How do you feel your role as a Mum has evolved over the course of having your three children?

I've become more comfortable in the role and more forgiving of my inadequacies. I still feel guilty but I don't angst nearly as much as I used to. I've been that little bit less anxious with each child and I've just adored discovering who they are. It's true that they're born with their personalities and you just have to stand back and watch it unfold. That's pretty awe-inspiring. Like the best surprise package ever.

As a Mum it can be easy to become known only as "Mum", what is one thing you do for yourself to ensure you still feel like Mia?

Well, I've given up trying to go to the loo or have a shower alone but I do try to exercise every day if I can. I have a treadmill and stepping machine at home and I've exercised that way since I had my first child. It's the only way you can ensure that you can exercise after becoming a parent because you don’t have to rely on anyone to look after the kids! That helps me stay sane. Also writing. Whether it's my website, my column or just on Twitter that gives me a sense of self separate to them, although I often write about parenthood so it all blurs and that's mostly fine.

What is your most treasured memory of motherhood so far?

The birth days of each of my children.  I have such vivid, beautiful memories of each of those days and I wish I could live them a million times over.

Tell us about your latest project with Vicks Road to Relief.

This is a brilliant campaign by Vicks aimed at saving the lives of 2 million children in developing countries who die every year of pneumonia. Measles is one of the leading causes of pneumonia so by immunising as many children as possible, it can be the difference between life and death. All you have to do is buy any Vicks product marked "Road To Relief" and you will pay for one immunisation of a child in a developing country. It's that simple. Or go to the Vicks Road To Relief Facebook page and click to become a fan. One click equals one immunisation.

Why did you become an ambassador for Vicks Road to Relief?

Like so many parents, I completely take for granted the cheap, easy, reliable access we have to proper medical care for our kids.
I passionately believe in trying to make a difference for kids in developing countries and the frontline of what needs to be done is health care. Immunisation is such a basic thing that we barely think about it and yet in countries like Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh, 2 million children die every year from pneumonia. By immunising these kids against measles which is one of the leading causes of pneumonia, Vicks is helping to save lives. The more people who know about it and the more I can spread the word, the better.

After your recent trip to Papua New Guinea, are there any particular values you've brought back that you want to pass on to your children?

One thing I noticed was how loudly the kids laugh. They have so little and yet they laugh so easily and from their bellies. They take such delight in the smallest things - someone pulling a funny face is enough to send them into hysterics. I saw one little boy pulling a toy car made out of a plastic water bottle with lids for wheels. He just treasured it and it made me feel a bit sick about the excess of material possessions our children have. It's important for me to educate my kids about the fact they are privileged. I don't want them to feel guilty but I want them to be aware and have empathy for people who are in different situations. That’s a crucial life skill.

How were you affected by your trip? Are there things in your own life that you've made changes to since your return?

It was life-changing. I'm still involved with one of the schools we saw and I send them all my kids' old books and I buy other bits and pieces to send them. Those kids are so desperate to learn and so optimistic about their futures but in reality, it's very tough for them to do the things they dream of like going to university and becoming doctors and lawyers and engineers.

What are some suggestions you might have for how others can make small changes in their lives?

Any charitable campaign that allows you to help someone else while doing something you'd normally do anyway - like buy Vicks products for your family - is such a smart and easy way to make a difference. Think before you buy and try to make your money work twice as hard by choosing to reward companies who are trying to help others.

Vicks Road to Relief provides an easy way for Australian parents to make an enormous, real difference to the lives of underprivileged children. Every specially marked Vicks product purchased pays for one child in a developing country to be immunised against measles, to help in the fight against pneumonia.  Pneumonia is a serious complication of measles and a common cause of death associated with measles. Each year almost two million children in developing countries die from this preventable disease (1) – yet it receives little attention.

All funds raised by the Vicks Road to Relief will be donated to UNICEF, who will ensure that the measles immunisations are administered in the places where they are most urgently needed. This includes Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh & Vietnam.

website:  http://www.vicksroadtorelief.com/

¹ Global Action Plan for Prevention & Cure of Pneumonia (GAPP),  WHO/UNICEF, 2009