Pippa's blog

I thought it would be good to include an unflattering picture here of what I look like after zumba, taken this evening. I'm imagining that the experience of navigating my way through the London throngs to find the venue after a night on the sleeper arriving at 5.30am will be very similar - expect me to arrive looking exhausted, red-faced and sweating...

Name: Pippa Best

Blog: www.storyofmum.com/blog (we're not strictly a blog, but we do have one and I like writing it...)

Twitter ID: @storyofmum

Height: shortish (5 ft 3)

Hair: Long brown, trying to go proudly grey at the front

Eyes: Brown (my Woodcraft Folk name as a child was Hazel, apparently due to the eyes, which look plain brown to me...)

Is this your first blogging conference? Yes!

Are you attending both days? Yes! Though I think I'll have a leave a bit early on Saturday to get the last train all the way back to Penzance sadly...

What are you most looking forward to at BritMums Live! 2013? I'm looking forward to telling people about our exhibition and roping more mums in to play with us. But most of all, to meeting twitter friends in person (I'm a bit scared about that too - as I give the impression here of being quite fun, and I'm not sure I can live up to that without a keyboard...)

What are you wearing? I'm going for my favourite purveyors of fine Cornish clothing - Seasalt, whose business started in my home town of Penzance. Probably this one here (as snapped by my husband soon after purchase, I still had my other clothes on underneath...!) I love their dresses and am pretty much guaranteed to be in my very old and faded pink with white spots raincoat (Seasalt too), with some lovely new frockage underneath. And sensible shoes. Or even boots and wooly tights judging by the current weather...

What do you hope to gain from BritMums Live 2013? That lovely feeling you get when you face up to something that you're scared of, and survive... I'm expecting to feel very good on Saturday night, and to 'entertain' exhausted train passengers on the six hour journey home with over-excited stories of my BritMums adventures - I might even do my presentation for them, all over again. Plus lots of new friends, lots of hugs, possibly some tears, much encouragement to eat cake, and lots of brilliant I'm a mum and a... photos to share with you all here.

Tell us one thing about you that not everyone knows. I've spent the last weekend at a family camp run by an 87 year old American Indian elder and his partner, and it has blown my mind.

Look forward to seeing you there!

I'm sat on my sofa enjoying the comfort of a warm house, shattered but happy, after a wonderful weekend camping at Plan-It Earth in Sancreed with about 40 grown ups and 20 children. It rained, our tent felt like it would be blown away from the moment we arrived, we barely slept, I cried (several times). And yet I am left uplifted, hopeful and affirmed by the experience.

Manitonquat is an 87 year old Native American elder, steeped in storytelling and a heartfelt understanding of the natural world. His partner, Ellika, is a Swedish writer, one of those women I aspire to be as I grow wiser - open, serene and full of love.

Together, they hosted a weekend for individuals and families, sharing their learning about living together as a community: listening with the heart, respecting and supporting each other, and above all, learning from the children around us.

As a mother, it was deeply inspiring. To see my children appreciated as a gift to others - acknowledged as my valuable contribution to the world. Manitonquat's words above (he is currently writing his 11th book, this one on parenting) capture my parenting beliefs too. My children will go on to forge their own path, but I know that wherever they go, their start will be rooted in love, and being heard. 

I was actually terrified about signing up for this experience - camping with two small children, probably without my partner due to his work schedule. Yet I felt I should go.

I mentioned the idea to my son, and he was so thrilled at the thought of camping with Native American Indians that he asked me about it every single subsequent day for weeks.

And then each time I thought "oh no I don't think I could manage that on my own", a reminder about the weekend would magically appear somewhere - in my inbox, in a pile of leaflets by the till as I shopped... So eventually I decided there must be a message there! We would find a way to afford it, and I would find a way to brave the challenges - for my family and for me.  

