Chrissie Swan: The day my boy showed everyone my boobs

Welcome to the summer series of Mum vs Life. Each week we’ll bring you our favourite celebrity mum who will take us through their day. This week we feature Chrissie Swan, radio and TV personality, writer, former Big Brother contestant and mother of Leo, Kit and Peggy.

1. Run us through your typical day?

Wake officially at 4.30am but sometimes earlier if my baby needs a feed. In the car or reading papers by 5am. On air from 6-9am. Then more prep, interviews and meetings until 11am.

Relieve the babysitter and hang with my baby and 2-year-old at home - snatching emails and phone calls while they nap! Load the car with aforementioned offspring at 2.30pm to collect my 4 year old from kindergarten.

Come home, think about dinner, have it on the table by 5pm. Clean up most of dinner off floor. Bath at about 6pm (the kids, not me, but sometimes me too!). Book and bed by 7pm. Then I make dinner for me and my fella. Do some laundry, fold a mountain of clothes, lay out my clothes for the next day so I don't wake anyone up, have a shower. Bed by 10pm after Peg's last feed.

Glamorous, ain't it?!?

Finding time! My work and home life is so consuming I have no real time for friends or for myself. But I know it won't always be this way. Life is naturally hectic with three kids under five.

3. What is your favourite time of the day?

Can I have three?

- 6am when we go on air and I know I'm about to have some great fun with Jane Hall.

- 11am or whenever I get home and see the kids for the first time in the day.

- And at night when the kids are asleep and it's just my fella and me.

4. When is the last time you almost lost your cool when dealing with your kids?

Just six minutes ago I put an entire album of footy cards in the bin because my 4-year-old was complaining he hated it and why didn't I get him any good cards? He begged me for that album 3 weeks ago and has done nothing but complain about it. Goodbye album. Hello lesson on manners and gratitude.

5. When is the last time one of your children embarrassed you in public?

I was bra-less and talking to my friend (male) and my 4 year old came and lifted up my top to reveal one of my enormous long boobs.

6. Have you ever embarrassed one of your children in public?

No (not yet).

7. How does being a modern mum make you feel?

I feel pretty pleased that I am able to give them lovely experiences and the fun stuff associated with my work. They have met Hi-5 and The Wiggles which filled me and them with joy.

Apart from that I am an ordinary mum, doing the best I can to balance work and home. It helps to have a no bullshit approach and great employers.

8. What are the specific challenges you face?

I think I face less hardship because my radio job gets me home early. I'm not sure how I'd cope of I was working 12 hour days all the time. I'd miss my kids too much.

9. How do you get everything done and ensure you pay enough attention to your children?

My children are my priority. If I'm not working, I'm at home with them. I don't do anything else. It's the only way I can be the present parent I want to be. I try and turn my phone off when I'm home but often fail.

10. Was it hard to go back to work after becoming a mum?

The first time, yes. Because unworried about leaving him and how it would affect him and how could he survive without me?!? It is, like most things, harder for the parents. It has become easier but I have been lucky with the last 2 and have been able to take them with me in some capacity until they were around 5-6 months old.

They are just as busy! Because we still have little ones who need naps we are housebound a fair bit. It drives my 4-year-old crazy so we try to take him out with just a parent for a manicure (me) toy store visit (his dad) sometimes.

12. Are you an involved mum when it comes to school and activities or do you prefer to take a step back?

I only have one kid in kindergarten and I love it and the mums so I really enjoy helping out when I can. I've been a mummy helper on an excursion and also done 'fruit shop' where the kids pretend they're buying fruit and I had to serve them. Pretty cute.

13. What kind of questions do your children ask you about your work?

Leo is working out that people know my name and that 'Chrissie Swan' is someone other people know as well. He will sometimes say, "Ava's mum listens to you on the radio." He also collects up some paper and pens and tells me he's writing a column.

14. If you could ask for any sort of parenting advice, what would it be?

Sometimes I feel so mean when I have to be firm because usually there's so much fun and laughter in my relationship with my kids. I'd probably like to know how to feel better about discipline.

15. If you could share one thing you’ve learned about motherhood, what would it be?

Kids really want your time. So put your phone away. If you're all bored just go outside. Have a zero tolerance policy on fighting amongst each other. Make sure your children know that they are blessed to have each other. And one banana a day is enough!

Chrissie Swan is co-host of MIX 101.1’s breakfast show in Melbourne and The 3pm Pick-Up nationally. She is a columnist, TV host, broadcaster and mother. Her book Is It Just Me? is published by Nero and available in all good bookshops. Follow Chrissie on Twitter and Facebook. 

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