Material girl

Fay Hickman - 7 Apr 16

Deep in thought the other day (or lack of sleep induced daze, I’m not sure which) I chuckled to myself realising how far removed my mummy life is from my old one.

In the eight months that our baby boy Bailey has been a part of our lives, things could quite literally not be any different.

Gone are the days of Mr and Mrs Smith hotel breaks, All Saints skinny Jeans and fresh coffee from Borough market. You’re more likely to find me browsing the shelves of Aldi, getting my threads from H&M and searching the web for the best baby friendly breaks. Money is a hell of a lot tighter and sacrifices have had to be made.

This new chapter of my life is about adjusting to the new normal. A long soak in the bath with Neal’s Yard oils and a Jo Malone candle flickering gently has been replaced by a quick dip with a plastic pirate ship! Used to being smart and well groomed at all times, I now frequent the supermarket without a scrap of make-up and can’t remember the last time I had an eyebrow wax.

I’ve learnt that the sheer logistics of preparing for a night away with a baby is similar to the organisation of a UN summit. A whole new ball game indeed, yes sir. We recently attended a wedding and instead of worrying about where I was going to get my hair done and dancing the night away, top of my list were working out which Ella’s Kitchen pouch would stain least on Bailey’s new outfit and getting him to sleep mid-disco in his buggy.

So what’s the main thing that I’ve learnt……….?

Babies don’t care!

Bailey doesn’t care if I moisturise with Creme de la Mer or Olay. He doesn’t notice if I have eye bags, or have smushed rice cake in my hair. He has no preference as to what pair of jeans he’s suddenly sick all over.  I’m his mummy, I take care of him and that’s all that matters.

When flicking through a magazine recently (a highly rare event these days!) I realised that if it’s a toss up between the latest designer must-have bag or a family holiday I know what I’d rather be spending my money on. It’s less about what I am learning to live without and more about what I’m getting in return. Nothing beats meeting your baby for the very first time or seeing their first smile, some things just can’t be bought.

I think struggling with fertility issues has certainly has given me a different perspective on things and I feel incredibly lucky just to have this opportunity at all. A happy attitude in the most ridiculous of daily circumstances that you find yourself in, most definitely helps. I don’t embarrass easily anymore and have a new sense of self now I’m a mum.

It’s been a breath of fresh air (quite literally) getting out and about with a buggy instead of being desk bound couped up in an air conditioned office. The seasons feel like seasons again. Motherhood is everything I thought it would be and more. I’m absolutely loving every minute of being a mummy and although my new boss is far more demanding than any other I’ve had, I just revel in playing peekaboo with a tea towel and reading him Tiddler for the hundredth time.

I wouldn’t change my new back to basics lifestyle for all the money in the world, and if it’s taught me anything, it’s that I didn’t need any of those material things in the first place. After all, love is really all you need.

Fay Hickman

Mother to Bailey - 8 months and Owner of handmade kids decor store fabfamilytoys.co.uk

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