My Idol

I went to see Jo Brand tonight with some friends. She was doing stand up at a local school "The Charter," to raise money for a secondary school in Ghana. Jo appears to be everything I am not as a mother, I wish I could be more like her.

Jo seems calm, confident and great fun. Her children sound normal and well adjusted and she doesn't appear to stress about all of the rubbish that clutters up my head. She clearly doesn't give two hoots whether her girls play the bassoon, and is simply enjoying her children enjoying their childhood.

Jo talked about how she was recently invited to her daughter's school to talk to the children about her work. Many of us have had a similar experience, but it is rather different trying to explain to a group of five year old children what a stand up comedian does for a living.

One little boy immediately had a question for her:

"How do you make yourself change colour on stage?"

Apparently he thought she was a stand up chameleon! How very sweet. Aren't they just the best? I really love the kids - but I love them most of all when they are asleep, and I can take the time to calmly consider the things they have done to touch my heart during the day. When the children are in full swing, electric with energy and no sense - it is all a bit unpredictable.

Actually, I think I am a stand up chameleon. Different colours for different situations.

I must tell Jo the next time I see her walking in the park.