Isy Suttie: being a mum

12 March 2015

We’ve loved Isy Suttie ever since she captured our hearts as Dobby in the dark TV sitcom 'Peep Show'. Since then she’s made us laugh and won awards as a stand-up comedian and for her radio show 'Pearl and Dave'. Now she’s trying her hand at being a mum, to her baby girl Beti. We asked Isy some searching questions about motherhood. She answered them. Sort of.

Isy Suttie, award-winning comedy writer and stand-up comedian, shares her secrets of being a mum with us

Isy Suttie, award-winning comedy writer and stand-up comedian, shares her secrets of being a mum with us. Photo: Isy Suttie

What are the best and worst things about being a mum?

The best things are when they fall asleep on you like a little hamster, and when you make them laugh. Sometimes it takes ages and they look at you blankly then laugh and it's brilliant.

The hardest thing is the unpredictability, especially at the start: she might sleep for ten minutes or two hours but you never know in advance!

What are your favourite things about your daughter?

How she will gaze at something as innocuous as a spoon for ages, and it makes me see things in a new light.

What one thing would make your life easier as a mum?

If my mum lived with me and helped me look after Beti that would make my life easier, but I imagine we'd argue a lot and she wouldn't be able to go to her jive dancing class.

Isy and her partner Ellis practising putting a nappy on a doll (before baby Beti arrived). Photo: Isy Suttie

What advice would you give to other mums?

Make sure you're sure you want a baby, because if you are, it's one of the best things you'll ever do but it turns your life upside down.

Did your mum give you any useful advice about becoming a mother?

She's one for thorough preparation, so she told me to pack for every eventuality when leaving the house and to have spares of everything. She also told me to let the baby gaze at something until they want to stop, rather than moving it away yourself. Which is why I've been holding this spoon for two hours...

Join Isy Suttie to help mums around the world

It sounds like Isy’s coping pretty well with the trials of motherhood so far!

We want to help mums who aren’t having such a great time – mums who are struggling to give their children the basics they need to survive. So we're asking supporters to consider making a small monthly donation towards our work – to help mothers help plan a better future for their children.