‘I’M TIRED OF SEEING PERFECT LIVES’
JESSICA ROWE
As a busy working mum-of-two, Jessica Rowe was trying to do the best she could. But every time she looked at Instagram, there were thousands of mothers apparently doing it better.
‘A friend pointed out to me all the lunch box images and I couldn’t believe all the little pirate sandwiches and perfectly constructed meals,’ she recalls.
So, the former host of Studio 10 decided to post pictures of what she fed her family – including burnt toast, basic spaghetti bolognaise and simple sausages. She’d hashtag the posts #craphousewife because, as she says, she’s ‘a terrible cook’.
The real images and funny captions struck a chord – Jessica now has 84,000 followers. Since leaving Studio 10, she now has more time to spend with her daughters, Allegra, 11, and Giselle, nine, but she still uses the same principles for low-stress parenting. Here are the Thermos Funtainer ambassador’s tips...
KEEP DINNERTIME SIMPLE – I’m not the world’s best cook, I’m a proud #craphousewife, so I rely on schnitzel, sausages and mince done many different ways. Often, I’ll prepare my girls a ‘tasting plate’ of cut-up carrots, cherry tomatoes and avocado, which they’ll eat before dinner.
DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF – When my girls were little I wasted too much time trying to get them into ‘nice, neat’ outfits. Eventually I realised it wasn’t worth wasting my energy on debating the merits of matching clothes with a three-year-old! I’m getting my own back now – I pick my girls up from school wearing my PJS! Also, it doesn’t matter if your kids won’t brush their hair. One day they will!
REMEMBER TO ENJOY ‘ME TIME’ – Take time out for yourself. I know that’s easier said than done because, as parents (and especially mums), we put everyone else’s needs ahead of our own. Try to do one thing each day just for you. For me, that means reading my kindle in bed while munching on my own stash of dark chocolate. It’s hidden in my top bedside drawer. ADOPT TIME-SAVING HACKS – Save your precious time for what matters. Make enough dinner for the kids to take lunch to school the next day, reheat it in the morning and pop it in a Thermos Funtainer Food Jar. They keep contents hot for up to five hours.
YOU LIVE IN A HOME, NOT A SHOWROOM – Life is far too short to spend endless hours folding, washing and making everything perfect. Especially when you have little people ready to mess it up moments later. One of my favourite sayings is from the comedian Phyllis Diller: ‘Housework can’t kill you, but why take a chance?’
DON’T BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF – There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ style of parenting. You do what works for you and your family. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. No-one has it all together, some are just better at pretending than others.
‘HAVING KIDS GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE REAL YOU.’ Nicole Richie, TV personality and mum of Harlow, 10, and Sparrow, eight.