BritMums chat with Sarah Jessica Parker

On the evening that I Don’t Know How She Does It is released in cinemas nationwide, five BritMums were lucky enough to have a chat with the film’s star, Sarah Jessica Parker.

Jennifer Howze and Susanna Scott, co-founders of BritMums, were joined by seasoned blogger Karin Joyce, journalist and editor Liz Jarvis, and freelance writer and editor, Holly Seddon. 

From tackling the much-beloved character in Allison Pearson’s book to competitive chilli cook-offs to a future career as a travel blogger (not really), SJP was open, honest and really, really good fun. 

BritMums: How did you handle the pressure of bringing to screen a character that so many people identify with?

 SJP: When I’m asked that question, I’m forced to realise it is daunting, but I chose not to think about that at the time!  

The great comfort to me is that Allison Pearson has seen the movie three times and loves it. She feels it captures the spirit on the book and loves seeing Kate on screen. 

That’s a great relief. 

 

BritMums: So, have you ever cheated at a school bake sale? 

SJP: Um I haven’t so far! But let me qualify that by saying I’ve not chosen to participate in that part of my school’s fundraising! 

We do have a very serious chilli contest at our school and I do have a secret family recipe that I’ve not shared with them… but I haven’t cheated for a birthday party… My kids love cupcakes and  that I can do. 

BritMums: We know the mums tend to take on more and dads tend to have a different role, do you think that will change and should change?

SJP: I don’t know… every family works differently… A lot of fathers I see at drop off in the morning are doing the role traditionally played by a mum or female partner. Men – generally speaking – just simply don’t take on as much of the minutiae that is so interesting to us…  and we horde. Often when we are asked if we want help we don’t  allow it! 

I know every time I’m out and husband’s with James Wilkie, I come home and am amazed that everyone’s okay… sure, his hair’s a bit wild, his nails are a bit long and he’s always a bit stinky but had a blast with his Dad!  

BritMums: Is it possible for working mums to have it all or does something have to give?

SJP: We’ve talked so much lately, I’m no expert that’s for sure but what I say is: why not try?

If your children are content and happy and you meet their needs and still have curiosity outside the home, it’s hard for me to imagine not trying. 

BritMums: How do you hope things will change by the time your little girls – now two – are working women?

 SJP: I would like to see corporate life perhaps become more flexible with hours. I’d like to see better childcare in women’s work environment… The separation is so constant and so long and there are other parts of the world that make those changes and it works really well. 

It would be really nice to know that when our daughters are working, if they choose to work out for the home, they will be able to dictate a little more. 

BritMums asked whether Sarah Jessica and husband of 14 years Matthew Broderick find it important – or even possible – to set aside ‘couple time’, only to find the answer was very familiar to us all… 

SJP: It’s not only important to me and Matty but for our marriage. At times we’re not very observant of that and at times we have the wherewithal to plan a date. Maybe a meal sitting down, opposite each other! It’s really nice, and every time we say ‘it’s so nice, we need to do this more often’, and get very gung ho and plan to do something every week… 

But the truth is that  right now our children still really like us! So we rationalise these long stretches of not leaving the house. 

BritMums: Would you be satisfied to give up your career and public life to become a stay-at-home-mum?

SJP: When James Wilkie was born that’s one of the reasons I stopped working on the television series because that needed a lot of hours, it was a big job producing that show. My son was getting to an age where I really wanted to be with him and couldn’t do the show with one foot in and one foot out… I didn’t work for a year after I stopped and I was so grateful when I was finally home. 

BritMums: Have you ever considered an alternative career or wonder what-if?  

SJP: I wonder all the time! 

I wonder ‘cos I’m curious and wonder about other parts of the world and think, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to live there…’ 

But like Kate Reddy, I came to parenting after being a working person for a long, long time. 

There are lots of other things that interest me, I’m not sure all of them could be a full time job though. 

I’d love to do something with ballet in some way; I’d love to work in a museum. I would love to travel for a living, see the world. 

BritMums: You could be a travel blogger!

SJP: I’m not good at forming a complete sentence though, my blog would probably just be one long, rambling sentence, with lots of pictures of food. 

Sounds great! We’ll teach you! 

BritMums has five copies of Allison Pearon's novel "I Don't Know How She Does It" to give away. Just leave a comment below letting us know you'd like a copy and we'll randomly select the winners by next week (UK only please).