An Interview With The Unmumsy Mum!

by justsayingmum 89 Comments

OK, so I am uber excited about this post! Not going to pretend I’m all cool and relaxed about it … I’M NOT!

Anyway, I wanted to start a new series on the blog for parents of smalls about any thoughts they had on their children becoming teenagers and how they hoped or envisaged themselves to be … all hypothetically of course … serving as both a little bit of fun but also as a wonderful memory for them to read back on when their children finally do become teens … how close to the truth will they be?

Eek, who to be my first guest?  Well, who else better to launch the series than one of the funniest and most honest writers out there? I went big and was beyond thrilled when Sarah … otherwise known as The Unmumsy Mum (!) … agreed to answer a few questions … I may even have done a little happy dance around the kitchen when she emailed back her response!

So, with no further ado, I will leave you to read her brilliantly funny, yet beautifully poignant, responses …

1. I know it’s a long way off but what are you dreading about your boys becoming teens?
Oh god, where do I start? Actually I wouldn’t say I’m dreading the teenage years as such but there are certain things about having teenage boys in particular (the farting, the refusal to wash, the stinky bedrooms and the thing nobody really talks about that sounds a bit like mastication) that I’m sure will become concerns in due course.

2. What are you looking forward to?
It sounds really corny but I really can’t wait to see how they turn out. It’s difficult to imagine them on the cusp on adulthood when at the moment I’m still washing wet bedsheets and scraping bogies off the radiators (actually, having heard from friends about teenage boys I still might face the bedsheet washing but we’re not talking about that). In all seriousness I hope we’re close when they are teenagers; that they want to chat to me about life and are not embarrassed by the books I have written about their toddler tantrums…

3. As a parent, what issues do you imagine are important when raising teens?
I’d quite honestly hate to be a teenager in the age of Snapchat and Tinder and god knows what else will be around by the time my two are teens. I imagine I will be fretting about their safety online, worrying that they feel under pressure to look or act a certain way and always lecturing them about how the porn they see on the internet is neither a true nor a desirable representation of how to have a sexual relationship with women (god, I’m going to be so embarrassing). I’m already worried about them discovering alcohol. I was a nightmare drunken sixteen-year-old.

4. What kind of parent do you think or hope (!) you’ll be when your boys are in their teen years?
I hope more than anything else that my boys feel able to come to me with their problems. To tell me that they were sick after downing shots of whiskey/that they fancy a girl/that they fancy a boy/they want to drop out of A Level Chemistry. I would hate for them to shut me out but I am well aware that’s pretty common for teens.

5. Is there anything you’d like to say to your own parents before your boys become teens or were you an angel?
My mum died before I became a mum and there is an awful lot I wish I could say to her now I understand what it’s all about. I’m sure the teenage years will make me appreciate further what it’s really like to worry! I’m one of two girls, though, and I do think the challenges are different – hormones of a different nature were rife in our house!

6. Is there any advice that you would give your sons before they get to the teen stage?
Yes. I will tell them that it is better to be a good person than it is to be popular. If you are nice you will be popular for the right reasons, because people like you. If you strive only to be popular you will be popular because people think they have to like you, because you’re popular. That is not the same thing. Oh and I will tell them not to send pictures of their penises to anybody. The regret risk is off the scale.

7. Do you envisage raising teens to be an easier stage than raising littles?
Absolutely not. I’m starting to realise that no stage is easier, the challenges are just different. Right now I’d happily trade my toddler (who protest planks on the floor when he’s cross) for a teenager who won’t get out of bed, but I imagine I’ll live to regret saying that…

Sarah, thank you so much for taking part in this series … I love your advice to the boys about what the correct meaning of popular actually is … and definitely no penis pictures … brilliant! Now, dare I admit this … but my three teens were still in bed as I wrote this post up this morning … how are the protest planks? Ah I remember them so well!  Anyway, I really hope that the wonderful bits come true for you and the not so wonderful are not too painful to parent … looking at your gorgeous boys here I can’t imagine it will be anything other than fun!

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If anyone else would like to take part in this series please drop me a message in the comment box or dm me … thank you for reading lovelies … just saying!

Island Living 365

Mummuddlingthrough
Diary of an imperfect mum
Cuddle Fairy
Tammymum
3 Little Buttons

89 thoughts on “An Interview With The Unmumsy Mum!”

  1. Lovely post and hilarious. Bet you were over the moon with the Unmumsy Mum getting back to you and with such brilliant responses too. Another great post xx

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  2. Oh what a fab interview to kick your series off with a bang. Sarah has given such fab answers too! I can really relate to her worries about her boys discovering booze, I too can remember what I was like at 16 round wkd blue! It wasn’t pretty. Love Sarah’s answer about looking forward to seeing how they have turned out too, just lovely 🙂

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  3. What a brilliant start to your series – I loved Sarah’s responses, especially the social media aspect. I am really dreading what will be around in 10 years time when my daughter is old enough for a phone. Fab idea for a series too lovely, can’t wait to read more xxx

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  6. What a start! I loved reading the interview with Sarah and like her I really dread to think how my kids will deal with all the media pressures to be and look a certain way. i absolutely loved that Sarah’s advice to the boys would be that it is better to be a good person than popular. I’m really looking forward to the next instalments on this series. Many congratulations Helen, I think this is a great idea and I know it will be a great success xx

