Exiting the Mummy Cocoon

We had a Halloween Party yesterday and when speaking to the other mothers we discovered something that we all had in common.

Approximately 2 - 3 years after the birth of our children we emerged from what I like to term The Mummy Cocoon. Yawning and stretching, we stick our heads out of the comfort zone and notice with a shock that the world as we knew it is still there. But we no longer fit in the same place as we did pre-children.

When we have small children, our whole life is consumed by them. When (if) they sleep, if they sleep through the night, if they are sleeping in our beds,  what they are eating and drinking, if they are pooing and weeing enough, are they being socialised, are they developing, growing, learning...

This leaves little time for ourselves, especially if the children are close in age.

Then suddenly the youngest child can eat independently, is toilet trained, can play for a while alone. Perhaps the elder child is already in school, and the younger child starts to go to playschool or nursery.

We can go to the supermarket alone, without "Can I have that" echoing every 30 seconds. It is a treat to go the supermarket alone, a chore that 5 years previously was an every day boring task is now elevated to a fun morning. Maybe we can even meet a friend for coffee and chat without being interrupted.

We might look in the mirror and notice with a shock that the tactic of shoving our hair up in a pony tail occasionally has become and everyday occurrence and we cannot recall when we last had a haircut/manicure/facial. Which does not mean that all mothers "let themselves go" but with two young children it requires a lot more organisation to keep up with the beauty maintenance that used to be so easy.

We might realise that it has been a while since we have been to the gym, or that we now have time to restart a hobby, or learn a new one.

Generally at this point we will turn to thoughts of going back to work, if we haven't already. This is where it gets tricky for many mothers, going by the experience of many of my friends.

Ideally, going back to work requires good and reliable childcare, flexible working hours and conditions but this is really not that easy to find. When I started working in sales, I did not consider how difficult it would be to work in a field that requires their staff to work evenings and weekends. Since having the children, I have not returned to that job.

We wake from our self-imposed hibernation to find that the choices we made in earlier, child-free life, do not still apply today. We have changed, our priorities have changed. Our lives have changed.

For many, this time is almost a re-birth. A discovery of what we are now, and how much we have changed. One only has to look at the many websites offering handmade jewellery, fabulous cupcakes, stunning bespoke wedding stationary or see how many women turn their hand to something new like photography websites, Painting gorgeous pictures, writing children's books, blogging and writing, or retrain to work as Interior Designers after the birth of their children. I know many women who have found a successful second career, born out of the necessity of fitting in with family life.

The Holy Grail - a job that brings money, satisfaction and flexible hours working from home - is what we all seek.

So if anyone has an idea how I can make money out of sitting in front of the computer all day, do let me know.

Would you post a picture of your Mummy Tummy on the Internet?

Urgh. Am I the only one who hates the "Mummy" tag? Slummymummy, Yummymummy, Mummyblogger and now Mummytummy.

The Mummytummy discussion is hot at the moment, due to the magic cream that supposedly gets rid of the post-natal bulge. There are websites that encourage their users to post photos of their midriffs to show that they are proud of their Mummytummy as it shows that they have given birth to their children.

While I agree that the media obsession with the latest sleb to slim down to pre-baby weight just after the birth is horrible, I am not going to be posting a pic of my tummy anytime soon.

It is surely not a secret that the recovery after the birth is not due to any miracle sleb juice or creams, but to hard work and determination. For women like Heidi Klum and Denise Van Outen, this is eased by the fact that they likely have access to childcare and personal trainers. For normal women it is much more difficult to juggle having a new baby, perhaps going back to work or the school run for older children, with a diet and fitness regime. Not to mention the fact that for those of us not reliant on the shape of our body to get work, like models and actresses, it is not really a priority in those first hazy days and sleepless nights.

A flat tummy is down no genes and determination, not gloop out of a tube.

I also have a problem with the whole Mummytummy thing in that it gives the impression that there is nothing to be done, that it is all part and parcel of motherhood.

After the birth of my second child in 2004 I put on a fair bit of weight. In 2005 I lost it, and with regular visits to the gym had as close to a flat tummy as I have had for years. Over the past few years I have put on weight again. I would like to lose that weight as I know I would feel better about myself but it is not the hook that I hang my self-esteem on. At the moment I am pretty damn content with my life.

If and when I lose the weight, I may still have a small tummy. I can live with that but I won't blame it on the fact that I gave birth. As if being a mother gives me absolution.

The final point I have to make about the whole Mummytummy debate is that I hate the fact that women are again being reduced to their status as a mother. My tummy belongs to me. I may have carried a couple of babies in there, but it is mine and not theirs.