As Friday came, I doubted my choice. I felt sick, scared of camping with people I didn't know, scared of what we might be asked to do, scared that my children would be unhappy and a burden to others, scared that my husband wouldn't be able to join us - I would be alone in the unknown. The weather forecast was bad. The amount of stuff I needed to take, two kids in tow, seemed ridiculous.  

We arrived in the rain, our kind taxi driver venturing deep up grassy tracks to try and get us close to the campsite itself.

The site was a warren of secluded camping spots surrounded by trees and I had no idea where to head. The kids looked on, still confident that I had all the answers... I didn't.

Just as I felt ready to weep into the stinging nettles, help arrived, and we were escorted through the rain to our magical bell tent.

I still had no idea where the compost toilets were, no idea where we would meet for our first family camp dinner, but we had found refuge. It was cosy.

And as the kids and I inflated the mattress and rolled around giggling in our sleeping bags, it became home.

And so the weekend began. As families and individuals together, we listened deeply to each other, we saw the beauty in each other and we reflected that back. To hear others say that they saw the strengths in my parenting, that I was doing a good job - was an incredible feeling. When does that ever happen??

My husband was able to join us in the evenings (and even better, in the mornings to make us breakfast!). Our first ever nights as a family together in a tent were special. The children (who stayed up each night 'till 9 or 10...!) slept happily.  While my partner and I got very little sleep, there was much appreciation of this special family time - of the sound of wind and rain on canvas, and then the shadows of waving plants as the sun finally came out in the morning.

During the daytime, Manitonquat encouraged everyone to play with the children - to be led and taught by them. It's precious precious time when we truly listen to our children and play.

So we had water fights, a lot of them... We learnt about making bamboo spears, we shared cuddles and stories.

Wonderfully for me (especially without any dad-help) there were four young women and Rosie, the daughter of the house, (christened 'my friends' by my besotted daughter) available to look after the children whenever they were happy to play together, bringing them to us when they needed cuddles or food.

So I had a rare chance to take time for me, to follow much of Manitonquat and Ellika's talks and tasks, and to make new connections with some lovely people. My son had the chance to adventure further than I have ever let him go before - journeying with his friends. I freaked out, but it seems he is ready. My daughter wove her spell on everyone she met.

I learnt that I am a good mother. That all that I have been doing here with story of mum fits. That my vision of building on our Mums Being Heard Days and creating opportunities for mothers to come together, to celebrate and create, to be seen, heard and valued, has a place. I found that many of the instinctive activities we've explored recently are also present in Manitonquat's vision of a Circle Way, one that has been years in the making (like focused listening, sharing the good and the bad feelings we have about ourselves, giving compliments, celebrating together...). I felt connected to something bigger and deeper.

I am full of it now. I hope that feeling stays. Watching my son trying to stay awake round the campfire to hear stories of American Indian gods, and giants, was magical. Seeing my daughter choosing when she wanted to be with me and when she wanted to head off to play with others was beautiful.

Returning home, my daughter smelt of honey and woodsmoke, my son's cheeks were flushed with adventure. And me? I was left with a sense that I should share my vision for story of mum's future with you all very soon.

Best of all, Manitonquat's advice doesn't just apply to parenting. "Listen and hug" seems a pretty good approach to life in general. 

All you need to bring is a cup of tea (save your teabag!). Dunking biscuits are encouraged but optional...

We'll be having a go at this month's activity together: a Storm in a Teacup.

Have you ever had your tea-leaves read? Well we're going to try to read each others this week - making our very own pictures and sharing them to see if anyone else has a clue what we've made. Our 'storms' in our teacups are the arguments we have must often that we wish we didn't....

I just had fun turning this lovely picture of my daughter into a mini manifesto for story of mum to spur you on, let's celebrate and get creative together!

We even have a prize! Check out the beautiful Royal Albert bone china vintage tea cup and saucer set below. No idea how I will post it to you wherever you may be in the world without a crockery smashing disaster, but I will give it a go and hope you don't have to pick up the pieces!