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  8. I am clearly an emotional wreck at the moment because I got quite choked up reading this! What a state I am.
    Fab idea for a series, I look forward to reading more. Would be delighted to take part myself although I am a very long way down the list of blogger celebs….! 😉
    xx

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    1. Oh Beta! I completely understand why though – Sarah gave some beautiful answers – from the heart about trying to be the parent we’d all love to be to our children – I’m certain she is!! I would absolutely love to have you on the series as I want everyone involved! Thank you so much for your comment xx

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  9. Loved loved loved reading this, as I knew I would. Sarah’s answer about the sort of parent she’d like to be to her teens is fantastic – I also want my daughters to tell me everything that is bothering them, even if some of it is cringey or hard to hear. Can’t wait for the next blogger in the series xx

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    1. Oh thank you! Such great answers weren’t they? The teen years are such a defined stage that it’s really interesting to get people’s views. Oh and I’ve got two incredible bloggers lined up for the coming weeks too – so thrilled that they are keen to be on board but I do want to open it up to everyone xx

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  11. Great post. I have a teen boy and (so far) not so bad. No showers has turned into really really long showers (don’t ask), he changes his own bedsheets by choice (again don’t ask) and as long as I provide a bottomless supply of custard creams, he’s still happy to sit down and chat over a cup of tea. (I also turn the Internet off as soon as he goes to bed as he seems to like to sleep with his phone (don’t ask!).

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  13. Loved reading this! I am a mother with a toddler……AND a teenager, so it’s always lovely to read others thoughts on how thier little ones will turn out. Mine has turned out pretty much as I expected him to! His 2 year old sister is very much like him in everyday, so I am wondering if she will turn out the same.

    #dreamteam

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  14. Brilliant start Helen. We always have hopes and dreams for our littles but we rarely speak of them so it’s great to have the opportunity to do this! My son has just discovered the protest plank! It’s soooo frustrating! X

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  16. What a fab interview to kick off the series! I have a two year old, and looking ahead to the teenage years is just unthinkable at the moment! But yes to no penis pictures! I really hope that I can have a relationship with my teenager that is open and they feel they can talk about things that are bothering them. Easier said than done though, as I know I didn’t do that with my parents! #familyfun

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  18. Helen this is brilliant. Such a fabulous idea and a wonderful lady to choose as your first interview. I’m not too far away from arriving at the teen stage as this year is the last year of primary. I loved the bit about ‘being’ popular too.

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  19. Hello! Brilliant article. I love unmumsy mum and am just starting to discover so many more incredible blogs out there. I would really like to get involved. I’m a bit of a blogging newbie with a blog about having three kids under 4 (although my little boy has just turned four & started school yesterday eek). Would love if you could get in touch. Thanks Alex at http://www.threeunderfour.com

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    1. Oh my word three under four – that was me too – what were we thinking?! Would love for you to be involved – will email the questions out soon – I’ve a long list!! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment xx

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  26. Oh my god this is SO exciting!!!! Helen you are one step closer to being the blogging celeb I know you will eventually be. Seriously though, this is a brilliant read. Sarah has so many concerns that I can totally identify with and I also hope that I am friends with my kids when they are older, that they always feel able to confide in me or turn to me for help.
    Well done Helen! Looking forward to the rest of the series xxx

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    1. Oh Ellen you are so lovely – I was a little bit excited – can you imagine?! I’ve got some excellent other mothers lined up too – can’t believe how responsive people have been – guess if you don’t ask you’ll never know – soooo glad I did! Thank you for reading lovely xx

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  27. This post has sure got me thinking what my daughters may be like when they are older. Great idea for a series and great to hear from the Unmumsy Mum who’s book I read in the labour ward. #BloggerClubUk

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    1. I think it’s sometimes nice to give some thought to who our children may become and how we may parent different stages as opposed to just stumbling through so it was wonderful to her Sarah’s take on it too! Thank you for reading and your comment xx

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  28. What a fab series and a brilliant start to it! I loved reading it, such great responses that I think most of us can resonate with. Raising teens is definitely a scary thing to do in this day and age so goodness knows what itll be like in 10 years when my little ones are of age! Emily #coolmumclub

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  37. What a great way to start what is sure to be an amazing series. I love Sarahs answers. .I must say I am dreading the teen years already and my second son isn’t even born yet! I hope for much the same as Sarah, I really want my boys to know they can talk to me about anything xx #ablogginggoodtime

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  38. This is brilliant!
    A great idea for a series and a cracker of a first guest. Love Sarah’s responses.
    I too wonder if what I write (obviously not in an international best seller situation..!) but nonetheless, if what I write about them will embarrass my girls in later life.

    Its actually quite odd to think of my 2&5 yr old as teens one day… oh god. oh god. need to stop thinking about it!
    I’d love to take part if you have any space left… ?
    Best wishes, L
    xx
    #fridayfolics

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    1. Ha ha – definitely stop thinking about it – it really is scary!! Will definitely message you lovely with the questions as would love for you to take part! I’ve got lots joined up at the moment so will email in due course xx

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  40. Great start to the series! I don’t particularly look forward to tge teenage years, but I do have two girls so I may at least have less bedding to wash!

    Thanks so much for joining us for #FridayFrolics. Hope to see you next time.

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