She’s the co-founder (run with her husband Tom) of aptly-named hat company Shappos and mother to Lilijana, Magnus and Thora. Here Tetyana Denford tells us how she balances hats and cool little humans
Number of kids
Three. Lilijana, 6, Magnus, 4 and a half and Thora is 21 months.
Worst mothering moment
When Thora was a year old and decided to bite into a Fairy laundry detergent liquid tab. Huge parent fail.
Best mothering moment
I try and find them in the mundane, every day little things. Like when the kids are all playing together and being affectionate and looking out for each other. Joyful moments remind me that I’m doing pretty well at raising cool little humans.
Dinner party or playdate?
Although playdates are a great way to meet cool mums, I’d say dinner party, hands down. Ideally when all the kids have gone to bed and I can have a conversation with an adult that lasts more than 17.5 seconds.
Home or away?
Ooh, tough one. I absolutely love our cosy house in the village and its a happy, consistent base for us. But I think our spirits function at a great level when we’re travelling. I speak Ukrainian to the kids, and they really love hearing different languages and learning about different cultures.
Can’t live without
Hugs and kisses. They fix everything. Oh, and concealer.
Can’t live with
Negativity and drama. Most mothers probably experience this on an everyday basis; there’s a lot of competitive parenting out there. I just want to be happy, support fellow Mums trying to do their thing and do a bit of partying on the side.
Last thing I bought
Clarins facial oil and silver brogues.
Last call
To a customer asking about hat sizing for one of our (faux) fur winter hats.
Most pukka thing I own
The scar on my forehead (I was badly bitten by a dog when I was five). I had 12 stitches and I genuinely think it reminds me that imperfections, if you really “own” them, can make you appreciate how life isn’t always what you expect.
Most annoying thing other mothers say
The boasting stuff. The “oh, she/he *should* be doing this at this age… my child did/my child is so clever he’s going to go to (insert prestigious and overpriced university).” Just let me parent my human. You do yours. I think that’s why I appreciate the connection that you provide through Mother Pukka… you’re encouraging all these like-minded women to talk about all the stuff that everyone thinks but is too polite to say. It makes me feel like my opinionated and sometimes raw perspective is less of an anomaly.
Mothering is…
Realising that after deciding to have kids, for the next 15 years I’ll be functioning on about 4 hours’ sleep a night, my curtains will have holes cut in them, my dining table will have gouges in it and I will find glitter in the most ridiculously annoying places. And I’m totally happy with that.
