This week, with the girls in school, the eh-hem, majority of my spring cleaning being done (apart from the necessary trip to the tip which I keep putting off), and with no set plans having been made, I thought I’d treat myself to a glossy magazine, to relax with and read while the boy has his nap (or is suitably occupied playing with his cars). You know the magazines that are mostly full of adverts and assume all women are size 8, designer-clothes-obsessed, wealthy, go to Pret-A-Manger for lunch (we’ve never even set eyes on a Pret round these endz) and of course, work in an office? Those. For some reason, (which is becoming increasingly questionable, especially given that they cost the best part of a fiver) one of my favourite past times is browsing through these mags looking at clothes I could never fit into or afford and at make-up I don’t have the time nor the inclination to apply. So, why do I bother?
Well, to be honest, I was intrigued by the fact that this particular magazine – Easy Living – was aimed at the more mature woman. Now, while I’m not exactly ready for free knitting patterns with my regular magazine, neither am I in need of dating advice, sex tips ( I know how it’s done, I have 3 children) or how do get my body bikini ready for a girls holiday – a) I’d prefer a Burkini b) All my girls are now women!
Anyhoo, while flicking through my grown-up-read, I was struck by a feature containing photo’s of mums on the school run, that listed what each one was wearing. All of the seven mum’s were in full make-up with perfect hair, all of them were wearing designer items, from Hermes scarfs, Louboutin heels or the more casual Prada trainers(!!) and yes, they all looked amazing considering it was 8.45am! Now, these were all mums based in the fashion capital: London, they all seemed very stylish, they had impressive job titles and they just exuded glamour. Yet more evidence of the growing breed of ‘yummy mummy’s’. Flip, everywhere you look there are people snapping into shape days after giving birth, and it’s not just celebrities, it’s real women. They know how to dress, they’re organised enough to leave the house in a well-coordinated outfit, make up AND hair fully dry (a novelty for me) and styled (an impossibility for me). It put’s me to shame, I tell thee. While I can manage to leave the house and leg it to the bus stop in proper trousers, I usually always still have my pyjama top on! I do hide it under my jacket though, I’m not that shameless.
Hmmmm, how different and probably/hopefully more realistic that article would have looked if it were to be done in good ol’ Swansea. Especially, given that it’s not uncommon round my way to see women popping to the corner shop or even doing a full grocery shop at ASDA at lunchtime still wearing their pyjamas or dressing gowns! This is the truth I tell you! Now even I’m glamorous compared to these people!!
