More than a Mother

My name is 'E and G's Mum' and I am a mother:

Stimulating my children through public indignity

I don't always look like that, obviously. Sometimes I look like this:

Nurturing my children with Fairy non-biological

And on occasion, when I leave the house, I look like this:

Hunter-gathering


My main place of work, as many of you have already seen, is here:


Hub of the house

My evenings are spent reading bulb catalogues under a woolly tartan rug in an armchair while the Vicar sits under a woolly tartan rug on the sofa and plays Angry Birds.

It was not always like this. No, once upon a time I answered to Anna. I read the paper over hot tea in at breakfast time and I thought a wet wipe was a killer cocktail. In those days my place of work was an ergonomic chair in a glass office with a latte machine. And in those days I could sweep men off their feet:

My two-day body guard training course

And transport them to heavenly spheres:

High life in Bavaria

Sometimes when my feet are mired in cat litter and my thoughts assaulted by infant demands, I think wistfully of those days when I was myself. When my sofa rugs were edgy stripes, not tartan, and when only my nose blew into the tissues that swelled my handbag.

But then I imagine a house without my babies and a glass office without school runs to recall me and I realise that despite snot on my sleeve and an enslavement to Hoover, motherhood still allows me to fly high:



Katetakes5 wants us all to show the world through a long-ago photo that we were once more than just mothers. You can see how very much more others once were here. And tell me, how was it for you?

Comments

  1. Best post ever. Worth it just for the hub of the house pic :)

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  2. Now you've outdone yourself. A fabulous post - that tells a great story. You are such an engaging, fun mum! Love the pictures, and boy, do you do public indignity well!

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  3. I had a waist. That's all I remember from pre-motherhood days. A waist and a memory.

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    Replies
    1. A waist? I'm sure I had one of those. But I can't recall if I ever possessed a memory.

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  4. You jumped out of an aeroplane?! Very well described. Unfortunately my digital camera came as a new baby present so before pics are all shoved in a cupboard somewhere.

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    1. I didn't want to jump out of a plane. Some German made me. Didn't even know the name of the man I dangled from. Those two pix aren't digital - I photographed the prints with my digital camera.

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  5. LOVE this. And jealous of your skydive. I've always wanted to do one!

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  6. Wow, great pictures and great stories. I love the sound of your posh office that you used to have. And am impressed with the sky-diving, and man lifting etc. Loved the line; "Didn't even know the name of the man I dangled from."

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    1. Wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression - he was an anonymous instructor. Sat briefly between his legs on the seatless plane up and plummeted to earth entwined, but we never met again!

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  7. You are an awesome elephant. And wow- another thrill seeker like Kate! I am most tame by comparison!

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    1. I have never been a thrill seeker. The parachuting was purely accidental. But yes, I think the elephant head is an improvement!

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  8. I tell my kids all the time, that through their exhaustion, frustration, their feeling like screaming to try to remember that they will look back on these as the very best days of their lives, they are needed, loved, they are someones "everything". Nice memories! beebeesworld

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    Replies
    1. Being needed is the key, isn't it. One of the hardest things about extreme old age must be feeling one's a burden.

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  9. What a fabulous post! The photos are brilliant. I think we all look back at who we once were and wonder what happened to our youth and freedom. I totally agree, I would never be without my little beans they are my greatest achievements EVER!! I LOVE your elephant, truly awesome!!! xx

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    1. What a kind comment. Would love to say I knocked up the elephant head in Sunday School, but I'm afraid it was in a dressing up box in a stately home!

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  10. Hello sister Anna! (sorry, we have to refer to you as this because we know you via the other Anna Tims, not because we think you're a nun. Which clearly you are not, according to your blog!) I've discovered your blog via a recommendation by Ol, and I love it. We spent a lovely day with them yesterday, by the way.

    So, life B.C (before children). Much less shouting, more money, holidays involving passports, less shouting, no grey hair, no facial hair, less shouting, lie ins, Sunday papers, no camping, no cubs, no hours spent watching swimming lessons, less shouting....

    But hey. Life was much duller then.

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    1. I mighty grateful that you dropped by and am now going to phone the other Anna Tims to find out who you are! If you too have facial hair I just know we'll get on.

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    2. Hi Sister Anna, I'm Rachel Ottery! (was at Exeter with Ol & the other Anna Tims) I can see my pic on your followers but had to click on 'anonymous' in order to post a reply. Clearly, ICT skills have also lapsed since having children...

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    3. Oh my dear, I remember you well. I believe you live just up the road from us!

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  11. Wow, awesome blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is fantastic, let alone the content!
    Here is my web blog :: diets that work fast

    ReplyDelete

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