Nadia Sawalha says she feels like a ‘bad mum’

Loose Women presenter Nadia Sawalha says she finds motherhood really hard, and describes herself as a work in progress.

Speaking to Kate Thornton on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time, she said she imagined she would be a true “earth mother” before having children.

“I thought I was going to be brilliant,” she told Kate. “I don't find being a mum the easiest thing in the world and I've really struggled with that... Even though I have two incredible children, all I see is where I'm a bad mother.”

Giovanna Fletcher, co-guest and host of Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, who was also on the podcast, offered words of comfort: “I don't believe a mum if she says she's never cried in a cupboard” she told Nadia. “But your kids are alive. They're happy and they get on. Shouldn't you be proud of that?”

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Nadia has two daughters, Kiki and Maddy, with husband Mark Adderley. Both girls have been home-schooled since 2015 after Nadia saw them struggling with mainstream education.

“I think you have children thinking you're going to teach them stuff,” explained Nadia. “What happens is they teach you more than you teach them.”

The TV presenter is taking part in a trek to the Himalayas in October to raise money for cancer charity, Coppafeel. As well as physical training in preparation for the trek, Nadia revealed that she’s also working on herself to be a better person.

“I'm on a constant journey to try and be better,” she told Kate. “When I'm in the moment, I'm genuinely joyful but when I retract back to my safe place – my home, my bed, my whatever – the voices in my head are really terrible. I've had therapy and I've had CBT. I'm very much a work in progress.”

You can hear Nadia and Giovanna talk about the upcoming trek, alongside Coppafeel founder Kris Hallenga, in the recent episode of White Wine Question Time. To find out more about the trek or to donate, visit coppafeel.org.