Yellow roses apparently signify joy, warmth, and friendship, so are of course perfect for story of mum! To enter for a chance to win, just add #somum to your tweets during the Make Date and we'll choose a winner randomly.

What's a #somum Make Date?

It's a chance for mums to get together on twitter and tweet while we attempt to do something creative - like doodling, taking a photo, making stuff or even squidging plasticine. 

We give ourselves some creative me-time and connect with other lovely mums. We do it every second Wednesday of the month and we would love you to join us. New friends are always very welcome.

You don't have to be a clever crafter, an artist or wordsmith. We're all about having a go regardless of talent or experience. Most of all, it's about getting together and having fun.

If you just want to chat, that's completely fine. If you just want to make something and lurk and never tell us you're there, that's fine too. We're just happy you're making time for you. 

Just search for #somum on twitter to find us, and add #somum to your tweets to join the conversation. You'll need to join twitter first if you haven't already, or you can just play along and never let us know you're there.

Find out more about the kind of things we usually get up to here. Here are a few of my first Storm in a Teacup attempts to get us started.

Other competition rules

• Duplicate accounts, automated entries, bulk entries or third party entries will be disqualified
• Winners will be chosen at random from all those tweeting using #somum between 20.30 GMT and 22.00 GMT on 12 June 2013. 
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• The competition will run from 20.30 GMT and 22.00 GMT on 12 June 2013 in Great Britain.
• story of mum is compliant with the data protection act. While we will share the twitter names of winners and their tweets with great excitement, we will not pass on any other details to any third party without your prior consent.

This is one of the very worst aspects of my character. Trying to take the high ground when I'm being just as irritating and unreasonable as he is, if not more so. (Obviously I am now banking on the fact that my husband does not read my blog, as this post would seriously impact my ability to take the high ground in future arguments...)

It's been a few days since my last relationship row. But last night I had a delightful argument with my 5 year old son over my disasterous fringe-cutting attempt, (having received last minute warning of a school photo taking place tomorrow).

When I say argue I mean that I pretty much sat on his legs shouting "KEEP STILL!!" attempting to bribe him with TV and sweets.

It wasn't a very satisfying argument as it mostly consisted of me going "Stay still, I'm trying to cut your hair!", him yelling "no!" and wriggling away, and me trying to come up with ever more cunning ways to keep him there. Bribes, threats, bribes, threats, over and over again, getting louder and less effective each time.

To be fair, cutting my son's hair is probably the most terrifying thing I have to do on a regular basis. Those sharp scissors so close to his eyes and him jerking away randomly. It's horrible. Which is why I normally take him to an actual qualified hairdresser. But last night it was a fringe cut by me or forever remembering his first year at school as The Yeti Year.

What do you argue about with your loved ones? And what are you really arguing about underneath? What's hiding at the bottom of your cup...?

When I actually took a cuppa's worth of time out to think about the arguments I have (as opposed to just getting on with life until the next one) I realised something important.  The subtext of all my rows with my husband is that one or other or both of us don't feel appreciated for what we are contributing right then. And maybe that's not so hard to rectify, we probably just have to remember to say thank you more.

With my son, I couldn't find any significant subtext, just a significant amount of hair. Neither of us felt like we were being listened to, that's for sure. And there was a lot of fear, from both of us, about what the other person wanted. Looking back on it now, I wonder what would have happened if I had just backed down and sent him in with pigtails today. Would Yeti Year really have been so bad? At least he would have felt listened to. As it was, we had a big cuddle afterwards and that seemed to make everything OK. A heartfelt cuddle is generally a good way to end any argument.

So what does all this have to do with our next mums' Make Date on twitter?

Well, this month we're creating our very own Storm in a Teacup, shaping tea-leaves into pictures at the bottom of mugs that sum up our most common arguments. As you do...  

Our arguments might be with our partners, children, family, whoever - what's that argument you have most often? If you don't argue, what's the unspoken tension? 

