Alesha Dixon announced as judge of Explore Learning Writers’ Awards 2019

It’s back to reality for me after a few weeks holidaying in the motherland, but despite having spent such a ‘concentrated’ amount of time with my parents, I’m here in London tapping my fingers and waiting in anticipation for the return of my mother.

Obviously in general I love my mum and all that, but I, like so many working parents out there, rely on the help of my own mother when it comes to extra childcare and all round support.

It got me thinking about some parenting advice I was given by none other than TV presenter Jeff Brazier – Jade Goody’s ex and father to their two sons, Bobby, nine, and Freddie, eight.

Chatting to Jeff at last month’s Gala Bingo launch party at London’s Delfina, where Peter Andre’s latest ad for the company was celebrated, I asked how he managed to combine his work schedule with looking about two young boys.

He was quick to respond, ‘My number one tip is not to take your mum for granted. My mum helps me out a lot, so I have a deal with her where I pay half her rent for which she gives me a certain amount of her time each week.

‘It sounds quite formal and regimented, but it’s not! It just means we each know where we stand and she doesn’t feel that I’m taking her for granted. But it doesn’t count if the boys just fancy spending Saturday night with their Nan – that’s separate from the deal! Each week I let her know my schedule and when I’ll need her, so she can also make her own plans’.

Sounds like good advice all round to me…

PS – Hurry home Mummy! x

Do you have a daughter who at times struggles with loving her curls wholeheartedly?

I would definitely recommend this lovely little book called Curly Kids Rock 👌🏾

Written by Lemoy Majen, it’s full of simple affirmations even the youngest of children can relate to.

And the book, complete with joyfully bright illustrations by Ann Pomelova, is not just specifically about afro hair either 😊

It’s a big thing for me to make sure my daughter loves her hair and she told me that the words were ‘great to hear if I’m ever feeling down about myself’.

Head over to Amazon where you can pick up a copy.

One look at Myleene Klass and you’re not faced with someone who appears to be struggling with parenthood. But welcoming guests to the Mothercare VIP Christmas party on Oxford Street the recently divorced mother-of-two admitted it wasn’t so easy being a working mum in the media…

‘My tip to working mums out there? Oh I don't know, sometimes I feel like I'm still learning the ropes!

'You just try to organise, make plans and then one thing like a child being sick can throw all of that out of the window.

'I guess my advice would be not to be too hard on yourself as a working mum - there's loads of other people out there doing that for you!

'I always say to anyone who looks down on me for being a working mum, 'Are you going to do this for me? Are you going to pay my mortgage?

'I may be out tonight, but I'll be up for the school run in the morning'.

And 35 year old Klass is as hardworking as they come – this year marks her eighth year designing her Baby K range for the high street retailer among other projects.

Hats off to her I say.

The celebrities were out in force on Monday night for the launch of Audi City in Mayfair and I’m sure the sound of those jangling car keys to the free cars they’d [allegedly] be picking up helped with their attendance…
Glamorous mums Thandie Newton and Sophie Ellis-Bextor were joined by the likes of David Gandy, Brian Ferry and Clive Owen at the launch of the car manufacturer’s first digital showroom.

After a quick chat with the dashing Rupert Penry-Jones about the Chris Cunningham art/light installation, I grabbed Sophie for an update on how life as a working mum has been treating her – the singer gave birth to her third son in April.
‘What are my tips to being a successful working mum? Winging it! I’m quite lucky as I can take my children to work with me – even when I DJ. I’ve just been to Ukraine and Moscow and took Ray with me and he was fine. He’s only 10 weeks old, so I’m still at the stage where I don’t really like to leave him.’
Going on to praise my blog (yes – I had to get that in somewhere!), she added, ‘I think there should be more support for working mums and I have the utmost respect for them and of course, full-time mothers – what you’re doing is fantastic.
‘My one piece of advice would probably be – don’t be afraid of being selfish – I couldn’t give up what I do and I think that’s important.’