This is Amanda Holden after all (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)
First on the dance floor. Knocking back shots. The odd sexy move.
That’s how I spent my time at two of my children’s milestone parties.
So, no, I don’t think Amanda Holden is in the wrong for doing similar at her daughter, Lexi’s, 18th this weekend. In fact, I applaud her for it.
At a similar age to Amanda, I feel lucky to still be a party-loving girl and to be able to live my best life.
Growing old and staying young at heart can be challenging, but it’s something I pride myself on – and I know my kids love it.
Suzanne and Amanda (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
They are now 21 and 23, but at both their 18th and 21st parties, I was the life and soul – just like Amanda.
OK, I may not have worn a sparkly white pair of trousers with a coordinating top with a slit at the back to show off my body, but Amanda’s choice of clothing is known to be sexy.
And frankly, if you can look that good at her age, why wouldn’t you rock it at a family celebration?
She’s known for her vivacious personality (Picture: @noholdenback/Instagram)
I’ve done the limbo, got the crowd dancing with a conga line and grabbed the mic to sing.
Sure, my kids would probably cringe if I busted certain moves (I wouldn’t dream of twerking or doing the latest TikTok dance) but their friends think everything else I do is hysterical.
To them, I’m the ‘cool mum’ that just wants to have fun. And I’m pretty sure Lexi and her friends think the same.
This is Amanda Holden after all. She’s known for her vivacious personality. Her high energy kicks and outlook on life is a joy to see.
If she were to be quiet, sit in a corner and wear a polo neck, then we’d be worried.
My kids’ friends think everything else I do is hysterical (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
She has always been a go-getter, but in my most recent interview with her, she told me: ‘Since turning 50 I just want to go out there and grab life by the balls.’ A sentiment I whole-heartedly agree with.
Of course, there has been much criticism of older women – particularly celebrities – who need to cover up, slow down and not be so out there.
That’s evident enough from the comment section on the post the 52-year-old shared on Instagram of her singing on the microphone.
Trolls quickly popped up to criticise the mum of two for hogging the limelight. ‘Is this your daughter’s party or is it about you?’ One user wrote.
Another follower added: ‘The fake sexy dancing is shocking.’
Some even said she embarrassed her kids (which I doubt is true) and even if they were, that’s part of our job, to rib our offspring occasionally.
The good thing about Amanda is that she will be able to turn a blind eye to these comments.
No one was hurt by either Amanda or I having fun at our children’s parties (Picture: Suzanne Baum)
She told me how she no longer cares about what people think of her, remaining steadfastly unapologetic for all of her life choices.
‘I don’t care,’ she said. ‘Maybe it’s empowering or perhaps dangerous to feel like that, but this is the real me.’
Let’s also not forget that, even though Amanda is a celebrity, she’s also a mum with all the same emotions as any normal person.
She probably shares a lot of every other parent’s worries, hopes and dreams (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
At a recent interview, I overheard her chatting to Lexi. It sounded like she was talking about driving lessons and the conversation between the two echoed one I had shared with my kids.
‘Be careful. Text me when you’re home. Have your wits about you.’
She probably shares a lot of every other parent’s worries, hopes and dreams – she just has better clothes while doing it.
More from Platform
Platform is the home of Metro.co.uk’s first-person and opinion pieces, devoted to giving a platform to underheard and underrepresented voices in the media.
Find some of our best reads of the week below:
As part of Degrees of Separation, our ongoing series on family estrangement, Han-Son Lee reflects on the casual cruelty of his father, their non-existent relationship, and how he felt when his dad passed away.
With rising childcare costs forcing more and more people to rely on their parents for babysitting advice, Kat Romero insists that she’ll never put pressure on her mum and dad to help look after her son.
Rebecca Gossage shares the devastating account of her father’s death after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the failures at various levels of the NHS that saw him unable to receive proper treatment.
And finally, in our latest ‘So, How Did It Go’ feature on noteworthy first dates, Helen Aitchison recounts an experience involving a catfish, a kiss, and a lot of toothpaste.
At the end of the day no one was hurt by either Amanda or I having fun at our children’s parties.
Besides, if you ask me, seeing your child turn 18, 21 or even 30 is just as important a milestone in a parents’ life as it is theirs.
So, embrace it. Have fun. Get drunk (if that’s what you want to do). Or – as Amanda did – dance along to Sophie Ellis Bexter’s hit song Murder on the Dancefloor like you would have when it first came out.
You won’t upset anyone important. Anyone that is offended just needs to shake it off and bust a move themselves.
Just because we are ageing, doesn’t mean we need to grow up.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
Share your views in the comments below.
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First on the dance floor. Knocking back shots. The odd sexy move. That’s how I spent my time at two of my children’s milestone parties.