A Modern Mother

Scotland, shorts and New Year cheer

I opened my email this week and got a wee surprise. Hubby's cousin sent over some incriminating photos from Christmas past.

In fact, he sent over a whole load of photos taken by my husband's Aunt at every holiday. My husband is no spring chicken, so this is a lot of photos.

We had a good laugh going through them. Hubby is the one on the right, with the wide grin and the banjo.

We all asked Scottish Grandma (who is here for four weeks) why daddy was wearing shorts. In Scotland. In December. Even hubby wanted to know.

She replied that was the attire for "boys of a certain age".

I asked him if he remembers being cold. He said he didn't, but maybe it explains why he has an aversion to wearing shorts.

Happy New Year everyone! Hope you have a warm one. It's -4C outside. Brrrrrrrrrr.

My big night out

I'm writing this post on a train back from London.  The train is packed, laptop perched on my knees, typing with two fingers. Apologies for any typos, I've had a few drinks.   

As I look around, I fit right in, though I don't have an iPhone, Blackberry, or McDonald's french fries.

About a year ago, I started marketing consulting for a software company in London. It's about one day a week, which is just enough to keep my jargon up-to-date, yet little enough to fit in my mummy lifestyle.

The people I work with are half my age, literally, unless their Bilabonic T-shirts and frayed jeans are a front.

If I were a cool mum...

If I were a cool mum, and having my first child all over again, I would DEFINITELY get one of those Bugaboo buggies -- those trendy go everywhere contraptions that make pushing a baby around seem easy.

The sad reality is after the initial "shock and shop" that happened with our first child, the rest of our brood got their baby stuff second hand.

The nice people at Bugaboo obviously got the wrong end of the stick and sent me a link to their new social media site Bugaboo Friends, where parents can share experiences.

Ten things not to say to a mummy blogger at the Christmas party…

Now that the silly season is in full swing, here's ten things you should not say to your local mummy blogger at the neighborhood Christmas bash...

1. "I didn't know you were into archeology."
2. "What do you do in your spare time?"
3. "Why don't you just keep a journal?"
4. "Aren't you busy enough with the children?"
5. "I wanted to be a journalist too!"
6. "My nephew works at Tesco, I'll see if he can get you a contact there."
7. "Here's a tissue darling, Jane said you had a booger."

The state of British mummy blogging and the best ones of 2008!

So, the other day at coffee, I brought up my mummy blog. I might as well been speaking Slovenian. Non capiche.

What’s a mummy blog?” asked one of the mums, a particularly chummy friend of mine who loves veg patches as much as I do.

“It’s a place where mums can share info, write about their experiences, make new friends, stay sane," I said as enthusiastically as I could, but the look on her face said it all. “Why?” was oozing out of her.

Now remember, I live in the heart of the Thames Valley, the tech capital of the UK. Many of these mums either have worked in the IT industry, or have husbands who work in IT industry.

The phone call

I never really thought much about my body, I mean what went on inside my body, until I got the phone call.

I’ve learned since to appreciate the intricate patchwork of organs and hormones and neurons all connected in a delicate balance and tucked away nicely under your skin, so you don’t see it. Believe me, you don’t want to see it. I accidentally had a glance at a monitor in an operating room, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

I didn’t really even think much about my body when I was pregnant. Sure, I read every text book I could get my hands on, as if that would ensure a passing grade, and most things played out chapter by chapter (except of course when I got severe preenclampsia—another story entirely). I was busy with work then, and now I was busy with the children.

How to annoy a modern mother

It is only now that I am sitting down with a giant Kath Kidston mug of fresh ground Lavazza coffee with lots of steaming milk can I write about this. I can feel the stress levels lower with each sip.

Big picture, think picture.

About ten minutes ago I could have torn apart anything that was in my path, including my poor husband, who was going about his own business quietly.

It was a particularly hectic morning, the girls were still suffering from PNPS (Post Nativity Play Syndrome) -- similar to PMS, but for kids, and only during Christmas.

An introduction to head lice

Oh no. A sign on the door.

I dreaded these notices more than staying at Scottish grandma's in the winter, where once it was so cold I could actually see my breath escape from my mouth. Scottish grandma has a miniature wooden Swiss chalet on her fireplace mantle, a memento we had brought back from a skiing holiday, and it kindly reminded me of the temperature. Forty-two friggin' degrees. Fahrenheit. Inside the house.

We have had several cases of headlice recently – please check your child’s hair diligently.

Best of the Mommy Bloggers Carnival

The Best of the Mommy Bloggers Carnival is up at a Daily Dose of Toni.

Go check it out, it contains a mix of hilarious and heart-wrenching stories from the trenches of motherhood.

So what are you waiting for ... live vicariously and be glad you are having a humdrum day...

PS -- We are always looking for new hosts for the carnival. The schedule is here.

Advent calendars and the real meaning of Christmas

It's December 1st which means that on the way home from school today Emily asked why she didn't have an Advent calendar.

But you do honey, I said. California Grandma sent us a nice one with Baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary, the three wise men, the whole cast from the nativity play. You opened it this morning.

No, I mean a CHOCOLATE one.

Oh, good question, as chocolate Advent calendars are as ubiquitous in December as a runny nose. I meant to pick onethree up over the weekend, but all they had at Tesco was High School Musical, Hannah Montana and Barbie.