Mum's Question & Answers Deb
Deborah Evans is 40 and lives with her husband Mike and their two children Lillian aged 5 and Edward aged 4. They live in Burntwood.
Q: How long have you lived in the area?
A: Virtually all my life, apart from a couple of years in Rugeley and 5 years living by myself in Heath Hayes.
Q: Why do you like living where you do?
A: It's where my family and friends are and so I'm comfortable here.
Q: What is your favourite shop?
A: TK Max !
Q: What is your favourite children's club/class?
A: We don't do too many classes. Lilli and Ed both love swimming so we go as a family as much as we can, Lilli has lessons and Ed is about to start. I want them to concentrate primarily on settling into school life and the clubs will come later. I want them both to learn to play the piano so that'll be the next activity in their spare time.
Q: What is your favourite day out?
A: My parents have a couple of static caravans near Aberystwyth and we stay there as much as we can during the year. Our favourite days are playing and relaxing on Newquay beach and watching the dolphins.
Q: What is your favourite child friendly place to eat?
A: The Wych Elm, Burntwood. We often go for our Sunday dinner – it's a treat for me not to cook and the kids love it!
Q: What is your favourite alternative health treatment or Post-natal Group?
A: I still get together with my old post-natal group as and when we can. I'm now a member at Nuffield gym (formerly Cannons) where I like to go for a swim, sauna and iacuzzi a couple of times a week while Ed's at nursery.
Q: What should no parent be without?
A: The investment of 'quality' time with their children – it's what all our happy memories are made of.
Q: What are your parenting pet hates?
A: People who are selfish enough to smoke in the presence of children.
Q: What is your most embarrassing moment?
A: There are so many situations that my children have put me in that have sent me crimson, but I suppose one of the most embarrassing moments that I found myself in was a couple of years ago when we were having our kitchen done. Unbeknown to me, Mike had let the guy who was going to put down our new floor in through the back of the house. Therefore, in my defence, the doorbell never went. I was getting ready upstairs only to come out of the bathroom to find a strange man looking straight up at me - all I had on was a pair of knickers! I was absolutely stricken with total embarrassment; he looked away immediately and I dashed into the bedroom. I then had to come downstairs, introduce myself and explain how I wanted the floor laying – I managed to get through it as if it never happened and nothing was ever mentioned!!
Q: What is your favourite bedtime story book?
A: 'Edward Built A Rocketship' by Michael Rack. I bought it from a local garden centre just because of the title, but it's become one of our favourite stories. It mentions lots of planets and the ending always puts a lump in my throat when Edward and teddy land to earth in a chute made from mummy's sheets and he goes running into her arms.
Q: What toy do your children play with most?
A: The playhouse in our garden. The kids love it – and so do their friends. Mikes sisters' children gave it to us after they'd outgrown it and luckily it came with kitchen, dressing table, baby changer etc. We painted it just like a little cottage and always put flowers in the window boxes - it looks great.
Q: What was your biggest waste of money?
A: Nothing really.
Q: What is your most successful recipe for the kids?
A: Home made chicken and mushroom pie.
