Sara Cox: My precious moments

Tv and Radio Presenter Sara Cox talks about life with three little ones

sara cox

What’s your advice for new mothers?
For me, my first baby was the maddest change in lifestyle. But I think I’d advise, through the haze of sleepless nights and being knackered, just trying to live in the moment – don’t start looking forward, thinking, ‘They’ll be sitting up/talking/walking soon,’ because it just goes so fast. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself. Sometimes my kids have had beans and sweetcorn on toast for their tea, but I know the next day I’ll give them, you know, some oily fish with veg and grains.

And your biggest panic?
Croup! It’s really frightening. We called an ambulance once for Isaac because we just couldn’t bring him out of it with the steamed up room and so on – he was in a real panic. But actually, by the time the ambulance got there, he was much better because we had put Fireman Sam on the telly. So if it ever happens again we’ll know what to do!

Does your partner Ben do anything better than you?He does a lot of the fun stuff and I’m much more the boss. So he does the mad half hour before bath time – wrestling and so on – which is fine because they have to be a bit more gentle with me anyway; and I’m the boring one, who’ll be standing there with the toothbrushes, shouting ‘Teeth!’ I don’t resent it though, it’s brilliant that he’s so hands-on.

What’s been your most embarrassing moment with the kids?
It wasn’t the kids, it was me. I went to Camp Bestival with Lola and Isaac and I was aware that a couple of people had recognised me. I thought I’d do something cool, so they’d think, ‘Wow, what a great mum Sara is, she’s so much fun with her kids.’ I went to tickle and chase Lola, but it ended up going completely wrong. She tripped, and started crying, ‘Mummy, ow! What are you doing?’ I’d tried to create a scene where people would think I was an amazing mum, but actually I just caused a scene by accidentally duffing up my daughter!

What do you worry about?
Grapes – I have to chop them up. You know how all mums have things they’re paranoid about? Mine is choking. Lola  is seven now and she’ll say, ‘Oh mummy, pleeeease let me just eat a grape.’ I will let her eat a whole one now, but only while I’m with her so I’m there to hear the first crunch and know she’s chewing it properly.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Getting a really early night – it’s just so decadent. I’ll get tucked up in bed while it’s still light, in fact I’ll leave the curtains open so I can appreciate just how early it is, and I’ll read for a while. Also Fry’s Chocolate Cream. My mum used to love  it too. I keep it in the top drawer of the fridge and no one else is allowed any.

Sara Cox was chatting to Pip Jones.