Labels, How Do They Define Us?

This week on striking Mums the lovely Kate has set the subject of Mums and Labels, a provocative subject that can be the making of breaking of a person. 

I am writing this on a Friday night, and today a label devastated and humiliated me. It was an honest label, one that meant I and others have work to do, but one that reduced me to tears, you see I care so much about that label,  so when I sat and saw it on the wall I can't describe the despair and devastation I felt. I can't say more than that without being unprofessional. But I do care, so do the people around me, maybe a little too much. 

That’s my problem I wear my heart on my sleeve, so on occasions like today I can't hide my feelings. I am not a negative person in life at all, but I do take my responsibilities very seriously. 

By responsibilities I mean my family, friends, home, Toby and my students.  Kick them, or my judgment around them I most certainly limp. 

Its like Kate has a sixth sense when choosing these topics? So here are her questions.

1. If I gave you a label and pinned it to you and you were allowed to put just 3 words on it, which would you choose?

Wife and Mum, Yes there is more to me than these labels but I am who I am because of these labels, happy, passionate, have great friends, content. You see my relationship with Chris and the Boys is the foundation of a life we have built family, friends and experiences around.

Blogger, My new passion in my life, the thing that keeps me up at night happily tapping away on keys, and the only thing that could get me up at 6am on a Sunday. I honestly feel that writing is something I wish I had done all my life. But thank goodness I have found it at last.

Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets I have loved every minute of my hairdressing career. I feel proud of what I have achieved, and hope I will continue to inspire future creative and theatrical stylists. I love the fact that one day they will hopefully remember me as an inspiration. I know how my students feel about me, and that is something I am incredibly proud of. 

2. What labels that others have used about you do you think are spot on?

Fiery, I am passionate and honest. I can't hide from that. 

Traveller, I love travel and all my friends and family laugh at me, as it does border on an obsession. I want to show the Boys the world; it has so many lessons to teach them.

3. Has having a particular label ever got you into trouble or held you back?

No I don't think so, but maybe that is something I don't know about?

4. Does or did one of your labels mark you out as very different from others in your circles?

Yes people call me cockney Sarah up here; ha ha I have never lived in London and have never claimed too. But that how people define, remember me so that’s fine.

5. Which label are you particularly proud of?

Mum, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Auntie, Granddaughter, God Mother, Niece, Daughter-in-law Cousin, Sister-in-law, Friend, Teacher. Blogger, Hairdresser. These are the things that matter.

So there is it labels, they might only be a tiny word or number but it can have a colossal effect on a person’s life, labels can define us or hold us back. 

Striking Mums , Style For Mums

This week the lovely Kate has set the topic Style for Mums

This is a great subject, and a very individual one. For me it was never an option to not wear make-up of do my hair purely down to my profession. 

As a hairdresser you are expected to have your hair nicely styled, wear make-up and dress well, its part of the job description. 

I am a bit of a jeans girl; I just dress them up with nice tops and jackets. But I absolutely love dressing up. I love cruising for this reason. I love the glamour of it.

1. Would you describe yourself as stylish? Has your answer to that question changed since becoming a mum?

I think I have my own individual style, I am not sure whether that is stylish or not it is just me. Its funny though one of my friends was shopping last year with her son and he picked up a top and said thats a Sarah top. My Mother and sister in law do that too. So I must have a certain look.

2. Describe a stylish  outfit you wear/wore and loved.

I bought a beautiful tangerine coloured lace skirt and top from Coast this summer, I loved it, but never got my photo in it. Think I need a trip to the races to wear it again.

3. How important is it to have an individual sense of style as mum?

I think its whatever makes you happy and comfortable, we all have such different priorities. Some Mums just don't have the time, some have no confidence in themselves, I have a friend that is so unique and dresses so differently but always looks fabulous. Some days she wears a cowboy hat, but do you know what she totally rocks it. 

Striking Mums, Laughter Therapy

The Lovely Kate has set the topic of Laughter Therapy this week. I do believe the ability to laugh is such a great quality in a person. I have met many people in my lifetime that have been such great fun to be around.  Before Jack was born I worked for quite a high profile hair group in Essex, I remember my time there as being mad, some days my face used to hurt for laughing, we used to laugh till we cried. 

Chris the Boys and I laugh together all the time, our home is like a mad house sometimes. We have great friends, and tend to mainly socialise with the children tagging along. Now I am really thinking about it all of our friends have great sense of humours, I can't think of one single friend that we don't laugh in their company.

I must surround myself with fun or mad people.  I am so glad they are all around; I look forward to spending time with them, as they never disappoint. I never leave one of my friends thinking, god that was boring.

I defy anyone to not laugh at this video I found on u-tube

I am a Striking Mum, Education

When I saw that the lovely Kate from Kate on Thin Ice was approaching the subject of education on this weeks Striking Mums, I could not wait to get involved.

Education is so many different things to so many people. To me, it is my daily life. I teach Level 3 hairdressing at an outstanding college in Lancashire. Something I am very proud of. It is a vocation that has so many stresses on so many levels, but reaps so many rewards. This is the time of year when you roll back to the beginning and start from scratch with a new group of students.

Now us Hairdressers are a lively bunch, so can you imagine what the student version is like, they are crazy. But do you know what? That craziness keeps me young, on my toes and always learning.  They are super Internet savvy and worldly wise. For this reason I have to try to be one step ahead. There is nothing worse than a teacher that is behind with the times and uninspiring.