The mum we all want to be
We all know her. We all have someone like her in our lives, and quite often we all wonder how she does it.
How does she manage to turn up on time at the school gates looking perfectly pristine, not a hair out of place, not even a speck of food on her clothes. How does she do it?
I bet her kids hair has been brushed, their faces wiped, teeth cleaned and they’ve had a healthy breakfast.
Most mornings I rush to shovel something, anything, down my kids throats before dressing them in such a hurry I don’t notice the mud on their coats, or the yoghurt from yesterdays lunch that’s formed a crusty coating on their jumpers.
Sometimes, dare I say it, I forget to brush their hair. This doesn’t matter too much with M, as she appears to have rather magical hair that doesn’t get knotty, but R’s hair? Well, matted is the best word to describe it on occasion! I don’t think it helps that she wears a baseball cap all day, every day!
By the time I get to the school gates, it’s usually then that I notice, dried dairylea dunker cheese around the face of my girls. Of course, by then a quick lick of the finger and firm rub will have to do, much to the horror of my kids!
Some mornings though. On the very rare occasion, usually when the kids have woken up ridiculously early, we have plenty of time for hair brushing, healthy breakfasts, clean teeth and even clean clothes. We can even take a leisurely walk to school, which makes a change from me trying to get them to walk extra fast!
I also have another confession to make. I don’t make my kids packed lunches. Oh no, bad mummy! My husband does it the night before!
Don’t get me wrong, I did make them their packed lunches for the first few days of them starting school, but the novelty soon wore off, and now my husband does it!
I’m sure I’m not alone in some of the things I’ve said here, am I?! I’d love to know your thoughts!
24 Comments
Sarah Howe @runjumpscrap
November 23, 2016 at 7:33 am
Haha when my girlie starts school 3 days a week hubby will be taking her, as I’m back at work so I can blame him for all this. I think it’s the same for a lot of Mums hun. We only notice that pristine one with the so called perfect kids (who are prob little buggers at home!) hehe. Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst xx
Alana – Burnished Chaos
November 24, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Ha ha, you are most definitely not alone! I can’t remember the last time I brushed my own hair and my sons is so thick and gets the worst bed head that even when I do brush it it looks no different
#Bestandworst
Helen
November 25, 2016 at 6:38 am
Better to have lovely children that are slightly unkempt though in my eyes. I think it’s important that they know not everything’s always perfect! Hang in there x #thatfridaylinky
Helen
November 25, 2016 at 9:02 am
It’s so hard to keep up with all of the ‘jobs’ that come under being a parent – you are essentially almost every job available rolled into one. It’s not easy, but love will override un-brushed hair every so often 🙂 #ThatFridayLinky
Helen x
http://www.treasureeverymoment.co.uk/
Emma Island Living 365
November 25, 2016 at 10:11 am
Ahh, I am surrounded by yummy mummies! I too am rubbish with the general getting them to school on time etc. As for packed lunches, I hate making them so my husband often gets roped into make them! #ThatFridayLinky
Michelle
November 25, 2016 at 10:20 am
My daught has just started reception and i’m useless at getting out the door and having her sorted for the day, but i’m trying which is all that matters. Being a mum is tough and everyone is struggling in there own ways #fridaylinky
Helen Gandy
November 25, 2016 at 11:15 am
Just the other week Alfie dripped toothpaste all down his front and I just reached for the wipes ha! I do always go with makeup on but generally there is usually something I’m wiping off as I get the school gate! Thanks for hosting #ThatFridayLinky
Tom Cox
November 25, 2016 at 11:40 am
Don’t feel bad about the lunches!! I don’t make hardly any of my sons meals (eeek!) his other daddy does most of them. But we all have our own roles. The pressure is unreal…but just loving them is enough 🙂 Great read!
