Motherhood was not my speciality!
Ruby Wax on being a working mum, synthetic onesies and passing on the comedy gene
Ruby Wax reminisces about becoming a mum
Ilove this picture of me with my first child, Max, who’s now 30. I was elated at being a mum and I wish
I was back there now. But in reality motherhood was a big shock to me; I knew nothing about babies. I didn’t read any manuals on how to breastfeed or care for infants. In fact, after Max was born I was sharing a room with another woman in the hospital, and I constantly asked her questions about what I should be doing. The next day I was wheeled away to my own room and I found out she wanted me out of there to get some peace!
Another time, when I was at home and Max wasn’t moving, I was convinced something was wrong with him. I called an ambulance and we went to the hospital, only to be told he was in a deep sleep! I was hopeless with changing nappies and remembering
to get in enough baby food for him. Thankfully, I had friends to help me and my husband Ed was brilliant. He did all the bedtime stories.
This photo reminds me that kids are a gift, and I credit them with calming me down and stopping me from being too selfish. In this photo Max is wearing an all-in-one. I bought all my children’s clothes at really cheap stores, in synthetic fabrics, and Emma Freud once said to me,
“Ruby, your kids are flammable!”
I was an only child and I don’t think that’s healthy. That’s why I had three kids in quick succession – at least they can compare notes! My mum loved me when I was little, when I was cute. It was during the teenage years, when I started talking back, that the war with my parents started. Luckily, as a comedian, I’ve been able to share stories about my mum with an audience and be funny (so people don’t think you’re whining).
Before and after having Max I was hosting my TV show Don’t Miss Wax.
I worked so late in pregnancy I could barely see my guests over my mountainous bump! And I went back to work just a few months after giving birth. I had a drive to achieve but it broke my heart to leave Max and later Maddy, now 28, and Marina, 25.
When they were young, my children were always surrounded by comedians and actors. Alan Rickman was their godfather and he advised my daughters to go into comedy. They now have an act called Siblings. They’re funnier than I am, for sure.
It’s difficult being a working mum, but now the pay-off is that I’m a good role model for my daughters. I’m good friends with my kids and they love me – they know how much fun I am, although they’re all embarrassed by me too. They do some mean imitations of me – but then again, I give them the material! w&h
“My kids have stopped me being too selfish”