Helen’s number mum priority
The TV presenter chats about family life now she’s a busy – but more chilled – mum of two
HELEN Skelton has kayaked down the Amazon, cycled to the South Pole and done ultra marathons – now she’s doing her most tiring challenge yet, as mum to two small boys.
The former Blue Peter presenter, whose more recent television credits include Countryfile and joining the BBC’s sports coverage
line-up, has been living in France, while her husband Richie Myler plays rugby for the Catalans Dragons.
The adventure-loving telly personality took time out to talk to us about how motherhood has changed her life and the advice she hopes to pass on to her sons, Ernie, two, and sevenmonth-old Louis.
There’s no doubt becoming a parent changes things hugely, and for Helen, 34, this has meant a shift in outlook and priorities.
She said: “For me, I’m a lot more chilled out about stuff.
“Before, I would focus on work or holidays or buying things but all of that stuff becomes insignificant when you’ve got kids.”
Laughing, she added: “Your priorities become a lot more mundane and humbling, I guess.”
Life with two young boys might be pretty hectic and constantly changing but there’s one thing that won’t change.
And that’s the pearls of wisdom Helen wants to pass down to her children.
She said: “You get out of life what you put in. My mum always says that to me.”
As anyone who watched Blue Peter when Helen was on it will know – she was a presenter on the popular children’s series from 2008-2013 – she’s quite an active person.
Her achievements are certainly impressive – including becoming the second woman ever to finish the 78-mile Namibia Ultra Marathon in 2009, and then running the London Marathon just weeks after.
Of course, becoming a mum has changed her approach to exercise, though it’s still important to her.
Hele said laughing: “I would like to say I still keep fit.
“But no. Before I had the boys, I was a total gym bunny, working out five or six days a week – but now I feel guilty if I go to the gym, thinking I could be doing something with them.”
However, this isn’t to say she’s no longer fit – far from it.
Helen revealed: “To be honest, running after a two-year-old is more exercise than I’ve ever done at the gym.
“Yesterday, we were playing dinosaurs, and I think I did 35 minutes of sit-ups.”
However, having children can have an impact on any private time a parent has with their other half.
So are they one of those couples who schedule in date nights? By the sounds of it, not exactly.
Helen asked: “What the hell is date night?!. We don’t have date nights, but we love the idea of them.”
She added: “At the moment, one of us will go to an event, while the other one babysits.”
The family recently went on a road trip for 11 days around France, and Helen and Richie realised they spoke more to each other in the car then they had in months.
This doesn’t mean the experience was all plain sailing, however.
Helen said: “Eleven days driving across France probably wasn’t the smartest idea I’ve ever had with two small boys but it was good overall.
“Nine days were great,” she added with a smile, “but the last couple of days were a bit full-on.” Helen is supporting P&G and Sainsbury’s #HelpUsHelpThem campaign, raising funds for The Royal British Legion and Poppyscotland. Until tomorrow, Sainsbury’s shoppers can buy selected P&G health and beauty products – including Oral B, Olay, Gillette & Pantene – in store or online and trigger a donation (one pack = one donation).