A (VERY) HONEST TAKE ON
LIVING, WORKING AND PARENTING IN DUBAI
FREE – downloadable family wall planner for 2021

FREE – downloadable family wall planner for 2021

FREE downloadable family wall planner for 2020

FREE downloadable family wall planner for 2020

Your guide to getting a Will

Your guide to getting a Will

Why we need to get real about parenthood

Why we need to get real about parenthood

How should we parent in the digital age?

How should we parent in the digital age?

Nanny or nursery? Finding childcare in Dubai

Nanny or nursery? Finding childcare in Dubai

#InIt… For my family

#InIt… For my family

My little black book: 2018 edition

My little black book: 2018 edition

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What my daughter taught me before 8am this morning

After breakfast Phoebe and I loaded up the buggy and walked to the beach, the air still fresh and the skies clear. As we turned out of the gate I saw her strain to look at two labourers walking on the opposite side of the road, her tiny face breaking into a toothy smile and […]


Work/life balance for mums – try these simple exercises

  Last week I held a workshop in work/life balance (WLB from hereon in because I’ve had a long day), with expert Zeta Yarwood sharing her insights and advice – did you really think I’d be the expert on that?! Zeta talked twelve working mums, who were a truly lovely bunch, with jobs ranging from author […]


4 to try – treat yourself with these cool tees for mums

There’s something about Thursdays that makes me want to shop – but going to mall is rarely appealing. After some serious scrolling on Instagram I’ve rounded up some of my favourite mum-themed tees and tops for your online purchasing pleasures, whether it’s for yourself, a fellow mum or a baby shower gift that isn’t for […]


Why mums shouldn’t feel bad about putting themselves first

I’ve had an eye-opening week on the health front. After feeling rubbish (tired, like ‘I could sleep right here’ tired, nauseous, weak and achy) for a while, I finally got myself to the doctor’s, promptly cried while explaining my symptoms, and was ordered for blood tests. I know what you’re thinking… I did a pregnancy […]


Pick of the week

From now on, every week (okay, when I remember and there’s something good to share) I’m going to be rounding up events, people, products and ideas to try. These will be totally honest – as per – and if anything has been given to me for free to review, it will clearly say. And just […]


A new recruitment scheme for working mums launches in Dubai

Don’t get me started on the issues facing working mums in the UAE. Okay, let me me have a little rant… From 45 days of maternity care to a gender pay gap that is frankly shocking for 2016, mothers are often on the back foot with many regionally-based companies. Add in the fact that part-time […]


A welcome reality check

I’m not normally a fan of those Facebook notifications, the ones that show you what you were doing three, six, eight years ago, when my dress size was smaller and I didn’t look so bloody tired. But after a long day, tonight I flopped on the sofa with a giant glass of wine and idly […]


Tried and tested: Babies and Beyond babysitting services

I first heard about Babies and Beyond through my day job, and remember thinking ‘Great idea, but it doesn’t really apply to me’. With fantastic live-in help in the form of Loreta, and a job that now allows me to work from home, we have thankfully never needed extra babysitting. Then Loreta went on leave […]


“A baby has a right to be loved, but not be the centre of attention” – The wisdom of Waddilove

She has helped everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to… me. I sat down with childcare expert Rachel Waddilove for several cups of tea and here we share her advice, from breastfeeding to the problems facing modern mums ON BREASTFEEDING I did my training at St Thomas’ hospital in London as a maternity nurse in the days […]


5 minutes with… the legendary June Kenton of Rigby & Peller

Now in her seventies, June Kenton, HM Queen Elizabeth II’s corsetiere, talked to The Mothership about motherhood, changing body shapes, and why you shouldn’t buy your dinner and a bra at the same time You might not be able to solve the baby crying at night, but you can wear the right bra. If you are […]

ABOUT ME

 

I’m Helen Farmer, an editor and journalist, mum to 4-year-old Phoebe and 2-year-old Tabitha, wife to Nick and a mummy blogger in Dubai (even though I don’t really identify as one, but I blog, and I’m a mum, so there you go). I’ve been living in the Middle East for the last 10 years, working in books, magazines and broadcasting, shedding some light on the good and bad of life, work and motherhood in the UAE.

ABOUT THE BLOG

The Mothership is for you if you’re a busy, active mum who can’t stand small talk, bad info and twee blogs that make out that mothering is all unicorns and rose petals, instead of admitting that you can love your child so much it terrifies you – while still wanting a night in alone watching The Great British Bake Off with a double G&T or a night out pretending you don’t have children.

 

Time Out Dubai Kids Awards 2016 - Winner - Parent Blog of 2016

 

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