Mummascribbles meets…Big Trouble in Little Nappies – Mummascribbles

Today I meet the lovely Yvette from Big Trouble in Little Nappies. Thanks so much for taking part Yvette

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your family
Hi, I’m Yvette, a spritely young girl who has suddenly found herself involved in all manner of boring grown-up things like being married, becoming a mum and getting older… I’m not quite sure how I got to 35 so quickly but the dates can’t be argued and neither can the lines on my forehead! I live in the East Midlands with my husband and 2-year-old son, and am a very proud aunt to three nephews. Basically, it is just me and loads of boys – all the time – which is lots of fun. It does mean my only chance at girliness is playing with the tester pots at boots with my toddler who is too young to tell me to stop colouring his hand with lipsticks. I think I’ve got a while to go yet before he gets wise though…

What do you like doing to be you, when you are not parenting, working (if you do), or blogging?
Although having a child is amazing, it turns your day into a series of non-stop tasks from the minute you wake up so it is definitely nice to take a bit of time out sometimes. Adventures with my 8-year-old nephew are very high up on my favourite things to do – from baking to tobogganing – our time is always quality, lots of fun and leaves me full up with happiness!

My husband and I are also big into box sets – The Sopranos our absolute favourite (perfection) – and we’re currently working our way through Dexter, Breaking Bad and Teachers… we tend to find TV preferable to talking to each other 😉 I also love tucking into a novel on the odd night I don’t pass out as soon as I get to bed!

What is your biggest achievement to date?
Without doubt, it is becoming a mum. Making a baby was no easy feat for us, and our son arrived after IVF treatment and our fair share of tough times. I am so proud – and so grateful – that we got there. Motherhood is the hardest thing I’ve ever done but he is my masterpiece.

From your own experiences, what do you find the hardest part of parenting and what is the easiest/most rewarding part?
The worrying – I have never worried so much! Particularly in the early days when the responsibility was just overwhelming and it was hard not to panic over every little thing, I just couldn’t relax. I would love to be a laidback mum and before I became one, that’s probably how I saw myself, but it’s not the case for me. At all!

And though I worry much less than when he was a mysterious, scary newborn; I know I will fret as he gets older and goes off to school, or when he has a problem and is upset by something I can’t help with. It makes me well-up sometimes thinking about it – part of me wants to freeze time – yet I know watching him grow and learn to solve things himself will also be amazing.

Other than when he’s asleep? I would have to say the fun stuff and affection. I still find some days exhausting and unpredictable and trying, for sure; but the times when he is planted on my knee reciting a questionable version of ‘Goosey Gander’ or squealing and laughing as I chase him round the garden like a big monster (which probably gives him nightmares), or when we cuddle up at night with his milk and I can just reach his head to kiss… all of that is so easy, so rewarding, and I could do it forever.

Parenting in itself is no mean feat; how do you juggle everything you need to in order to get everything done on a daily basis?
I’m currently a weird mix of the two. I became at stay at home mum, but with the pipe dream of starting a career in writing… which started to happen! So I work part-time around my son – sometimes VERY part-time – which is fine because I wanted to be here with him and am of course lucky to be able to. It is a juggle though, sometimes I feel like I am failing at both work and parenting as there is no line between the two, but because I love the work I am doing so much, it propels me to keep going. I also have in mind that if I push myself now and build up my freelance work, I will be in a position to work flexibly around family life as we grow. We have a little childcare in place from September though, so I am hoping things will get a bit easier to manage!

Why did you decide to start blogging?
I didn’t really know anything about blogging until I began. I had a bit of a pre-conception that a blog was just an online diary: ‘today we went to the park and fed the ducks etc.’ – like a long version of a Facebook status update! But then a writer friend suggested I start one around parenting, partly for practice and partly to showcase my work. So I did, and a whole new world was opened up to me! I’ve since found lots of great blogs that I love reading, and have become a much better writer thanks to my blog work.

Tell me a bit about your blog?
My self-made stipulation for my blog was writing article-based pieces that were entertaining and above all honest. Big Trouble in Little Nappies is funny at its heart, but I have also written about infertility, loss and attachment within the main frame of common parenting topics written in a light-hearted manner. I run one semi-regular feature called Totsnet, an online forum where babies and toddlers turn the table on their Mumsnet loving grown-ups, and discuss parental issues with their peers. It’s a lot of fun to write – embracing my inner tot is clearly a sign of my immaturity…

And I have just – hot off the press – opened up a guest slot for posts on perfectly imperfect parenting. Step this way if you fit the bill!

What do you want your blog to achieve and where do you hope to see it go as it grows?
My blog means much more to me than what I initially thought it would – I love the freedom of being able to experiment with different thing and the feedback and interaction from readers – mainly via my Facebook page. It is a real funny and supportive community and I have laughed out loud so many times at comments and replies from fellow imperfect parents! Going forwards, I want to continue to grow my audience, try some new content on the site and – after being shortlisted for a ‘Brilliance in Blogging’ award this year – would LOVE to make it to the final in 2016!

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about starting a blog?
Do it! The great thing about setting up a blog is, it’s completely free to do. If it doesn’t work out, no harm, but if it does, it could be one of the best things you’ve done. I would also say don’t compare yourself to how others are doing – nobody else has your voice and you don’t have anybody else’s – it’s good to do your own thing. Also don’t be afraid to put yourself out there – it pays off more often than you might think!

If you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

My Dad – I would give so much to be able to talk and break bread with him again.

Marian Keyes – She’s one of my favourite writers and I could imagine having such a lovely chat with her, plus she appears to bake good cakes (that’s dessert sorted!).

Kate Middleton – So we could talk toddlers and I could introduce her to Big Trouble in Little Nappies… maybe she’d like to guest post..!

Tell me three random facts about you

1. I found being stung by a jellyfish nearly as bad as childbirth… this might have been different had someone offered to wee on me (post sting that is, not mid-labour)

2. I’m a very happy drunk but completely miserable with a hangover

3. When I read this question I was filled with dread because I’m far too boring to have anything interesting to reel off. Therefore this is my third!

You can find Yvette over at www.bigtroubleinlittlenappies.com and also on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest