Drawing the line with the Queen of Teen

Mmm, after writing that post title, I can think of a whole ‘nuther way this post could go, as any Mum of a 12-going-on-16-yo could understand. But no, this is about drawing a party line in the sand. I have survived the birthday party circuit for all my girls each year and there needs to be an end in sight because how else will Sophie ever catch up to Kate? And I don’t ever want to be organising one of those late-teenage parties you hear about with security guards or necessitating calls to the police, so I think that the start of secondary school is the perfect line drawing year.

Of course, the blow has been softened with a small sleepover and control freak that I am, I even managed to hand over invitation making duties to my near-teen (17 days she tells me – do you remember being that excited about your next birthday that you knew exactly how many days???). And this is what she came up with – aren’t they simply gorgeous and oh-so-grown-up?

I put them on our sideboard to photograph right next to a pile of photos, including Princess Kate, circa 2000, so I added her to the pic because it is near impossible for me to get an acquiescent photo of her these days, she’s worse than a toddler LOL I have been attempting to capture her winter school uniform (complete with tie no less) and the pics above show just how co-operative she is feeling atm. It’s the same thing with her hair – she has this great mane of dark blond curls and ringlets that is truly spectacular out and she knows I love it that way , so she hides it away in drab braids, buns and ponytails simply to annoy me, I’m sure! I need to start using reverse psychology I think.

How can I possibly be grown-up enough to have a teenager daughter…..

Mayday, mayday.....

Pic of my darling Sophie’s Mother’s Day card, bless her.


Inspired by my Mothers' Day present (see below)

Can’t believe this whole month is passing me by with a whirlwind/explosion/rollercoaster of life that is big enough that I apparently don’t have time to sit back and reflect on it… Just a mad exhausting happy flurry of champagne, work, kids, taxi-ing, socialising, writing for money (woohoo!), seminars, dinners, family, cooking, parties...

So a very belated Happy Mothers' Day to all the fabulous mothers out there that I am so happy to call my friends, don’t know what I’d do without you – one of the happier surprises of becoming a mother is discovering the sisterhood of generosity and empathy that we share. In that spirit, want to share a couple of thoughts from a sweet little book I was given for Mother’s Day by Susannah Mac. It’s called

“You’re a Fabulous Mum
(despite the stale bread, unmade beds and guilty thoughts in your head)”

– yes, definitely my kind of parenting ;)

Firstly a couple of helpful definitions:

Guilt
Consciousness of wrongdoing

Guilt, maternal
ILLUSION of wrongdoing. Irrational, nagging conviction that you are failing your children and would be doing so much better if you were almost anyone else. Seemingly no male equivalent

Some timely reassurance:

It is not selfish to want ten minutes to read the paper without child, partner or pet lying on you.
It does not mean you do not love to distraction the above child, partner or pet.

And some real wisdom:

The joys of motherhood are never fully experienced until the children are in bed.
Author unknown

I was also spoilt with a surprise gift that I’ve been pining for/lusting after for ages - a mix master just like my Mum used to have. I remember fighting over who was going to lick the beaters with my brother and sisters. Yes, it does fall into that insidious and much maligned category of a present that makes you work, but oh, it hardly feels like work, it feels like play and delicious play at that and given that I had been handbeating things since the bamix died, it actually makes less work! Have been making lots of bits of yum ever since - have a fab easy cheesecake recipe to share when I get a moment.

Promise to be back soon with news, pics and recipes
xxxxx