Have a cuppa and have a think about what's really going on when you row. Then use your leftover tea-leaves to show us.

Come join us on twitter on Wednesday 12 June from 8.30 - 10pm (world times here) for a shared cuppa. Let's swirl our tea-leaves and see if we can make a picture that anyone else can interpret... that alone should be worth a laugh.

We'll be chatting with other mums, sharing photos of our terrible attempts, and generally making each other feel better about the ups and downs of motherhood.

All mums are welcome and we would love you to join us - you don't have to play with tea-leaves if you don't want to. Find out more about #somum Make Dates here.

Or maybe it's just me, maybe everyone else just gets on brilliantly all the time. Do you? Do you? Please tell me that's not true!

Time for another cuppa...

After a final final final warning, I confirmed he couldn't go on the late afternoon bike ride he'd been looking forward to all day. He started to wail, loudly, in the front garden. My 2 year old began crying, equally loudly, in sympathy, and because she'd wanted to go scooting.

I wrangled them inside and tried moving them into the back yard so she could at least scoot there (it's very small...). They started trying to out-wail each other. I tried to feed them tea, tried to distract them with games, stories, but still no bike ride. I wasn't giving in to demands for TV. The wailing continued. Eventually, caught in my own spiderweb of confused discipline, I started crying too.

And they stopped. 

5 year old: "What's the matter, Mummy?" 2 year old: "Are you OK Mummy?"

Me, quietly, snotty tears "It's you two, you're doing my head in..."

5 year old "Sorry Mummy, you should have said. We would have stopped."

I had to laugh. But I still felt like a crap mum.

I went on twitter and my lovely mummy friends told me tomorrow was another day.

 The next day (yesterday) started well. Mainly because I had my first and only childcare for the whole of the holiday week, and was able to make a dent in my massive work pile. I started to feel a bit less stressed. But soon after collecting them both (with a carefully home-cooked picnic that neither of them would eat), my 2 year old daughter fell in the park. Teeth into lip, blood everywhere. Lots and lots of blood. 

I retreated to twitter again. And the confessions started. And I started to feel normal again. It makes such a difference when mums come together.

And today? Today was a good day. You can see how my daughter's lip is looking now - not too bad.

Thank you mamas. You know who you are.

In April 2013, Christina Douyon collected "I'm a Mum and a..." photos and ten personal mothering stories from mothers in New York. 

 We'll be sharing these stories on story of mum over the next ten days as I'm a M.O.M. and a...

Watch this lovely short film made by Christina about the project:

You can read all the mums' posts by visiting the links below:

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Bear

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Superhero

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Therapist

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Wife, Sistah, Internet Surfer, Jesus Lover, Crafter, Chef, Anime Watcher, Bookworm

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Dreamer

I'm a M.O.M. who rocks!

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Scholar

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Coach

I'm a M.O.M. and a... Multi-tasker

I'm a M.O.M. and a.. Fabulous Karaoke Night Date

This is the story of the mums who made it.

 Jane Charles – Mum of 3 and a… Craft Tutor and Maker

I have been working in various Children’s Centres for the last 4 years. Working with a number of groups of young mums and encouraging them to create and make things from fabrics. They learn new skills and make new friends. 

The group provides a support network and escape for the mums, giving themselves something else to think about other than the washing, shopping and school run.

Often the mums discover a talent they didn’t know they had and I encourage them to design their own work and carry on with their stitching when the course has finished. Women make memory quilts from their children’s clothes or gifts for loved ones.

During the summer term of 2012, I started a project with a small group of young mums working on a theme of where we live in New Bradwell. Working from photo’s we created a large textile collage and arranged the blocks and buildings to make a spectacular fabric quilt. It featured on the front cover of Workbox magazine and how proudly hangs in the Children’s Centre.

Unfortunately funding for these projects is dwindling and there is often no money for the necessary crèche. But the women and the Centre Co-ordinators really appreciate the time given to them and the skills they are shown and can in turn show their children.

