Mothers of all invention

09 May 2008 12:57 PM | Posted by Editor

I rate myself pretty highly as a multitasker. I can eyeline, straighten my hair and scoff breakfast in sync. Sometimes while checking my email, and usually while ironing an outfit.

But add a baby bouncing on my hip and I know I'd be sunk. So as I hold my single self together by a thread, I find myself in complete awe of any mother who has not collapsed into a dishevelled heap. How do they do it?

The saying goes that necessity is the mother of all invention, but it seems to me that mothers are the inventors of necessities. Especially in the beauty department.

I know my mum devised a streamlined system that could get her chic and sleek faster than I could mash a banana into the carpet. And some of her sharpest moves were in the shower. She'd customise her own two-in-one treatments by shampooing up top while conditioning only her ends. She'd only use the most moisturising body washes (a post-bathing body lotion was a luxury to be indulged in upon occasions only) and she shaved her legs with hair conditioner for speedy slide-factor and a glossy finish.

But I guess all mums have their own secrets. One of my new-mother friends lays her make-up out in a production line: eyes first (that way if she messes up she won't disturb the rest of her face with remover), then face, then lips. She can do a night look in five minutes. Another wears her bub in a Baby Bjorn while polishing so there are no mid-mani pick-up emergencies. Mums get so clever.

That explains something, I guess, but I remain in awe.

Mothers, you amaze me. And I hope you get some time to be spoilt extra slowly (ie. normal pace for the rest of us) and at your leisure this Sunday. In fact, all of us at Bh wish you a luxuriously happy Mother's Day – one with no timesaving tricks required.