'Being a mum is not what I expected'

One mum, who sacrificed her globetrotting lifestyle to have her son, admits she finds parenting “mindnumbing and stressful”

- Niamh Kirk

Race Across The World star Kelly Brook recently revealed that some people are shocked she's so “blunt” about being child-free, although her honesty is appreciated by others. The star, who has struggled in the past with miscarriages, also admitted that not having kids has lost her some friends as their lives have become so different.

Travel writer Annabel Fenwick Elliott, 38, understands where Kelly is coming from and is just as open about the downsides of parenting. This is something many mums may feel unable to discuss as they don't want to be seen as not loving their children or embracing the parenting experience. “It’s really hard to get anything done and I’m not very good at mindlessly playing with my toddler,” admits Annabel, who is mum to Jasper, two. “I’m excited for when he can talk and have conversations, and we can role play together, watch movies and do all that kind of stuff.

“I think I do OK as a parent. I just find the days very long when I’m trying to conjure up activities to keep him interested. Particularly when he was younger, chasing a maniacal tornado around the house and stopping him from killing himself all day on a loop was just very boring.”

OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN

Annabel also understands why Kelly says that when she meets up with friends with children, she doesn't want to “sit there watching people parent”.

Describing her own son as “semi-feral”, Annabel confesses, “Other kids gross me out. I’m squeamish about food mess, yogurt hands, crumbs in the car seat… I’ve always just found it disgusting. I still don’t like children. I don’t find other children cute. Their snot grosses me out and I don’t like being around them when they’re eating.”