Suzie – mum of 2

I started the quilt to build up my confidence, get some adult conversation and learn something new. I could hand sew buttons or mend a small hole, but that’s about it. In a previous project with Jane I had done simple cross-stitch and made felt Christmas presents for my family.

During the making of the quilt, I learnt to trust others to assist instead of trying to everything myself all the time. We also had a visit by people from central government looking at how the Children’s Centres are encouraging mums to get back to work. I had the confidence to speak up and let them know how difficult it is to look for work without knowing exactly how much my benefits would be affected. Not knowing how my family will be affected stops me looking at the moment.

I could unwind of an evening doing some sewing, and also met up with other mums outside of the group to sew; it was nice to have a catch up. Also if my children need something made I would now try. I sewed my little girl a name badge for her bag.

I am now trying to do a larger cross-stitch at the moment, I am also learning to crochet!

The best thing about doing the quilt was having that special ‘time for me’ and making such a beautiful map of New Bradwell, I may have only lived here a few years but really love it!

 I stitched some of the houses, some ducks, the street signs, the community Centre and helped dye the material for the canal.

This was a really good project. I would do another. It’s so good to have a friendly team of people who work together to make something so beautiful and hopefully a small piece of history for the Children's Centre.

I am really proud to be part of the Children’s Centre, the staff have been great to me it is nice to be able to give something back.

Thank you Jane for all your hard work xx 

Jo - mum of 2

I started the project in all honestly to get a bit of me time from my boys as a free crèche was provided. I didn't really have any interest in sewing and crafts and hadn't a clue how to even thread a needle. Turns out I had a hidden interest in it all as I was brought a sewing machine as a Christmas gift and one half of my bedroom is dedicated to sewing and fabric and crafts!

It's completely changed me and I now consider myself to have a passion and hobby and no longer feel like I'm just 'mum'.

It gave me something to focus on in the evenings and something to feel proud of and feel self worth. 

Making the quilt showed me that other things are achievable and also that talking to other mums is invaluable. We all worked together and supported each other which some of us continue to do now.

Since completing the quilt I have been making my own personal projects such as stuffed bears, stuffed hearts, cushions, bags, bunting etc. I've even brought myself a dress pattern to attempt and am trying to learn crochet. The biggest project I've undertaken since the quilt though was a creative textiles City and guilds Level 1 course, which I was very pleased to pass with a merit grade. I also was involved in making things for the #Imapiece campaign which saw us meet with the local MP.

The best thing about doing the quilt was showing me there was a different outlook on life and that there were lots of things I wanted to get involved in, working as a team to produce such an amazing piece was also such a sense of achievement for us all.

I hand stitched the school and some of the houses, and used a sewing machine to fix on the roofs.

I also helped to shibori stitch and dye the rivers, make some of the ducks, printed the trees by designing our own block, hand stitched a lot of the pieces on the quilt.

I would highly recommend this project. It was such an uplifting exciting experience and such an amazing feeling to see the finished product.

Steph - mum of 4

I use the Sure Start Centre regularly, and the ladies there suggested I join the class. Our tutor Jane came up with the idea of making the quilt. I had no stitching experience to be honest. I did the occasional cross-stitch at primary school, but as an adult hadn't even sewn a button on. My kids automatically go to my mum when things needed mending!

The whole process of making the quilt was quite therapeutic. I am a mum of four, and a carer for my husband so I think I had forgotten that I could do things I enjoyed just for me too.

Making the quilt gave me something to focus on, that wasn't for the family, wasn't a chore, and was just something I could do at home in my own time.

I made lots of new mum friends while making the quilt, who I am still friends with now. 

Going to the Children’s Centre and joining the group gave me much more confidence. I had become a bit of a recluse before using the Centre as we didn't know anyone round here, and getting out and meeting other people definitely helped give me the confidence to learn to drive. And of course without the Centre I would never have afforded to learn as they helped with Marc's Disability Living Allowance appeal, which has paid for the lessons! (And pass first time!! – Jane)

Having some time to do something other than being a mum or a carer was really important for me and the sense of achievement at the end of it was brilliant.

