Life is about relationships, nothing else matter

Frances is 47. Married mum of two. Homemaker. Likes looking at the finer details of life.

How are you?

I like getting older. I have been lucky in relationships in my life. I’ve come from a stable, happy family and I am recreating that in my own family. I'm healthy and interested in looking after myself physically and mentally. I am well because I am happy. 

What do you think about kids?

I love my children. My ducks are not swans. I really enjoy them and they’re nice people and that’s enough.

How do you feel about marriage?

I like being married. I wish I’d got married earlier. He’s allowed me to be the person I want to be. 

What’s your most memorable experience?

Giving birth. It was utterly blissful. I hated being pregnant and I hated breast feeding but giving birth - bloody hell that was amazing. Women are amazing.

How do other people see you?

More confident than I am. I give off a vibe that I don’t need people and everything is ok but it isn’t!

What brings you down?

When my lovely bubble is burst. I hate it when life is frenetic. I like tranquility. Bad moods bring me down and the impact they have on everyone. Generally I’m quite even keeled.

What are your dreams?

To maintain my life just the way it is. For my kids to be happy and carry on being so. To maintain my marriage. When my girls leave home I’d like to live overlooking Hyde Park. I’d like an interior shop or a tea shop. I’d like to do more travelling. Maybe even buy a flat in Paris. 

Where does all your energy go?

On my family. I enjoy the nurturing. I probably give a bit too much. Women are givers not takers.

What are your views on faith?

Religion is a phenomenon created by men to control money and women. It’s the route to all evil. I think spirituality allows you fewer rules. It’s the rules that end up breaking the religious process. I believe we are in control. There’s much more than just flesh and blood that leads us. Spirituality comes from us, not a god. 

How do you see yourself?

I can’t believe I’m this old! I don’t feel any different than I did at thirty. I’m a homely person, quite calm and loving. Sometimes I think I could be nicer. I have quite a lot going on in my head. I get frightened that people, even good friends might want too much of me. I find people too invasive. I’m at peace being on my own. 

What do you like about yourself?

I am emotionally ambitious. I think we have a responsibility to better ourselves and to do things that bring us happiness and peace. I write things down - that makes me happy.

I quite like everything about myself. I don’t hate myself or I’d change things. 

What do you think about body image?

Sadly it matters and particularly for women. Sometimes I think it’s society that puts the pressure on us and sometimes it’s ourselves. I hate it when girls think that being pretty is enough because it’s not. 

Most people look better in their natural form. Your body is not an apartment that you rent, you have to live in it the whole time. Keep moving or your body or it won’t think it’s alive. Eat stuff you like not what you're addicted to. Sugar is addictive, don’t eat too much of it. And don’t eat stuff with ingredients you don’t understand.

What do you think about life?

Life is about relationships - nothing else matters.

What would you like to leave for the next generation?

To be able to love. To provide my children with the strength to know that life is ok and it will be ok. I want them to see the world as an opportunity. A peaceful place not a scary place. My family was my rock to fall back on, I want to be that rock for them too.

Are you free?

90% of me is free but I’m tied to people, sometimes too tied. So I’m not entirely free but I wouldn't want to be either.