pants on … GET your PANTS on … GET
YOUR PANTS ON ……. eat your breakfast … eat your …etc, etc. all the while trying to decide what to
wear for the all-important school run until we fall out of the house at 8.30, more like 8.35, and then ...
The School run: this is normally very nice, we walk to school, some times making up a 10min story
about the fairies who live in our house, and their antics with our bubble bath. On the way back I do a
lot of stopping-to-chat to other mums, sometimes relieved that I don‟t look the most harassed.
Tia is at school now and Sophie goes to nursery 3 days a week when I work. The days I don‟t work I take
her to Tumble Tots ,Tesco and occasionally town - she does get a lot of varied and educational outings!
I start work usually by 9.20am. My office is at the top of the house, usually obsessively tidy unless I‟m
doing artwork when it can look as if someone has tipped the recycling all over the floor (I call it
organised mess). I have salsa music blaring and occasionally get up to practise a few spins to break up
the monotony of staring at a computer screen. I also have a good vantage point and can spy on the
events of the street from up here.
Lunch depends on whether there are any appealing leftovers from the night before. My lovely
husband is a great cook. If yes, I‟ll grab that, if not I‟ll have whatever - cereal / chocci biscuits or fruit
and yoghurt. If I‟m busy busy, I may not have anything until after picking up the girls in the afternoon.
I generally work madly - checking my emails, a quick look on Facebook (to organise my social life),
research on Google, email banter with my business partner up in Scotland (who brightens up my day
by sending me „hottie of the day‟ emails) and then sticking some ducks in a row soon takes me to 3pm
when is ARRRGh!-Gotta-fly! time again.
The tea - bath - bedtime routine is chaos as usual. There will be tears from at least one of us (although
it is getting better) and the girls are usually in bed by 7. Tia‟s asleep by 7.02 but Sophie gets us to take
her for a wee (that gets stuck) 3 or 4 times, and then yells nursery rhymes down the monitor,
sometimes until 8.
Since I have a ludicriously short work day, I‟ve found I am very efficient when I want to be, either that or
the Boss (... now that would be … let‟s see … oh yes - me …) is very lenient task master. I do plan to
catch up with work in the evenings, but a large glass of wine is known to thwart that plan, unless I‟m
designing something that I‟m very into, and then I may do some more collaging of ducks into rows!
I actually now have a very sociable life, since starting salsa lessons two years ago. Monday we have a
night in (I love it - Heroes is on telly) or sometimes call our baby sitter (God love Gemma!!!) and go out
for a drink. Tuesdays is my new Tango class, Weds my night in with Resh (after taking the girls to
gymnastics, I‟m shattered anyway) , Thurs, I go to salsa and have a late night dancing and feeling like
I‟m not JUST a mum! Friday I‟m exhausted, tired and grumpy and I need a very large glass of wine.
mummomag
mums join
together
One of the most powerful
features of Mummo is the
ability to set up groups <
A Mummo group is an ideal way to get together with Want to set up a group?
other mums over some common ground. You can
share 'insider' info, ideas and advice. You can join Mummo first of all and sign in
organise community initiatives or plan a campaign for click on ‘groups’ in the left-hand
change. You can contribute to a group blog and, soon,
navigation
you'll be able to place classified ads so that you can
buy, sell and trade within your groups. And, of
click on ‘new group’ in the pink
course, you'll also get to know each other and, more header panel or right-hand column
than likely, become good friends. All without leaving fill in the form and save - that’s it!
the house. And all for free!
million mums
a woman dies
Imagine this <
every single minute
Imagine going into labour and saying goodbye to your of every single day
husband or partner, and your other children, knowing
that the chances are you may never see them again < due to pregnancy or birth-
In Niger, a woman’s lifetime risk of dying in
related complications
pregnancy or childbirth is 1 in 7. Here in the UK, it’s
more like 1 in 8,000.
Imagine going into labour and being left alone, for white ribbon = hope
days, to deliver your baby by yourself <
It’s a tragedy
Siti’s story <
The statistics on maternal mortality are nothing less
Siti is an Indonesian woman who died eight years ago than tragic. Not just for the women whose lives are
after giving birth to her sixth child. Like most needlessly cut short. Not just for the families left
women from her village, she worked very hard even bereft by the loss of their wives, mothers, daughters
while pregnant. She awoke before the sun rose each and sisters. No, ultimately, this is a tragedy on a
morning and did her household duties until her bigger scale - for the communities, cultures and
husband's eyes closed late in the evening. She cooked economies of many countries in the developing world.
all the meals, but she did not eat with her family.