 I am really proud of the quilt. I love the fact that whenever we go in there my four year old proudly tells everyone that her mummy made the Co Op! I also made some of the houses and the canal boats (Steph suggested that we included canal boats and jumped at the chance to make them! – Jane)

I learned a good variety of stitches that I can use in my mini quilt with mementos of the kids, I haven't got far, but it is started!

I would absolutely recommend others to have a go and make a community quilt, it was brilliant fun and was really rewarding!  

Jenny - mum of 2

I was on the Sure Start 'Time for You Course' the previous term and can honestly say it was one of my favorite times of my maternity leave as it enabled me to get out of the house with a baby and meet new people and spend time with adults who wanted to be creative in an 'adult way'.

It gave me a break from the PVA glue and washable paint and replaced it with an opportunity to make things precious to myself and feel a sense of achievement in my creations. Jane inspired the idea of creating our own community quilt for the Centre and we were all excited and thrilled by the opportunity to be a part of it.

I have always been interested in it but never had the time...other than fixing buttons and rips etc. Making the quilt made me realize that even when I think I don't have time for things, I can make time. It helped me realise the sense of enjoying being part of a community I have within me.

It also helped me force myself to wind down of an evening and partake in a bit of 'homework' which had the desired result of being exceptionally relaxing as I was doing something for me, instead of the normal, looking after every one else. It made be realise how important it was to look after myself and ensure that I am doing the things I enjoy and making time for them.

Did making the quilt change me as a mum and help in stressful situations? 
Yes! Because I was excited after a stressful day with the kids that I was just a couple of hours away from sitting in front of the TV with a glass of wine and my stitch stuff! I was so excited my other half laughed at me. He loved seeing me so passionate and happy in what I was doing. It inspired him to encourage me with it and even bought me a sewing machine for Christmas.

There were lots of brilliant things, working as part of a team, the sense of achievement as an individual and as a team in making a part of history to pass down.

Also spending time bonding with the other girls in the group around my house working on the quilt in my front room when we were close to the end of the project.

It feels brilliant to have made the quilt for the Children’s Centre, I am so proud and I hope they are as pleased as we were with the results and other Centre’s feel in inspired by it.

I made The CUBA pub, ducks, houses, the roads, the background, garden flowers...working with different fabrics, having a vision, using the sewing machine after 20 years, embroidering, patchwork...

I would absolutely encourage people to have a go and make a community quilt if you are given the chance. Go on ...you will LOVE it!....its so much fun.

 With thanks to Jane Charles and all the mums who shared their creative journeys with us.

We'd love you all to join us on our Story of Mum: Mums making an exhibition of ourselves tour. 

Find out about the latest events on our exhibition page.

Visit and join in with the online exhibition here.

And if you'd like to host a virtual exhibition tour stop on your website, we'd love to have you - just let us know!

For Story of Mum: Mums making an exhibition of ourselves, poet Caroline Davies made wordles of all the words submitted to our collaborative Mums' Poem.

It's a simple and beautiful way to see the words that most come to mind when we describe the role of mum.

The top six words we have all used are:

Giver

Loving

Maker

Keeper

Love 

 and...

Wiper?!

I spend a lot of time wiping, but I'd never seen it as a definitive way of describing my role as mum before. Yet of course wiping is the kind of low level speed cleaning that occupies a huge part of my day - bottom wiper, nose wiper, face wiper, table wiper, fridge wiper, the list is endless...

And it surprised and delighted me to see that 'maker' is clearly a key part of being a mum - something we believe in very much at story of mum! 

At each of our exhibition stops, we're asking a poet to build their own poem from some of the submissions from mums worldwide to our giant collaborative poem. For our Milton Keynes launch, the lovely Caroline Davies curated her own poem from the words that mums have submitted to our giant collaborative poem so far.

