This is
a meme started by Kate (Kate Takes 5) for every mother who's stood helplessly while her screaming child had a tantrum in the supermarket. For every mother who's turned up for an event with smudges of chocolate on her clothes. For the times you have to leave early because the babysitter has a curfew. For the times you need a nap in the middle of the day because of a string of broken nights. For these and a hundred more instances in which you want to announce (loudly): I'M MORE THAN JUST A MUM YOU KNOW!
In a spectacular effort to fight back, Kate suggested we all post pictures of who we are/were when we are/were not being mums. This proved extraordinarily difficult for me. I've never been a big photographer as my efforts were all so disappointing. I got my digital camera as a new baby present when DD was born so there's a strange pattern to my before pics.
I thought of showing how I used to love to travel. However, whilst I have pictures of the Pyramids, Sydney Opera House, The Kremlin, The NYC skyline, The Parthenon, etc... I am not in any of them. In fact, in order to be sure of a good photo I often bought postcards to fill my albums.
On the other hand I have a load of photos of me dressed up as natives of various distant lands. This reminder of my active social life is extremely timely as only this week I declined an invitation to a friend's 40th as it's scheduled for a 9.30pm start. 9.30? I'd have to set my alarm clock to make sure I got up on time. These days my idea of a night out is to take my cup of tea onto the balcony.
So here is me in the days when we went to great lengths to plan parties and took it all very seriously.
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| Here I am not in India |
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| Here I am not in Japan |
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| And here I am not in Ancient Rome |
I did find me in a couple of pictures from Paris 10 years ago.
I wrote about this before, how four friends from primary school went to Paris for four days for our 40th birthdays. We were the same people we had been at 14 - and we still are.
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| The Three Muses |
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| Nicola who took most of the photos isn't in these - sorry Nicola. |
Brilliantly done. You look fabulous in those costumes and have renewed my hair envy. Love your idea of an evening out!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna, wanna double date? Bring your own tea!
ReplyDeleteWow you make a very impressive Japanese lady. Traveling is something that I wish I could do more of. Maybe when the kids go to collage. ;) Nothing like a good cuppa tea. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteThank you - that's the closest I'll probably ever get to Japan.
DeleteI love your 'not-in-foreign-countries' party photos...real devotion to the themes!
ReplyDeleteOh we put so much thought into these things it was hard to fit in work when we had the odd hour to spare.
DeleteFAB pictures which show you to be the fun loving person I know you to be, so THAT stayed intact, despite being a mother. Miriam (opening keynote at Blogfest) talked about BC and AC (before and after children). I have uploaded a video of her talk on my you tube channel if you'd like to watch it.
ReplyDeleteI am very conscious that I have not participated in your meme yet, where you tagged me a couple of days ago - it is still on my radar.
Liska x
I'll go and see the clip, thanks. Really no pressure to do the meme - my work in tagging you (and appreciating your support) is done.
DeleteWhat fantastic pics! I want to come to one of your parties! :D It's so true, that although being a mother is probably the most important thing in my life, we are so much more than that. Although unfortunately a lot of people choose to forget about that, in my life anyway! :/
ReplyDeleteDD wants to know where she is in all these photos. How come I was doing things before she was born?
Deletelove this one, the themed dinner parties are awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThey were but they also became a little competitive at some point.
Deletegreat photos, love the costumes xx
ReplyDeleteThanks - it was good to have an excuse to go back and find them all.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of around the world on your More and a Mum journey!
ReplyDeleteYes, and I never even left town for most of them. :D
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