Hi! I’m Helen
Colourful midlife mum to two teens. Determined not to do as she’s told and slide off into invisible old age. Much cooler at 50 than she was at 15. Host of the Teenage Kicks podcast, about mental health for teenagers.
I’m a lifestyle blogger and a (sometimes terrified) mum of two. I’ve been learning the ropes for 13 years, but I still haven’t nailed the parenting game! This website began in 2011 and was billed at the time as the diary of my 6 -year-old daughter Maddie (nicknamed GG). It told the funny tales of parenting a loquacious schoolgirl and her brother The Bug. Since then (and as the children have become less generally hilarious) I have quietly developed my own opinions on parenting, being a mum of teenagers, and what it means to be a woman over the age of 50. We live just outside London, in St Albans with Actually Daddy – Jason is a marketing consultant who would be permanently on a ski slope if he had his way.
The original voice of this blog was GG (our Glib Girl). Our first About Me page had this to say about her:
I am a girl with a mind of my own. I am led to believe that my intelligence is inherited from my parents, but having lived with them for some time I think it is fairly safe to say that I am one of a kind, and that they are from a different planet. I like pink stuff, reading books, designing dresses, and eating lemon sorbet. I am an enthusiastic sharer of my opinions, which include how to deal with common ‘parenting’ issues, and the administration of school matters. Oh, and quite a bit about iPads.
I live with M&D, and the Bug, who is 3 years younger than me. When he is in my good books he is the ‘Cuddlebug’. I like him best because he wraps himself around me like a bear-cub and gives the best hugs. Most of the time he is just the Bug, because he bugs me.
I try to get out and about for as many hours as there are in the day, but occasionally I miss a real treat (mostly due to Mummy’s annoying propensity to make me go to bed at night) so if you know of something good that I’ve missed, please keep me posted and I will share it with you all. After I’ve insisted on being taken there myself 😉
Seven years on there have been a lot of changes: my daughter morphed into an incredibly cool teenager, with a style that is all her own. She regularly points out clothes she thinks will look good on me, and she’s invariably right. For the first time, I’ve started shopping in Top Shop as well as Boden, and am happily creating a #ColourfulMums mission on my Instagram account. For his part, The Bug (Evan to all who know him) is rather cool himself and knows just about every animal fact you could want to learn. He’s also an adventurous foodie and is the biggest experimenter of new dishes when we travel. At home, Evan loves his Xbox, LEGO that’s technically far too old for him, and anything by David Attenborough.
Here’s a taste of what you’ll find me writing about:
Being a mum
They say the terrible threes are the worst of it as a parent. They also say that parenting a teenager is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. I know which side I’m on, so if you have a teenager pull up a chair and I’ll share my wine with you. Then again, you’ll find all sorts of musings on my site from my earlier parenting years – mostly funny, sometimes despairing, but always with a sprinkle of advice in the comments from other parents going through the same.
I’m #50NotOut
Do you ever feel like once you’re past 50 you’re invisible? Far from being ‘past it,’ my life is going up a gear now that my children are more self-sufficient. Sure, they still need countless taxi services, frequent snack shopping trips, and my skills as a PA and a Diplomat. But before I was a mum, I was rocking a great career and a snappy suit, and I could still nail a big board meeting now. In fact, I’d say us older mums are even more kick-ass in the world than we were before, given our capacity to juggle the eleventy billion extra balls that get thrown at us as parents.
Never underestimate an older woman – we can still slay an outfit, we are supreme project managers, and we have stories to tell that you wouldn’t believe!
Family travel inspiration
Before we had children, Jason and I travelled – a lot! We’ve visited four continents, and seen the most incredible sights. We were also massive fans of a ski slope. In fact, I still recall one awful argument we had about whether or not we could take our nine-week-old firstborn down a piste in a backpack. Well, newborn skiing aside, we’ve never stopped travelling. Our children have been to Cambodia and Florida, travelled all over Europe and spent Christmas in New York. Discovering a new country or city through the eyes of your children is magical, so we’ve just added their bucket list to ours! I also co-edit the award-winning family travel site Space In Your Case, where you’ll find lots of inspiration and tips for parents with wanderlust. If you’re a brand looking to work with us on a travel campaign, get in touch.
Type 1 diabetes
Having a child with diabetes is life-changing for the entire family. My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 when she was nine years old, and it’s no exaggeration to say that managing the condition is like having a full-time job – on top of your full-time job and your responsibilities as a parent. It’s probably the most underestimated condition in the book, so occasionally I write about the stories of our lives as we attempt to keep this petulant toddler in line. It’s not all bad though. Our journey with diabetes has seen me lobby parliament, report live from the Diabetes UK professional conference, and made audiences 500 strong weep at my words. That feels pretty cool. You can find all my type 1 diabetes articles here.
