Categories: uncategorized
Date: 17 October 2008 10:24:36
Eve has an interesting article this month called "Don't call me Supermum!" which refers to the death of the "supermum myth" and the rise of "superglue mum". Superglue mum, according to the article, does things like "feeds their child fish-fingers and doesn't care if they're organic" and "keeps an emergancy stash of Haribo for tantrum-bargaining".
The piece also steers away from the stay-at-home vs. out to work mum. Rather it acknowledges that most of us can't afford to have a choice in the matter and that stay-at-home mums don't have it that easy either. As it says, "we're all paranoid that other people are judging us for choices that are nobody's business but our own. The resounding message here is that nobody but you can decide whether it's right for you to slog it out in a bank or a ball pool."
So now, it appears, it is ok for us to admit that most of the time we're just trying to keep it together here are my top tips as a superglue mum:
1) Keep a small number of microwave meals in the freezer so when you get home completely shattered you can just throw a couple of them in. (Only thing is make sure that it's not every night, remember pasta and bacon, etc are also quick and easy meals and that it really is ok to buy cheese sauce granuels, etc).
2) Keep a few mini bags of Haribo aside for yourself, they give the ultimate emergency sugar rush when required and you need some extra energy.
3) Look out for magazine freebies as the ideal way to treat teenage girls. (I only ended up reading the article because Third Party needed a new mascara and this was the cheapest way to get her one). After freebie has been removed by teenager and magazine flicked through remember you can sit down and relax with it later. There is nothing wrong with flopping down for a few minutes with some girly trash and a cup of / glass of something.
4) Remember the dvd and tv aren't designed to be babysitters, but they are excellent ways to keep the child occupied for at-least half an hour whilst you are getting the sink emptied / clothes washed / escaping for a bath/ making packed lunches/ updating your blog / doing some work or study at home (delete as appropriate).
5) Phone top-up is one of the easiest ways to do the stick/carrot thing with teenagers. It may smell like bribery, but heck.... if it makes your life easier.
6) You are allowed to go and sulk in your room, (for small amounts of time), when the child has pushed you to that limit. Sometimes parents need to take time out too, if children refuse to go to their rooms there is no reason why we can't escape to ours. It doesn't make you a bad mum, but it might just keep you a vaugley together one.