Ever since I became a mum for the first time about two years ago, I have been astounded at how well other women with children manage their lives. My respect for parents, and mums, in particular, has gone through the roof. My self-respect, on the other hand, has got a bit wobbly.
Is it just me, or do nearly all other mothers seem superior?
"I think we all go through our ups and downs," says Hulda Thorey, co-owner and head midwife at Annerley maternity and early childhood specialists.
"When all is good and things are under control, then everything is fine. But the swings can be quite big for many mums, and when they don't feel like they are coping that well, they tend to start to look at other mums and find themselves not doing a good job.
"If they knew that the other mums were feeling exactly the same way, they would probably feel better," says Thorey.
If this is the case, why don't these other mums have milk and food stains dribbled down their clothes? Why don't I ever see them wrestling a screaming toddler into a pushchair or bribing him with biscuits?
How are they doing business meetings at 8am, lunch at noon, going out with their partners in the evenings and still looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? Where are the bags under their eyes?
