Past your prime

Signs you may be Past Your Prime

1. People more than a decade younger than you complain that they are getting old.

2. You get excited when you realise you have absolutely no plans for the next weekend.

3. You have to put your glasses on to pluck a hair out... of your chin!

4. People remake your favourite TV shows, films and music (and you are sure they are not as good you the original)

5. You make clothing decisions insisting, this is comfy AND stylish.

6. You talk to colleagues about really famous bands from your party days and they say 'who's that?'.

7. You wonder why someone asks "Are you OK?" when you stand up, and realise you groaned and put your hand on your back. But you're not even in pain.

8. Someone suggests you get involved in a roller blading party for kids, and you mentally scan your calendar to think what you'd miss if you ended up in plaster (or if a broken limb could be the perfect way to get out of something you don't want to do).

9. You have finally learned that you have a drinking limit, and it's possible to stop before you get totally shit-faced. (Who knew?)

10. Within an hour of getting up you're already thinking about what time you can go to bed.

Tapas Mum

Since going to see the film 'Bad Moms' I've been thinking about which stereotype of the mums I most relate to. Stay at Home Mum; Working Mum; Single Mum; Yummy Mummy etc etc. 

I've decided none of them sound quite right for me. So how about a new one... 

The Tapas Mum.

I've come to the conclusion that I've never 'wanted it all' as the phrase goes to describe those who want a perfect family, great career and to be a permanent Goddess in the bedroom and the kitchen. I've never quite believed in that!

I do like the idea of having just a taste of each though. A little bit of everything. Like choosing Tapas, instead of a massive portion of everything.

For example:

• I don't need to be a high-flying, top of my organisation, cracking-through-the-glass-ceiling role model career woman.
  But I do want a job that I enjoy and that I feel I'm pretty good at.
• I don't need to be perfectly turned out in full make-up and 4 inch heels whenever I leave the house.
  But I do want to feel good when I go out to nice places.
• I don't need a perfectly presented show home and a manicured lawn.
  But I do like to be able to relax down in the evenings without spearing my bum on a pile of toys or yogurt-smeared cushions.
• I don't expect to have weekly meet ups with my girls for cocktails, dinner and dancing.
  But I do enjoy the occasional chance to get together with a friend or two for a brew or a shit-load of wine.
• I don't need a pre-planned date night and a massive bunch of flowers delivered on a whim.
  But I do appreciate the times we get to go out and be a couple in a kid-free / no judgement, adult environment.
• I don't expect my kid to be an Olympic-level athlete, mastermind of science or musical prodigy.
  But I do want him to have nice manners, have enough confidence to have a go at stuff and laugh a lot.
• I am never EVER going to be Nigella Lawson, in cooking skills or body confidence.
  But I will occasionally make a nice family meal that tastes half decent and give my husband a snog by the sink. Sexy!
• I most certainly don't bake delicious pastries for the school summer fayre.
  But I do show up, donate a load of supermarket-bought chocolate for the tombola, and happily hand over every coin in my purse for the lucky dip. I even buy and eat the cakes that other people have made (that's really not a chore, I really love the school fayre!)

Being a Tapas Mum is pretty great. So what do you say... can we create a new stereotype?