#mumchat - The busy world of mum of 3 girls scarlett sykes

NAME: Scarlett Sykes

AGE: 40

NATIONALITY: British

LOCATION: Dubai

NUMBER OF YEARS BEING A MUM: 9

TELL US ABOUT YOUR KIDS: I’m a mum of three fierce females

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @scarlett.e.sykes

SHORT SUMMARY ABOUT YOU SO WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU. 

Having lived in Dubai for nearly 20 years I now call it home and where I have chosen to bring up my female future force! I’m mum to three girls (5,7,9) who keep me very busy alongside a full-time job as Business Director at TishTash Group.

1.      What’s one thing you wish you’d known before becoming a parent?

That it is hard and doesn’t just ‘get better’ after the 6-week mark like everyone kept telling you. It doesn’t get easier it changes and for every milestone you must adapt and be prepared to take on new developments to support your kids every step of their journey. I’m not saying we need to scare new mums but some honest could go a long way.  

2.     What’s something you swore you’d never do as a parent—but do now?

Not sure if there is anything I swore I wouldn’t do but I had convinced myself that I would only buy wooden toys and not fill by house with that plastic rubbish. I can confirm, my house is full of plastic rubbish.

3.    What was the BEST piece of parenting advice you’ve received?

Trust your ‘mumtuition’ – to this day I still make sure that I listen to what my gut is saying, it is very rarely wrong. You know your child best.

4.     Share with us your biggest “parenting fail” – we promise no judgement here!

I have been known to send my child in to school in fancy dress more than once on the wrong day to be greeted by all the other children in their pressed school uniform while mine is dressed as a spaceman or Santa.

5.     How do you balance life?

I often don’t but that is also okay. Recently I have been trying to separate work and home by working longer hours in the office, getting what I need done and making sure that once I am home I am present with the kids even if it means working later in the day. I’m by no means getting it right all the time and I have been known on the odd occasions to be told off by my kids for working while I’m with them but I’m doing the best I can and that is all we can do!

6.    One parenting hack you’d like to share with us.

Ipads for the win…Pretty sure that does not count as a hack and probably goes against all the parenting books but please enjoy your coffee or lunch while they watch some meaningless rubbish on their Ipads. It’s not a fail.

7.     What do you hope your kids say about you when they’re older?

That I listened, made them feel safe and was fun. That when they felt low or sad I picked them up both physically and emotionally. I would also like them to feel empowered when they see me working hard and that when I am not around, they still feel safe.

8.    3 words that describe #MumLife to you

Heartwarming, hard and rewarding in equally measure