Instead, she ate after everyone had eaten their fill, Mothers play a vital role in the economic health of
which often meant that she did not get enough food their families and communities.
for herself. She developed iron deficiency anaemia
and did not receive any antenatal care. Because she Women are the sole earners for more than 25% of all
had gone through pregnancy and given birth without households. Their income is more likely than men’s to
complications five times before, her sixth pregnancy go on food, education, medicines and family
was not viewed any differently. needs. Each year an estimated US $15.5 billion in
potential productivity is lost when mothers and
Although there was a trained midwife who lived in a newborns die.
nearby village, Siti's family decided to ask the well-
known traditional birth attendant in their village to In addition, when problems arise in childbirth,
assist with the birth. When Siti went into labour, families often end up spending money on medical
complications arose and she suffered from postpartum interventions that come too late and that they cannot
haemorrhage. The decision makers of the family were afford. Communities must then take on the burden of
not home at the time, and Siti was not brought to a caring for the bereaved and impoverished family, and
health care facility until two hours later. Siti died governments are forced to manage the widespread
due to delays in seeking care, reaching care, and effects of this cycle of poverty.
receiving care, like so many women do in Indonesia.
So what can we do to help?
The campaign has two simple goals: As mothers, we know only too well how much mums
matter. For most of us, the experience of becoming a
to bring together a million mum strips us of any complacency or arrogance we
might have had and leaves us humble, exposed and
voices to speak out against the vulnerable. Suddenly, we’re excruciatingly aware of
needless deaths of women in how much we’ve got to lose. And we instantly
pregnancy and childbirth discover the unspoken bond between mothers, the
bond of understanding. There may be a thousand
to raise a million pounds to other differences between our lives, but one thing
help the White Ribbon Alliance to binds us together. We’re mothers, we love our
make motherhood safe children, and we will do anything to protect them. So
please join ‘million mums’ ...
2. Make your own cleaning products There’s a new craze in town and it’s known as Al’
Desko’ - yep, you got it, eating a packed lunch at your
White vinegar dissolves dirt , soap scum and hard
desk. ‚Goodbye‛ to soggy ham, cheese & tomato
water deposits. It cleans everything from floors to
sandwiches from the supermarket and ‚hello‛ to
countertops. It’s even gentle enough for hard floors
homemade humous and roasted veg tortilla wrap!
and the smell disappears when dry so your home
won’t smell like a salad.
Plan your packed lunches around your leftover
evening meals and store-cupboard staples. You can
Cleaning solution (mix in a sprayer bottle)
also download my packed lunch recipe sheet here.
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
5. Trade in your old mobile
Undiluted white vinegar Sucker for a new phone? Then make sure you trade in
Great for hard water and scum your old unused handsets - not only can it make you
Use for scrubbing the inside of the toilet bowl some extra cash on the side, it can also help to de-
clutter your electronics pile.
Baking Soda is mildly abrasive and a natural
deodorizer. It’s great for grimy bathtubs - sprinkle Take a look at the companies below and simply send
some on a damp sponge. It’s also good for removing off your phone and wait for your cheque;
food deposits from the sink
Fonebank
Furniture Polish Recipe (mix in a sprayer bottle) Mazuma Mobile
1 cup olive oil Envirofone
1/2 cup lemon juice
There is also a charity called Stepping Stones Nigeria
Lemon cuts through grime and the oil will give the that helps abandoned children. You can send your old
wood a nice shine. phones as an alternative way to donate. I think other
charities probably do the same.
3. Budget and plan your weekly shop, 6. Join a toy library, make new friends
love your leftovers and exercise
portion control 7. Swap your books - don’t buy
If you’re a bookworm, you need to join the library if
you haven’t done so already. If you’ve got a full
Use a weekly planner or make your own to keep on
bookcase at home then why not swap your unwanted
top of your shopping list and meals. BOGOF (buy one
books online for ones you haven’t read.
get one free) doesn’t necessarily mean it will save you
money - only buy these items if you know you will
These sites are free to join:
use them. Remember, a bargain is only a bargain if
you actually need it!
ReadItSwapIt
BookHopper
Check out www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for some
Title Trader
fantastic leftover recipes and a portion calculator.
Swapitshop
Organise your kitchen cupboards so you can see at a
glance what you are running out of. 8. Cancel memberships and
subscriptions you don’t use
Buy seasonal & loose fruit and veg - make sure you
Are you actually going to the gym each week? Do
don’t buy too much as, unless your family are fruit
you watch all the Sky channels? Are you really using
fanatics, it will end up rotting and being thrown out.
all your minutes on your mobile tariff? Go through
your direct debits and monthly outgoings and ditch
4. The working mum’s packed lunch anything you are not getting maximum usage from.
it’s £19.99!
meal? The credit crunch is giving people motivation to
sort out their finances, use this challenging time to get
your health and finances in order. Giving up smoking
or takeaways, for example, will save you money each
week that could afford you a small treat for yourself
or the kids, like a fortnightly cinema trip (don’t forget
to take your own sweets and drinks) or a monthly
massage for you.
Lessons in Nixdminx
10. Enjoy life and believe that it will economics <
provide you all that you need
I am a big believer in what is meant to be, will be.
Start making small changes today, making way for Miniminx has lots of kids coming over for her
bigger and better things in the future. Don’t focus on birthday next Sunday. Things are different this year;
cutting back as a negative, think of it as a way to take with the job loss, credit crunch, and even Woollies
stock and be grateful for all that you have today. It’s gone to the dogs, I’ve put aside posh party planning
the little things like ‘me’ time, a healthy family, love, in favour of a pot luck party on a shoestring budget of
laughter and getting back to nature, that will help you £19.99.
keep the good feelings flowing.
Armed with glue gun, scissors, a dusty old craft box
and my laptop, I’m sure this will be an adventure in
www.babeecard.com thrift like no other. Being the complete jam tart that I
www.babeecard.com/mumsmoneytips am, I’ve scoured the internet in search of party
plagiarisms so you don’t have to. My top 5 tips are:
2. Credit crunch lucky dip them each a set of three clues to help them find the
treasure. The first clue will take them to a hiding place
This is very enjoyable< You can erase your money
with the second clue and so on until they find the
worries and get happy by shredding bank
treasure (penny sweets wrapped in gold tissue paper).
statements, credit card bills and final demands.
If you’re a particularly mean parent and have a big
Please try this at home, it’s exhilarating (but please
garden, the possibilities are endless and you could
don’t if you’re in Public Office). Stuff the
create around 10 or more clues.
shreddings into a large box (decorate with
wrapping paper) to create your own Cathartic
Warning: Don’t even think of preparing this after
Lucky Dip. Wrap up all the ‘already-got-one-of-
more than a glass of wine, it could end up nonsensical.
those’ gifts from bygone years in free newssheets
Believe me, I’ve tried.
and you’ve got yourself a welcome party diversion
that should last a good 30 minutes < and it doesn’t
cost a thing. 4. The delegation celebration cake
A couple of years ago, Miniminx had four friends
sleep over the night before her birthday party.
Ironically, it was two boys who stayed up to make her
cake with me while she elected to watch videos. I said
she could decorate the cake in the morning. When I
awoke the next day and headed to the kitchen ready
to get icing, I let out the loudest scream ever heard
down our street. A rat infestation would have left me
less shaken - she’d got up extra early with her friend
and decorated the cake. It was ghastly with a big G.
3. Tuppenny treasure hunt Oh, and we’ll be having a minute of silence for
Kids love nothing more than having a good
Woolworths!
rummage around other people’s houses so they’ll
enjoy this one. It’ll keep the little blighters busy
while the mums gossip and quaff cocktails. Using
the old ‘keep it simple stupid’ principle, create a
simple treasure hunt. Pair off the kids and give
Nixdminx - blog post - 22nd February 2009
more to life
than laundry
Mum of two and founder of So I decided that 2009 was the year that I was
going to make time for me. I wasn’t sure how.
Peekaboo Communications, But I knew it was going to be more than the
occasional spa day.
