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SINGAPORE: These days, a girls' night out for Henne Mercer may mean attending a fashion show with her daughter India Scarlett.
"It helps that India knows how to hold a conversation with strangers and she behaves well in public. Nowadays, if she's not with me at a show or a launch, people ask me why she's not there!"
India may be only 10 but it's a case of never being too young for fashion — especially if your mum is the perfectly coiffed and fashionably dressed marketing director of Toni & Guy Hairdressing.
Henne, who's in her early 40s, still finds the time to attend Toni & Guy fashion events once or twice a week while helping husband David at the salon chain. Oh, and she diligently hits the gym three to four times a week, too.
Explained Henne, whose daughter calls her a scrummy mummy ("scrummy" being the short form of "scrumptious"): "As a mother, it is important to retain your identity and to let your child adapt to your world. I love being a mother and spending time with India, but I also make time for my own activities to stay healthy, fit and sane!"
If the term "yummy mummy" refers to a multi-tasking good-looker who's also a mother, then Henne is a likely candidate. According to Urbandictionary.com, a yummy mummy is attractive, sexy and gorgeous. She's usually in trendy clothes, has great hair and always looks fabulous.
Said Sam Bhushan, who does public relations and marketing for homegrown boutique, Mantra: "A yummy mummy need not be the most beautiful person in the world, but I think all mothers who manage to balance their life, kids and careers with looking and feeling good about themselves are yummy mummies."
The svelte and well-dressed 33-year-old proved this point: She spoke to TODAY while simultaneously driving to the airport to pick up her husband and pacifying her two young sons.
But Sam admitted that motherhood has changed her beauty routine and shopping patterns. "My kids are my top priority now. It's their swimming lessons before my haircut!"
She calls her skincare regimen "awful", tries to sneak in a spa treatment when her sons are in school and attends fashion launches only in the evenings after she tucks them into bed.
For busy mums like her, industry players make sure that they stay yummy.
Dr Low Chai Ling, medical director of The Sloane Clinic, said that more than half of her customers are busy working mothers who like treatments that do not require "too much maintenance or any downtime". She counts treatments such as the non-surgical facelift by Thermage and laser hair removal as some of those popular with this demographic.
Wellness chain True Yoga is open from 7am to 11pm so that mothers can pop in for classes such as Hot Yoga — said to be a hit with those wanting to stay fit and trim — when they have some spare time.
Its True Fitness centres in Malaysia and Bangkok even have nurseries. Although there's no such facility at the branches here, regional marketing manager Vivien Ho said: "Mothers can organise play date sessions that will keep the children occupied. This will free up some time for them to indulge in a pedicure or a facial. This 'Me Time', no matter how short, helps them to recharge. It's a huge boost to a woman's confidence if she is capable of embracing motherhood without losing her sense of self."
Agreed Theresa Tan, senior editor of Vanilla magazine, which features some yummy mummies in its May issue: "A woman is most attractive when she is feeling good about herself. Anyone is energised when he or she is looking good and that helps because if there's one quality that a mother needs, it's energy."
For Theresa, a yummy mummy exudes the glow and joy of motherhood. So, to her, veteran fashion writer Cat Ong and actress-singer Jennifer Lopez are great examples. "Not so much Victoria Beckham, who always looks miserable."
Theresa has some good advice for mothers aspiring to be yummy mummies.
"It's about balance. Harried mums may not have 30 minutes to spare but a spa visit once a month is beneficial to an exhausted mother," she said.
Theresa — who is 40 and has three children aged between 18 months and nine years — also suggested doubling up duties: "Attend a really good fashion show with your best friend, for example, so you can spend time with her and still be seen."
The art of balance is not lost on Diana Lim, merchandising manager of TianPo Jewellery. She has a six-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son and shops only on weekdays now.
"I'm a working mum. So, looking good is still a priority," she said. "I believe that I have to live for myself — it's important to strike that balance between work, family and self-indulgences."
The 37-year-old also let on that her children like the fact that she looks good most of the time. "They follow suit and like to be dressed properly even if it is a short visit to the mall!"
Another yummy mummy whose dress sense has rubbed off on her offspring is Sulian Tan-Wijaya, general manager of The Fullerton Heritage. She said that when she outgrows some of her clothing, she shares it with her 15-year-old daughter. And when she can't make up her mind about which outfit to wear, she asks her 14-year-old son for his opinions "because he has a good sense of style".
But for her, the best thing about motherhood is spending weekends with her kids, watching TV and indulging in a common passion — music.
So, do they think she's a yummy mummy? Came Sulian's matter-of-fact reply: "Kids don't really care about these things about their parents." - TODAY/ac
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