I am a mother but it does not define my whole being. 

I am me.

Is it possible to ski in Switzerland on a budget?

When times are tough, the first thing that many families rethink is a holiday, particularly a skiing holiday. So I thought it would be a good time to recommend a place where skiing is not so expensive.

The area that I am recommending today is not even an half hour from Geneva airport, where EasyJet flights from various UK airports are scheduled daily.

It is not as high as the mountains of Mt Blanc so not suitable for holidaying very early or late in the season. It is also not a big resort so if you are looking for apres ski party then you will be disappointed.

It is however great for a relaxing holiday, and for learning to ski. The area is called Massif des Brasses, or Les Brasses.

Whether you chose to stay in the slightly larger town of Saint Jeoire or the tiny but quaint village of Bogeve, you can be sure that you will pay a lot less than for a holiday in Chamonix or Morzine. This renovated farmhouse in Bogeve is not a typical pretty chalet, but it looks good inside and is just a short drive from the slopes, and at €950 not too expensive. In Onnion this chalet is available for a similar price. These apartments in Bogeve are pretty basic, but from a bargain €200 for 4 people, possibly the cheapest way to ski in France. These I have found by googling "chalet les brasses", I have no personal knowledge of the accommodation, but it does show that a skiing holiday in France does not have to cost a fortune, if you are willing to downsize a bit.

We go to Plaine Joux for sledging. There are two prepared pistes for sledging, a cross country track, ski school and equipment hire available. The restaurant is more like a canteen, but there is a little buvette that sells hot chocolate, coffee and crepes right at the bottom of the sledging piste. A couple of minutes walk away there is a traditional restaurant which serves local specialties in a typical Alpine style chalet.

After the fun in the snow,  chocolat chaud and crepes really hits the spot.

We have not been skiing yet, but friends have told us that the area is great for the kids learning to ski. The prices for the lift pass are €100 for a 6 day pass for adults, and €74 for kids. In comparison to the other ski resorts, that is almost half price.

Chamonix is about an hour away, so if you want to do some more serious skiing or fancy a trip on one of the cable cars, it is not a long drive. If you do go to Chamonix, then don't miss the fabulous Mer de Glace that I blogged about our first winter in Switzerland.

We shall be heading up to Plaine Joux as soon as it snows. We have spent Christmas Eve there the past two years, sledging and walking with the kids. It is a good start to the Festive Season. Cannot wait.

Home dye kit for Cheryl - Yeah right.

Did anyone see the Daily Mail this week where we were told that Cheryl, following her very own Austerity Measures, decided to forgo the salon treatment, and her staff of beauty assistants to dye her hair at home.

Cheryl after her home dye adventure. Pic from Daily Mail.

Visions of Cheryl, perched on the loo seat while one of her pals - Victoria Beckham or Colleen Rooney perhaps - painstakingly paints on L'Oreal Casting Gloss. They would take swigs of bubbly while chatting about their cheating husbands.

No? Not really believable?

What I find incredible is that both L'Oreal and Cheryl's publicist thought that we, the public would buy this tall tale.

Perhaps she has truly used the product but I doubt she put it on herself.

Saying that, I have been using the blonde version of L'Oreal Casting Gloss for a couple of months now and I have to say that it is FANTASTIC. Instead of spending CHF 100 at the hairdresser, I spend CHF 20 and have already had several compliments on my new hair colour. It looks almost as if I have had highlights done - there are somehow several shades of blonde in there.

So, whether you believe Cheryl or not, I can definitely recommend the product. And without the article I probably wouldn't have blogged about it. Not bad PR after all then.

Classic Cars, Lake Geneva and Sunshine

A pretty good combination, if you ask me. A couple of weeks ago we went to the Morges British Classic Car Meeting. It is an annual event, attracting over 1500 cars and motorbike and over 20 000 visitors. The town of Morges is situated on the banks of Lake Geneva. The pedestrianised shopping street is not far from the promenade and is particularly inviting on Saturdays because of the Farmers' Market. 

We had a wander amongst the French antiques, soaps and delicacies before heading down to the Lakeside where the cars vied for attention with the lake and the mountains beyond. We had a pretty good spot, opposite the harbour. 

 

 There were a few stalls offering every kind of spare part imaginable plus motoring memorabilia and books.

The shouts of other visitors alerted us to the amusing sight of a car in the water, it cruised quite close to the shoreline, whether to show off the fabulous car or out of concern about going further into the deep deep lake, we were unsure. 

Later we were able to see the car out of the water, when it had dried off a bit. 

We did wonder what was in the Mini-Bar - champagne, beer?