She explained how she started her creative process by making the two stunning 'wordles' above from all the words that mums have submitted to the poem so far.

I love how these wordles also create some beautiful little poems in their own right:

"A love holder, protecting time", is the perfect way to describe my desire to treasure every precious moment, knowing that I am letting my children go a little bit more each day.

"Narky songs" definitely sums me up at the end of a long day trying to entertain the children in the bath. And I love the phrase 'stumbling goodies', I need more of these in my life ;)

You can read Caroline's wonderful poem here, and we hope to share a film of her reading it on the website too very soon. We would love you to join us and add your own words to the giant poem too.

You can find out more about Caroline at her website Advancing Poetry - her poetry is published by Cinnamon Press.

Find out about the latest events on our exhibition page. Visit and join in with the online exhibition here. And if you'd like to host a virtual exhibition tour stop on your website, we'd love to have you - just let us know!

Hayley's own blog illustrates perfectly how children with disabilities are a fabulous addition to a family and to society as a whole. She reminds us of the joys of parenting both of her children (one of whom, Natty, is a model with Downs Syndrome) and shows us all how much we can learn from experiencing difference. Seeing our reality from an alternative perspective can only make us better people.

It may not be easy, but a society that celebrates difference is the only kind of society that can progress and truly connect with what it is to be human. That's the only kind of society I want to be a part of.

Hannah Kitchen recently made this wonderful My Mum Story film for our exhibition: Story of Mum: Mums making an exhibition of ourselves in which she talks about coming to terms with her daughter's autism. Her journey hasn't been easy but it has been worth every moment and her daughter Polly has deeply changed how she sees the world. It's a wonderful example of how all children are a gift to those who truly see them. I'll let her film speak for itself.

Read more posts about this here.

A Different Way of Being

We had all sorts of wonderful opportunities for kids to get creative, and a puppet show from the lovely Boabab puppeteers.

The grand plan was to keep the kids occupied for long enough that mums could take a moment to get creative and make something for the exhibition. As well as have a nice cup of tea and some delicious home made cake, obviously...

Then our celebrated mama could take her family into the gallery to add her work to the wall and show them an exhibition all about how amazing mums are. And it worked!

Take a peek at some more of Andra Alexander's fabulous photos below, and come and join us at the next exhibition event - we'd love to see you and your kids (and dads, and grandads...) there!

Here, we have some actual evidence of mums having a precious moment to craft and chat while their kids are entertained! I can't actually imagine a better way to spend an afternoon...

You can even spot a few dads in here, which made it all the more wonderful.

The kids stayed for hours without getting bored, and left delighted with their creations. 

But no one was prouder than us when we stood in front of this wall full of wonderful Mama Mash-Ups at the end of the day, all created by mums to share their stories.

Once again, many thanks go out to all of the wonderful people that helped us make this fantastic event happen. We can't wait for the next one! A huge thank you to Victoria and the brilliant team at MK Gallery, Andra for her wonderful photos, Jane, Roshmi, Su and Amy for all their help in gathering stories and entertaining children and mums (and lovely bunting!). Last but not least, thank you to all of the mothers who shared their stories, baked cakes, got creative and celebrated motherhood with us.

You can visit and add to the exhibition in MK Gallery any time up to the 2 June. Then we'll be launching our online virtual exhibition tour, hopping from blog to blog around the world... Before our next events in Penzance. Visit and join in the online exhibition here, and come and see us soon! (when I promise not to pull this funny face...)

If you're free this Saturday 18 May, come and join our Mums' Stories event at MK Gallery. Simply email 10 mothering photos that mean something special to you to Trevor@thisismyfilm.com, and book in for a slot to turn these into your very own My Mum Story.

We would love to see you on the exhibition tour. Find out about the latest events on our exhibition page. Visit and join in with the online exhibition here. And if you'd like to host a virtual exhibition tour stop on your website, we'd love to have you - just let us know!