As the year draws to a close, many mums will be finding that their schedule is becoming more and more hectic. Does your ‘to-do’ list look a little something like this?

• Make the Christmas cake
• Order the turkey
• Find an angel outfit for Alice’s nativity
• Find a suitable teacher’s gift for less than £5
• Dissuade the kids from spending too much on their friends’ Christmas presents
• Find a suitable Secret Santa present for the boss…
• Review savings for Christmas presents
• Write Christmas cards
• Ask Aunty Nell what colour slippers she would like this year
• Buy...

Are you one of the millions of 21st Century mums on the quest to become a Supermum? Are you so desperate to achieve this astounding status that you have absolutely no time to fulfil your own pleasures in life?

Let’s consider the concept of the ‘Supermum’. The title does sound very grand, aspirational and positive, doesn’t it? However, not only is the vision of lycra-clad, cape-wearing mums standing by a school gate hilarious and yet some how horrifying, the concept of such social standing is even more ridiculous.

The term Supermum generally brings with it...

As mums, we are forever instilling independence into our children and delight in their individuality. As young, single women, it was important to identify our own individuality and we thrived from it. However, as the role of ‘mum’ is adopted, we automatically forget about the things that we personally enjoy and quickly learn to disregard our own individual needs and desires.

When you have young children, life begins to get hectic and daily challenges quickly define your role as The Mum. However, if you continue to be consumed by this single position in life, you will soon start...

Fun and enjoyment should be vital to everything we do in life – otherwise what would be the point of the exciting adventure called life? Happiness comes from yourself but as a busy mum, the likelihood is your fun-time is at the very bottom of your list of priorities. Being a fun mum will make you a happier, more fulfilled woman who is in control of life and all its challenges!

A mum’s work is never done. Between keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, making meals and shuttling the family around to football practice or ballet lessons, mums have got their work cut out for...

2009 has brought some real challenges for families across the UK. The credit crisis has resulted in a huge number of redundancies and many of us are working hard at ‘tightening our belts’. With the summer holidays on the horizon, the Mediterranean sun may have already set for many of us.

But fear not! It really isn’t all doom and gloom! It is possible to enjoy maximum family fun this year without even leaving the comfort of your own home. An At Home Holiday will not only save you money but it can be far more relaxing than a traditional break. The benefits of staying at...

Returning to work after having a baby can be a harrowing time. Since April 2007, many mothers have been able to enjoy a full twelve months maternity leave, during which time a great bond forms between mother and child. The guilt about leaving your baby when it is essential for you to return to work is compounded by the need to place them in childcare.

According to a recent survey, an estimated 3.25 million UK families place their children in childcare. Although the environments are safe, loving and educational, almost half of these parents worry about the long-term effects childcare may...

As great parents who love nurturing their children, it is not surprising you feel guilty at the slightest misdemeanour when things don’t go to plan.

A lot of guilt-fuelled regrets occur after a moment of high-tension, conflicting moments – especially when you’re over-tired and over-worked!

The best way to break this frustrating, inevitable cycle, and prevent you from feeling guilty about the way you react to your child’s demands or tantrums, is to take some essential time out.

Unfortunately this too can lead to more guilt! Leaving your children to go and enjoy...

Tracey Wall is now an accredited Advanced Confidence Coach and practitioner of the accredited “Confidence for Life” programme by Dawn Breslin – internationally acclaimed life coach, best-selling author and broadcaster. As an experienced professional life coach, NLP practitioner and director of Empowering Mums, Tracey can now offer this powerful and life-changing programme to her clients.

During the programme, Tracey will coach you to release the pains of your past, your negative thoughts and limiting beliefs, and support you to overcome your fears and worries. Through...

‘Accept Yourself’ is the latest e-book to be produced by Empowering Mums. Packed full with effective exercises and enlightening advice, this e-book will build your self-esteem, increase your self-confidence and help you build a positive outlook on life. It will give you the power to truly accept everything about yourself and enable you to live the life you really want and deserve.

By completing the exercises, you will learn how to release self-critical, harsh thoughts that prevent you from living the life you really want to live and enjoying true happiness.

The results of these...

Have you ever observed your single, child-less friends? From a brief glance, you’ll notice they splurge happily on the latest trends; they can often be found working out at the gym or stretching at a weekly Pilates class; and they have time to relax over a glass of Chablis with colleagues. Delve deeper and you’ll find painfully high stilettos, a fabulous little black dress and matching lacy underwear all ready for that just-in-case, last minute night out with the girls.

Contrast this with your life. As a busy mum, you’re no doubt wearing Marks & Spencer’s safest...