Mum, Noise, and Oh!

India Hicks celebrates the madness.

The lovely India Hicks shares personal memories, tips, and reflections inspired by the alphabet and her beautiful jewelry line, Love Letters. In her own words, "My life is hectic. Crazy even. I have too many projects, too many children, too many pets and never enough time. Elizabeth Street puts things in perspective. Other Mums, similar situations. I won't be offering solutions but I will be sharing the madness." And what an inspiring madness it is!

Make sure to read our interview with India here.

...Mum
Growing up, I was very aware of my father’s fame. In the ’60s and ’70s, my father was never off the covers of magazines or out of the papers. His designs had set the world alight, and this, coupled with his flamboyant personality, drew attention wherever we went.
My mother was the niece of the Tsarina of Russia and her grandmother was a royal princess and, as a child, I would often hear my mother at a lunch party, say to a bemused guest “Oh you do remember Queen Sālote of Tonga, don’t you? Well…” because when you were related to every European royal court and Nöel Coward and Douglas Fairbanks dropped in for tea, you assumed everyone did know everyone. 

But despite her royal heritage and her husband's celebrity status, my mother to me was simply ‘Mum.’ Quietly present, always supportive, ever loving.

...NOISE:
Have you ever met a quiet child? Well, maybe one singular child, but as soon as there are two it's impossible. They can't be quiet. I was so noisy as a child my grandfather named me 'decibel.'

We made the mistake of giving our children a much-longed-for drum set. Do you know how much noise two brothers can make on one drum set and a guitar? Too much noise. N is also for NO. "No, you can not play those inside the house."

...OH!:
"Oh my God"
"Oh no you didn't!"
"Oh, help!"
Those are just a few of the “Oh” phrases I use daily as a parent. And of course the other version...the one that finishes with a question mark, "Oooohhhhhh?"  Used for instance, upon seeing the five-year-old dressed for the beach, in a pink sequined skirt, 'It's Better In The Bahamas' t-shirt, red sparkling cowboy boots and wool rabbit earmuffs.