I swapped football for ballet and tutus

Jamie HallworTH, 29, lives in ashton-under-lyne, Greater manchester, with his wife lauren, 29, who works in the nHS, and their daughters lacey, eight, Bryleigh, five, and two-year-old twins Tilly and Heidi.

JAMIE SAYS: Sitting in a Saturday morning ballet class, I do marvel at how my life has changed. I’ve swapped football with friends for tutus and pirouettes.

I really wanted a son. Someone to kick a ball about with and to carry on my family name, because both my sisters plan to change theirs when they get married.

With our first baby, I hardly had time to think about whether I wanted a girl or a boy — it was so busy and exciting. But the second time around, when the 20-week scan revealed it was a girl, I admit there was a flicker of disappointment. At that stage we weren’t planning to have more children, and I thought my last chance for a son had gone.

When we decided to try again, and Lauren became pregnant, I thought maybe it would be third time’s a charm! But it wasn’t to be, and Lauren and I agreed it was probably better as our home was so girlorientated by then.

I’ve learned it’s all about the details when you have girls. They must have the right coloured hair bows, and if one gets a French plait I have to do one for all of them!

We can’t leave the house without being bombarded with comments from passers-by. Some of the best were: ‘Is that why you lost your hair?’ ‘Do you have two bathrooms?’ and ‘They must cost you a fortune!’ I just laugh along.

People tell me that when girls are older they stay closer than boys do, and I hope that’s true.

I see the bond Lauren has with her mum and I want to be as close to the girls when they grow up.

WIFE LAUREN SAYS: I tell Jamie he was destined to be surrounded by women! I was desperate for our first baby to be a girl, because I’m an only child and very close to my mum, so I really wanted that bond with my own daughter.

I did feel a bit disappointed each time for Jamie, as I knew he’d have loved a son. Practically though, it’s so much easier only having one gender. They’re such a little pink pack, I couldn’t be happier.