From the delights of her toddler pulling down her trousers to her daughter attempting to erase the lines from her face, a typical day for mother-of-three Sophie McCarthy is nothing short of eventful.
Embracing their daily escapades, the Liverpool-native decided to document her adventurous parenting voyage online, propelling her into the realm of comedy.
“Children always have a way of saying amusing and sometimes embarrassing things,” shares the 38-year-old during our Zoom conversation.
“At a recent fancy dress party where I dressed as Cher, I showed my daughter Evelyn a Cher video. We discussed Cher’s age, and she promptly questioned, ‘How is it possible that she’s older than granny but looks younger than you?’
“This led to a discussion about studio lighting, filters, and makeup. At one point, I even mentioned to her, ‘If Cher were sitting in our kitchen right now and you examined her closely, you would probably agree that mommy looks younger.’”
Renowned comedian Sophie McCartney. Image: Karla Gowlett. (Karla Gowlett)
With a massive online following of over 1.1 million, a bestselling book titled “Tired and Tested: The Wild Ride into Parenthood,” and a thriving podcast, Sophie has embarked on a stand-up comedy journey of her own.
“When I initially started touring, I was torn about leaving my kids behind, but then I discovered the beauty of silence. After enjoying a good two months at home, I’m excited to hit the road again and kick off the next phase of the tour,” she exclaims, looking forward to her inaugural visit to Belfast.
Recognized for her astute observations on adulting, Sophie’s live performance promises to take spectators on a lively transformation from a non-maternal wild child of the noughties through the stages of dating, childbirth, physical transformations, to navigating school WhatsApp groups.
Liverpool’s esteemed comedian and mother of three, Sophie McCartney. IMAGE: Karla Gowlett (Karla Gowlett)
Describing her show as “a journey from youthful exuberance to combating lice,” she admits to enduring some lingering trauma from the latter experience.
“At my daughter’s birthday party, as the kids gleefully bounced on a castle, she was scratching incessantly. Upon inspecting her hair, I found a louse the size of a horse’s head. In a moment of panic, I screamed, probably scarring her for life.
“Subsequently, I had to inform all the parents present at the party about the lice situation, akin to informing past partners about contracting an infection.”
Before welcoming her children Jack (10), Evelyn (8), and Nate (18 months), Sophie, being the youngest in her family, had no preconceived notions about parenthood.
Surprised by how naturally she adapted to her new role, she imparts some parenting wisdom for our readers.
“Never abandon them in a store, and avoid involving social services,” she promptly advises.
In a heartfelt tone, she emphasizes that the best advice for parents is “not to compare themselves to others.”
“At 28, I was the first among my friends to become a parent, which left me feeling isolated. It’s challenging not to compare and feel inadequate. Mothers often place immense pressure on themselves, but ultimately, children crave your time.
“During school breaks, there’s a misconception that we need elaborate plans that cost a fortune, but children simply desire your presence, whether playing Monopoly or engaging in simple activities.”
In contrast to the idealized images of motherhood on Instagram, Sophie’s content is celebrated for its candid portrayal of life as a 30-something mother – from dealing with runny poo in swim diapers to indulging in After Eights for breakfast.
“Halloween, with its pumpkin patch photos, is particularly challenging for me. We opt for a £3.50 pumpkin from the Co-op, where I can conveniently grab a cheap bottle of wine,” she chuckles.
A recent parental triumph for Sophie was successfully linking her son’s Switch Fortnight account to his PS5 account.
“After three weeks of effort and numerous calls and emails with Epic Games, I managed to accomplish this task. If not for my intervention, he would have lost around £20 worth of V-Bucks and all his skins, making me his hero,” she gushes.
And the lowest parenting moment she’s faced so far?
“One day, when my daughter was very young, she picked up dog feces in a park and hurled it at me,” she laughs.
“Each stage of childhood presents its unique challenges. Currently, tween drama mainly revolves around PS5 time, but the other day, Nate, in a fit of rage, attempted to pull down my trousers because I wouldn’t let him near the oven. Logic doesn’t always prevail in such situations.
“While some days are tough, I always aim to convey in my comedic writing that I am incredibly fortunate to have three wonderful children. They’ve given me a fresh perspective on life and steered me towards my current endeavors.”
Sophie rose to prominence with her viral video parody of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” in 2017, propelling her Facebook following from a few hundred to 80,000 within days.
With a lineage boasting musical talent – her father’s first cousin is Beatles icon Sir Paul McCartney – could we anticipate a Beatles-inspired parody from her in the future?
”‘Live and Let Die’ would certainly make for an amusing choice for parents,” she muses.
“When I created the Ed Sheeran parody, I was naive and neglected to secure the rights. I simply envisioned my friends watching it, but to my surprise, the world took notice, and Universal expressed some concerns.”
“If it were as simple as calling up Paul, I would do so, although even he lacks rights to a portion of his own work,” adds Sophie, who obtained permission from Sony to produce her lockdown-inspired MC Hammer parody, “Can’t Teach This.”
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In the past year, she unveiled her debut fiction novel, “Mother Hens,” revolving around four best friends embarking on a memorable hen-do in Ibiza.
“There’s a certain allure in crafting an entirely new world with characters who express thoughts and actions that may not be permissible in reality.”
While she already has plans for two more novels, Sophie is resolute about not expanding her brood any further.
“My daughter overheard a conversation between my husband and me and proceeded to inform her teachers that her dad was going to have a ‘special injection’ to prevent more babies.
“He wishes it was that straightforward. I believe there’s a bit more to it,” she jests about her husband’s upcoming vasectomy.
Award-winning comedian Sophie McCartney delves into the unpredictable realm of parenthood with her stand-up show, “Tired and Tested.” IMAGE: Karla Gowlett (Karla Gowlett)
With a bustling year ahead, encompassing plans for a second tour and discussions about a potential TV adaptation of her book, Sophie remains open to the prospect of joining a television panel show, emphasizing her preference for bringing laughter to audiences and seeing her children happy.