Melissa Talago is off on an
Then, one Sunday in January, I saw an advert in a
adventure ... newspaper for the Clipper Round the World yacht
race. I showed it to my husband and said
Do you ever wonder when you’ll be able to hop off the ‚Wouldn’t it be amazing to do something like
hamster wheel, ignore the laundry pile and do something that?‛ His reply was: ‚If you want to do it, do it.‛
just for you? I did. I laughed it off as an impossibility.
Waking up in January 2009, faced with another year of But I couldn’t let go of the idea and, that evening,
rushing around after children, doing household chores I sent off for the information pack. I quickly
and running a business, I felt well and truly despondent. received a reply and, within days, I’d filled out
It’s not that I don’t enjoy my life, it just seemed like I was the application form and sent off my deposit. It
living in groundhog day, facing the same dizzying merry- was crazy. There were so many reasons why I
go-round day after day, year after year. shouldn’t do it <
I felt like I was constantly waiting for Firstly, there’s the race itself. This isn’t a yacht
race for the faint hearted. The leg I’d applied for
something, but I wasn’t sure what. was a gruelling 5,300 nautical miles, taking five
mummomag
weeks to sail from the UK to Brazil. The 68 foot yachts weeks of applying for a place, I headed off for an
are crewed by 18 people, only one of whom is an interview (getting to it was a challenge in itself, with
experienced sailor. You burn about 5,000 calories a severe snow storms and closed schools!). I got a place
day, work four hours on / four hours off, live in very and will set sail on 13 September 2009.
basic quarters and face everything the ocean can
throw at you. Until then, I’ve been getting to work on raising funds
with various events, setting up a blog to track my
Then there’s the emotional side of it. I am the primary progress ( www.moretolifethanlaundry.com), getting
minder of our children. I work school hours from in shape, arranging logistics and preparing my
home and am there for the boys pretty much round children. Thanks to the kindness of my sister-in-law
the clock. who will help with the children for a while, and the
generosity of local mums who are donating their time
Who would be me when I was in the to help me with my fundraising efforts, not to mention
the unfailing support of my husband, it’s all starting
middle of the ocean? to look manageable.
That said, my stress levels are at an all time high and Okay, so we’re not all about to jump on a boat
there’ve been many moments when I’ve questioned
and sail halfway round the world. But it’s worth
my sanity, asking myself ‚Why am I doing this?‛
asking yourself, what would you want to do, if
But here’s why. I hope to show my children that life is there was nothing to hold you back and you were
there to enjoy, to be a role model for them showing guaranteed to succeed? What’s your dream?
that you can be a good parent and a fulfilled
individual. That it’s ok to take on a challenge, to And, whilst you’re mulling that over, why not
believe in yourself, to do something for yourself, to
challenge yourself, to grab opportunities available to
help support Melissa in her bid to sail 5,300
you, to have zest for life, to experience things beyond nautical miles and live her dream. Just go to
the day-to-day norm - this is what living is all about. www.moretolifethanlaundry.com and sponsor her
£2 for a mile. Of this, £1 will help cover
This is what adds the splashes of Melissa’s costs. The other £1 will go the official
colour to the painting of your life. race charity, the Philip Green Memorial Trust,
which helps sick and disabled children all over the
To all the other mums out there who are wondering UK and overseas.
what happened to their old self under the piles of
laundry, know that it’s still there. You just need to
find it again. No matter how daunting something
might seem, if you believe in it, you can do it. Melissa Talago is
mother to two little
Take That, in their beautiful song ‘The Garden’, put it boys aged 5 and 3
who, as she puts it,
perfectly when they say, ‚This is the life you’ve been
are “typical bouncy,
given. So open your mind and start living.‛ boisterous boys
who are more likely
Hopefully that’s what I’m doing ... to turn a cucumber
into a sword than
eat it!”
advertising
these adverts have been included in return for the
mums who run the businesses helping to spread
the word about ‘million mums’ and making a
donation to the campaign
thank you
Mummo would like to
thank all these fantastic
people who have helped to
make this mummomag
possible <
(I promise I’ll try not to turn this into
an Oscars acceptance speech!)
thank you
© Mummo Ltd : March 2009: www.mummo.co.uk 75
Mummo is an online community designed to help you
be the best possible parent and the best possible YOU!
www.mummo.co.uk