I want to be a YUMMY MUMMY!!

[charleypopspreviouslyntt]

How do I do it? Is it possible with a child with sn? Where do I START? Are any of you YMs??

lol jordans one isn't she

Well I do make an effort I have to say

I always wear make up everyday and do my hair.

Try and keep up with the fashion and because money is tight go to places like Primark and Peacocks so I can keep uptodate with latest fashion.

i always make sure my hair looks good! (that reminds me i need a hair cut!)

Nice clothes (like blossom says don't always hav eto be expensive), nice hair and a bit of make up.

It's about being well groomed

Ooh, not a bad start then - I do make up every day (well if I'm going out of the house - should I do it even if I'm staying in?) and I'm about to get some GHDs!

I've just bought a Mulberry handbag?

Hmm Jordan, it's easy for her to be a YM with nannies all over the place. I've got someone from Crossroads starting in a couple of weeks for Monday afternoons - does that count?

Do I need to have a clean tidy house?

Just bitten all my nails off though...damn

Try my best - generally try and look groomed for work, with the emphasis on 'try', and then look like I've been dragged through a hedge at the weekend.
Work means make-up, but can't be bothered with make-up at weekends. Always, always shave my legs/ wax/ try and remember to paint my toenails.

ooh - Mulberry handbag - get you

That must be worth quite a few points on the YM scale I'd have thought.

I know Chonky - it's only little, but it's Luuuuhvely, an Ebay bargain - wanted one for years

Oops, I have spiky legs (etc...) and chipped toenail paint

All this is good!

Oh no - I'm now looking at my horned hooves now (complete with chipped varnish). Urgent action required this evening!

Right, I've sorted my toenails and body hair, re-growing my fingernails and bought some designer jeans. Ordered GHDs.

Now what about the kid? Do I need to buy an ironing board??! He needs a new coat for winter - what would a YM buy??

ahh - you've beaten me to it - my feet are still looking hideous.

Come on Chonks! Get that varnish out (of the fridge I hope young lady!). I did cheat a bit and just went over the chipped stuff. Couldn't find the time to faff about with the remover...

But most importantly, what attitude do I embrace - what should my public persona be?? What, for instance, would a Yummy Mummy do whilst their child is being "observed" in a "curious" fashion whilst waiting in line to pay for something when out shopping? Would she make eye contact and smile, or stare back angrily, or avoid it all together, holding her head high with a "pleasant" expression. Or perhaps she'd always have the energy to strike up hearty conversation, maybe in an attempt to "educate". Or would she dig deep and try to remember what it felt like to be "normal" and "do" that, subtly masking the pain in a monumental and tenuous act of ordinariness?

Agree - head held high approach is best, although I do occasionally 'lose it' . My colleagues must think I am a right old flaky mad woman (they'd be right of course) Anyway, if you're going to get mad, at least you'll be looking stylish

Can't comment on stylish children, poor old dd normally has half her breakfast in her hair, and the other half down her front.

define yummy mummy

Yummy Mummy??!!...Im a stressed wrinkled Mummy!! lol

charley -

GHDs - is your hair still as long as it was when we were pregnant? If so, can I suggest a childminder for ds for at least one hour of every morning?

Attitude - technically I think a Yummy Mummy's child would never misbehave, but probably the best attitude if he/she did would be "whose child is that?", flip open flashy mobile phone and pretend to be on a call with Jemima Kahn or Stella McCartney.

OK I'll practice my pleasant expression

HiTrib! Hair's a bit shorter now thank goodness! I was beginning to resemble Cousin It back then - finding time away from ds to get it done is really tricky. Hopefully the Crossroads volunteer will get on with ds so he'll let me leave him with her once in a while. He has had really bad separation anxiety for 10 months so far... Love that image of "whose child is that?" with the flash phone. Twould be a bit difficult with an immobile child though lol

Well Lou, to me a yummy mummy never looks tired and always looks groomed and cool, she gives the impression of being organised and busy doing interesting things, her kids are polite, never unreasonable, enjoy olives and do lots of creative play. She has equally yummy friends with which she frequents coffee shops and talks about previous careers, holidays, annoying people at their health clubs and dabble in a bit of barely noticeable one-upmanship regarding their children's or husband's achievements. Nothing heavy, ever. Always happy and imbued with a vague smugness.

anniebear - I think if a ym thought herself stressed and wrinkly, she would get some relaxing aromatherapy oils and botox

chonky I'm sure you're NOT a old flaky mad woman!! and ditto on our kids - ds always has a few bits and bobs in his hair...

dino - I reckon having a good old shout would be ok for a ym now and again - under the guise of scream therapy

But how do I do it when I've forgotten how to socialise, no longer have empathy for other mums' day to day worries and can't bear to go anywhere near "normal" kids of the same age as yours? And other mums would rather not get involved and have to watch their p's and q's anyway.

You can always act like ds has just been left near you, not with you at all, charley. Why not appear to be searching for this child's mother around the shop, perhaps you could act like it's your less-yummy younger sister's offspring?

I think it's important to note that a yummy has to do pilates. You can be not-yummy and do pilates, but you can't be yummy without them. Baby should do: baby yoga, baby pilates, water babies, baby bridge classes, and have regular mani-pedis.

Seriously though - although it is nowhere near the same thing - you may recall that my dh is chronically ill and this leaves me feeling quite alone in a world of mums with healthy partners and 'normal' lives. Is there no support group for parents of kids with cp?

Lol trib, rofl at "baby bridge"! Really?! Can't I get away with straightforward yoga instead of Pilates?? Not that I do yoga anymore - I'll have to dig out my old yoga dvd...

Of course I remember about your dh and his painful condition Bet the baby's cheered him up though! x

I only go to sn groups Trib, they've been a life saver.

take more than relaxing aromatherapy oils and botox

Take a miracle