I also write #HeartfeltWords every Sunday for the kind of life rules I’d like me and my family to live by. I post every week in the hopes that it inspires my children to the kind of life that opens hearts, doors, and opportunities for love and laughter.
If you’re a brand interested in working with me please read this.
For information on privacy and how I make my living from my writing look here.
I LOVE your blog. I am going to sign up so I can follow all your news.
Thank you! I’m new to all this too so getting a nice comment and a follower is always a thrill! Will put you on my blogroll so I can keep an eye on your news too.
Just found you through BMB, and I think your blog is fab! Will definatly be following, looking forward to reading more! Nat.
Hi and thanks for commenting. Just checked out your blog – the fish post is hilarious! Will keep an eye on your posts too x
Genuis! Your Mummy must be very proud of you! Your grammar is better than mine! xx
Mummy says – ‘She gives me a run for my money’ 😉
Love the blog have followed it and can’t wait to read the posts to let me know what it will be like in the future
Have finally read your blog. Very cool – love it. Will be checking it from time to time. xP
LOVE your blog! The most original I’ve seen for ages! Am signing up – SO want to read more!
Thank you! I love to get great feedback like this. Welcome to my blog – I hope it lives up to expectations x
I love your blog – so refreshing to see things from a childs perspective. I have joined your site ( i guess it’s the same as following). x
Yours too! I do try to write how I think she would, and believe it or not the inspiration for most of the posts are all the complicated words she uses – I’ll never know where she gets them from!
Hey there, you are not alone in the kid blogging world, my son Little M writes our blog. Saw you on Brit Mums. Come by and say hi! He’s 2 and 1/2 so still learning the ropes. He started blogging when he was 1 🙂
Talk soon!
Maria (mummy) and Little M (blogger)
I have briefly looked here before but not for long, I shall be properly looking from now on. What a lovely blog indeed 🙂 x
Thank you. Glad to have you on board x
I think we are parenting the same older child! It’s a worry when you have to keep double-checking to make sure you are right isn’t it? I kept a blog of the youngest when she was 2-3 ish as I thought it would be cute to remember the Terrible Two’s. Anyway, she is nearly 6 now and EXACTLY the same so … Nice to know I am not alone in this world :o) L x
Oh there is so much comfort in knowing that everyone else feels out of control too, isn’t there? Thanks for visiting 🙂
love your blog, brilliant
Thank you so much 🙂
Absolutely love your blog! Have signed up to follow your story. Great idea to post from your child’s perspective – makes you think of the world differently! Can’t wait to read more! xx
Thank you for your lovely comments! Love how yours is in letters to your son – that works very well too. See you around 🙂
Can I Ask how old you are again? did you say 7 years old?
The way you construct your sentences and language you use is far beyond your years… I’ve just been reading your blog.
I think you commented on mine earlier, thank you. 😉
Thanks Jennie! And I’ll have you all know that I do it without any help from Mummy whatsoever! *Mummy snorts coffee*
(Ok so Mummy writes it all – but it is all inspired by me!)
Hi There,
I am looking for guest post or paid link opportunities.
What is your price for posts or links on your site https://actuallymummy.co.uk?
Cheers
Richard
Hi! Found your blog via the MADS shortlist! What a great blog and I can completely relate to your stories – my daughter is nearly 7, my stepson almost 4… and our new baby arriving in the next few weeks! I’m looking forward to following!
Best Wishes
Frugal Wife
Ooooh thanks! It’s always lovely to find someone new over here! Especially someone who gets 7 yr old girls! Mind you, you’re braver than me – I stopped at 2!
Hi there, glad to have found your blog,
What a fun idea! I have a precocious little girl too – she’s only 4 and a half but she can stun me with a few knock-out questions already.
Girl Power!
Aw thanks! Be sure to let us know on Wot So Funee? when she says anything funee!
Wot so funee is a great idea look forward to hearing some funny conversations!
Lovely to have you here!
I love your blog and the Wot So Funee is great!
Thank you so much! Come and join in 🙂
Hi there
Having just signed up to Twitter (and having no idea as yet what I’m to do with it) they’ve suggested that I might like your blog. I do like your blog, a lot!!! It’s brilliant. It’s just so great to find blogs that are dedicated to celebrating the wonderful things children say and do.
Best wishes
Nicola
What a lovely comment! Thank you Nicola, I’ve paid a visit to yours and it’s very cute – I loved your plimsoll post. Twitter – you won’t know how to use it until you use it, and then you’ll be hooked and wonder why you were ever worried about it. See you over there x
Fantastic blog. I’ve just subscribed 🙂
Thank you! x