Katy Hill's working mum diary

As a Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill had her fair share of adventures, but these days she faces tougher challenges - juggling full-time motherhood with a TV career. From Daybreak to day’s end, Katy and husband Trey have their hands full with a five-year-old daughter and toddler son. And there’s not a nanny in sight. This could get messy…

On yer Bike, love!

By Katy Hill on 13 Feb 2012 No comments

Before Christmas I bought the kids a new sledge. Then it didn’t snow over Christmas, and since I didn’t want yet ANOTHER thing to store, I took it back a week ago! (cue the Family Fortunes EH-EH buzzer!) EPIC MUMMY FAIL!

Thankfully we still had our sledges from a few years back, so we managed to have fun in the snow last weekend and borrowed some from friends. The kids were so excited to wake to a blanket of white, although if I’m totally honest, going to bed when it was snowing outside my feelings were mixed... A) I was excited since I knew it would make the kids' weekend but B) I knew any plans for a nice lazy Sunday morning were now but a dream! BOOM! There it is! At least I’m honest!

So - lazy Sunday morning out of the window, we were up, togged up and on the 'slopes' by 9am to get the best of the snow. It was SO much fun! Akira was more interested in rolling down the slope than sledging, and Kaya seems to have inherited my love of speed, so couldn’t get down fast enough! Her more original efforts saw her sliding down the slope on her sledge on all fours and Akira then took to lying face down in the snow. Who knew?!

They’ve been desperate for more snow all week then, last night, another layer! What a brilliant start to half term!

Speaking of which, Benjamin Franklin once famously said 'By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail'. When it comes to parenting, this is SO true! I’ve been preparing for half term for the last week, just to make sure the entertainment keeps flowing.

I’m planning to alternate days out with home days. If failing to prepare is an error, over booking is its evil twin, since everyone gets exhausted - including you!

And frankly, I’m tired already! I currently feel like I was born tired! I guess it might have something to do with Akira being an exceptionally bad sleeper. I mean, I know you’re not meant to compare your kids (!) but Kaya went from 7 till 7 without a peep from six months. SIX MONTHS! Akira - not so much! He’s actually slept through TWICE in his whole life. And both times were this week. Hoorah!

The long and short of it is, I’ve been majorly sleep deprived for the past two years! Whenever my mum sees me she says 'Darling - you look tired'!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS? I’M EXHAUSTED! I think as parents we spend our LIVES tired! And you just get used to functioning as best you can. But I won’t pretend I don’t live from one cup of coffee to the next - because I DO!

And on top of all my usual juggling act - at the moment I’m in training for First Nation Home for Sport Relief. I’m on the England team and in March I’ll be doing an eight day relay around the UK and Ireland - cycling, running and rowing. It’s all a bit overwhelming - jugging work with motherhood AND training! But I want to do it for all of us mums who feel as if we’ve 'lost ourselves' since becoming parents. I want to do something for me, and as a great example to Kaya of what we can achieve! She’s pretty unaware of mummy’s 'former life' of jumping out of planes, flying jets and hurtling down bobsleigh runs, so it’s great she’ll get to see me taking on a challenge.

Mind you, the other day I was out on my bike and thinking about the kids whilst cycling, and I guess it was a mixture of the exhaustion of training and emotion of being a mother, but before I knew it, I had tears streaming down my face! Just being away from the kids for eight days will be challenging enough, let alone covering 1000 miles!

I’ve been worried about my knee all along since it’s not great, but so far, so good and it’s holding up to the challenge. I just hope my emotions can hold up too!

This week I’m loving

Grace Change Station

PRICE: £59.95

www.iltutto.co.uk

I LOVE the Il Tutto products. I have the change bag, and recently got this all-in-one change mat for those days when I don’t want to take 'the works' with me! It has a handle so I can hang it from the pushchair, or it fits perfectly inside my normal bags.

There’s plenty of room for nappies and wipes, and even a change of clothes!

It comes in black or chocolate, and is easily the most stylish travel change mat I’ve come across. I love the leather piping around the edge of it and I know it keeps Akira germ free when we’re out and about! I’ve had lots of mums asking where I got it!

The best bit about it? Trey doesn’t mind using it when he’s out with Akira. Praise indeed!