Lucy Grace
November 25, 2016 at 1:31 pm
For every mum you are looking at as perfect, there will be another looking at you with the same view. They may look at what you perceive as failings and see them as liberating ie. ‘She doesn’t conform to pressures and feel the need to have everything ‘picture perfect’… I wish I could relax a bit more about things like she does’. Mother’s naturally compare themselves against one another because in truth, none of us have a clue about what we are doing! But don’t be hard on yourself. As long as your kids are happy and healthy, everything else is irrelevant. Xx #thatfridaylinky
Josefine
November 25, 2016 at 4:09 pm
My little boy is still too young for me to worry about school runs! However there is a mum that comes to the same baby group as me and I don’t know how she does it! Not only could you not see at all that she had carried a child for 9 months, but she is always perfectly dressed, we’re talking colour coordinated…not just like perfectly as in she managed to put the shirt on right…oh how I envy her! I deem it a success if I’ve got snot free clothes on! 😀 #thatfridaylinky
Maddadskillz
November 25, 2016 at 4:45 pm
I suspect “perfect family” have some serious imperfections hidden away somewhere.
Anyway, I heard dried Diarylea Dunker cheese builds character! 😜
five little doves
November 25, 2016 at 5:02 pm
I am definitely one of those mums who looks like I could do with a good wash and a brush of my hair! Every morning I dash there with my pyjama top still on under my coat and the kids all dishevelled, I always feel like everyone else looks so glammed up! #thatfridaypost
jeremy@thirstydaddy
November 25, 2016 at 6:57 pm
My kid goes to school with the same messed up ponytail that her sister wore ages 5-8. I’m usually wiping food off her face right before drop off and am never quite sure what kind of looks her outfits might be generating #thatfridaylinky
emma
November 25, 2016 at 8:17 pm
I know this lady. I also know that she gets up at 5.30 to achieve this perfect looking life.
I for one would take the extra hour and a half in bed, as I’m sure most of us would opt for. She’s the weird one, not you! 😉
Jo Sandelson
November 25, 2016 at 9:48 pm
I also know of people who get up 2 hours before necessary to work on their abs and mascara. WTF! I want to be loved even when I look like the back end of a bus – and I frequently do ! Jo #ThatFridayLinky
kristin mccarthy
November 26, 2016 at 3:12 am
I have regressed with every daughter I have had. First born- thousands of hand-made bows. Next daughter…less bows..the twins… ratty nest for hlaf a day and broken bows.
We are killing it mama.
#thatfridaylinky
Lianne Harris
November 26, 2016 at 6:19 pm
I’m so gonna be the mum rushing to get the kids to school on time, I’m sure if I have a girl their hairstyles will be the messy bun look that I’ve perfected with one hair band.
Thank god Ben has short hair cos I couldn’t deal with a boy and long hair with my well known lateness! (Although I love boys with longish hair) #thatfridaylinky
Lianne
November 27, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Oh I’m pretty sure if you look close enough, those ‘perfectly prestine’ mothers children have toothpaste down their uniforms and breakfast cereal in their ears too 😉 #thatsfridaylinky
Jaki
November 27, 2016 at 11:18 pm
I agree with Lianne – while I do manage to get out the house most mornings with my full face of make up – behind all of that there has been the rushing around because little man decides he needs the loo at the last minute. The stressing because he won’t eat his breakfast and the panic because when he finally does eat his breakfast he gets it all down him! All of this despite having plenty of time in the morning. I think it’s the same for most of us 🙂 #thatfridaylinky
Crummy Mummy
November 28, 2016 at 2:09 pm
We’re very familiar with crusty yoghurt on school jumpers in our house – it’s a badge of honour! #bestandworst
Jade – Raw Childhood
November 29, 2016 at 11:42 pm
There’s no such thing as a perfect family, just a real one! 😉 #thatfridaylinky
Helena
November 30, 2016 at 4:03 pm
I think preparing the night before is the only way most things can be done especially when you have more than one.#ThatFridayLinky
Amie
December 1, 2016 at 8:22 pm
I’m like this with my toddler and baby! I do keep telling myself (and hoping mainly) that I’ll be the pristine woman at the gates with immaculate children but I really can’t see that happening haha #ThatFridayLinky
David – Potty Adventures
December 1, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Haha don’t worry our mornings often resemble this picture of chaos as we try to get ready for work and try to get our two ready for nursery. I often arrive at work with cereal still stuck to me.
#thatfridaylinky