To wonder how parents of toddlers manage to look perfectly groomed!

[Anon8604]

Being a complete scruff myself I often notice that other mums at the playground or play groups seem to look a lot smarter than me. I see them chasing around their toddlers with perfectly blow dried hair and a full face of make up (the mums, not the toddlers ) and I can't help wondering how the they're managing it?

If I try to put on make up or blow dry my hair in my toddler's presence it will most likely lead to make up spilled on the floor and me sporting a pair of panda eyes thanks to dodgily applied mascara. My DH looks after DS in the morning while I shower and get dressed but he has to go out to work so I wouldn't expect him to hang around for ages while I do my hair and make up. These two facts combined tend to mean I wear no make up and my idea of doing my hair is to put it up in a ponytail!

So, given that I imagine my circumstances aren't unusual, how are all these other mums managing to look so unreasonably smart while in charge of a small person?

That is commitment. I wouldn't get up at 4am for anything.
Not even if I was in the Olympic Games.

I get ready quickly and put make up on in the car. It's 10 minutes altogether. 20 if I wash my hair.

Using the pen of neglect maybe?!

I don't look perfectly groomed at all but I wear makeup everyday...even when I had a baby and a toddler. Baby fed and safely in bouncer...toddler in highchair...I'd put my face on in less than 5 minutes. It doesn't take long if you have a routine.

My dc are older now... sometimes I sleep in my make up and just do a quick top up before school run... combined with some sunglasses, you'd never know what a slattern I am

This was me and I had twins. I got up before they did. Never attempted getting ready with them around.

Can't say I was (or am) overly groomed but I did wash and quickly dry my hair and put v basic make up on.
Either they pottered around copying me, sat in their jumperoo type thing or watched TV when slightly older. Or at the worst they sat in their cot and moaned a bit for 5 mins.

At the risk at being joyless, I don't see any great advantage to chasing around after toddlers looking perfectly groomed.

Never bothered me. If people want to wear make up at playgrounds that's up to them but I would never do that. Mmy worth is bound up in things like my relationships with my family and my work (I work full time) not how much time I might spend in vanity in front of mirrors!

Their houses are probably a total mess as they spend their spare time preening themselves and not tidying up.

Well that's what the leader of my slimming world group told me when I complained I always felt scruffy compared to other parents of young kids.

Double up on product uses is my trick, so cc cream, chubby sticks that are lipstick & blush, then one for contour & eyeshadow, wax eyebrows instead of plucking, and heat protectant frizz tamer for hair lol

oh and liberal usage of peppa pig or sticky kids!

It isn't difficult. Like with anything, if it is important to you, you'll find a way of fitting it in. It's like people who say they are too busy to exercise, or cook a meal (instead of opening a packet) or read a book. Many seem to find plenty of time to plaster social media with their updates though.

I apply volume mousse and frizz-ease serum to my wet, naturally wavy hair, and let it dry naturally whilst I get dressed and apply my makeup.

My DD either plays with some of her toys or watches tv whilst I do the above.

I also wear knee length jersey or denim dresses everyday, or stretchy pencil skirts with tops and leggings, or sometimes culotte jumpsuits in Summer. I am not a 'jeans and t-shirt' person - I look shit in them! I find that the clothes I wear are comfortable and very quick and easy to dress in, yet look quite 'put together' and considered, when in reality, I throw on whatever needs ironing the least! That's one reason I wear a lot of jersey - no, or next to no ironing!

If people want to wear make up at playgrounds that's up to them but I would never do that. Mmy worth is bound up in things like my relationships with my family and my work (I work full time) not how much time I might spend in vanity in front of mirrors!

This comment comes across as quite judgemental...sorry if that's not the intention.

I wear make up everyday but it doesn't define me...my worth, like yours, is also bound up in my family and my relationships. I don't spend hours staring at myself vainly in front of a mirror. I don't think any mother has the time for that! I spend five minutes putting on a bit of make up because it gives me a little boost and stops me looking exhausted and washed out!

We have an au pair and a nanny which buys time in the morning.

I wear make up daily and plan my clothes the night before. I wake, shower, dress and apply my make up before waking my dc up.
If they happen to wake up, I ensure they are occupied whilst I get ready.

I'm more groomed now than I was before I had a child

Most days I get up earlier than DS. If for any reason he wakes up early then I do my make up downstairs and he plays in his playroom. I generally wash my hair in the evenings as it takes ages to dry. I either straighten it or put it in a low ponytail in the mornings. If DH is off then he takes DS out to play and I have a long shower, wash my hair and do my make up.

Dogsmum The Slimming World leader lied to make you feel better. Many mothers are able to look presentable and keep their homes clean and tidy. It is hard work though. I rarely sit down before 9pm in the evenings but I like to keep on top of housework/laundry/kids clubs.

Well DS went down for a nap at 9 and I'm still sat in my pj's so I guess I qualify as a scruff! It is my intention to shower before he wakes up!

Sometimes I do my make up while my 2 under 5's play or watch tv. Sometimes I do it at the table while they're eating their bfast. I take the youngest into the bathroom with me when I shower and older one tidies her room or plays downstairs and then I blow dry it while they are playing.

Often there is a lot of interruptions and I have mastered a full face of slap in 5mins

I have the Charlotte Tilbury five minute face palette and a tv. The careful combination of these ensures I can easily put my makeup on uninterrupted. Occasionally, a toddler will request that I also 'colour in' their face as well . I have really good skin so have never worn foundation which makes my makeup application pretty quick. Curly hair so I just put on some anti-frizz cream and shake my head upside down. I wouldn't say I look groomed exactly - I'm always a bit untidy looking even straight out of the salon - but I am always made up and accessorised and I always wear dresses so I never look very casual.

I absolutely cannot get over anyone wearing white, ever. Especially with small children. It was the only thing I worried about in the run up to my wedding as I am an inveterate spiller of things.

I have a 14mo. I was my hair every third evening and let it dry naturally. I give it a good straighten first morning then a quick going over other days. I might still tie it up for practical reasons or if it's raining as it goes fuzzy.

Baby goes into playpen in the morning and watches cartoons and plays. I shower, get dressed, put make up on and do some cleaning then as get very little done in the afternoon except dinner.

I do it downstairs while the dc are either eating breakfast (eg stand in the kitchen with mirror on the worktop) or while they are watching educational and informative tv CBeebies. I don't 'groom' every day though, just if I am going somewhere.

I get a wash and blow dry at the hairdressers whenever I can. In between then I just pray at the alter of Batiste.. eyeshadow, mascara and blusher is all I use makeup wise. I have a bath at night after bathing ds. DM has ds when I go to the hairdressers. And I have a d niece who is a beautician so I get brows done, mani/pedi done when I see her. I'd look like a right shower of shite otherwise.

Oh yeah, and Peter Rabbit/Wanda and the Alien/Peppa/Ben and Holly on the ipad always helps.

I shower before bed to save time in the morning. I then put Beebies on, lay out her clothes for her and set her a mission to get dressed before Mummy's finished doing her makeup! Usually works with some pestering.
On a good day she'll also brush her teeth and go to the loo while I finish.

She does come and fumble through my drawers and steal blusher brushes occasionally but she's pretty good and will put things back when asked. I've never compromised on certain things and it's normal for Mummy to put makeup on in the morning so she accepts it. Maybe I'm luckier than I thought?! She's 4 end of October.