4 CAN I EVER Have A RELAXING TIME In PUBLIC WITH THE CHILDREN?

you do – rarely – see children in their buggies who are quite happy to browse the shops/sit back as their mums spritz perfume at the cosmetics counter. But this has never happened to me! My boys hated being strapped into a buggy, preferring to walk/hop/ climb on things.

It doesn’t get better as they get older. Take eating out. You think you can eat out a bit more, but by the age of three, they’ve become fussy eaters who don’t like sitting down in restaurants. It’s not my ideal way to spend

£60. Far better to choose activities they like where they can use up all their energy – the park, the farm… the park again.

And as for public transport, buses and trains are fine, but I’m not a fan of planes. There’s nowhere to go and nothing to look at. Shopping? Do it all online. The internet really is a parental lifesaver. Top Tip When you’re at the end of your tether, keep a stash of desperation lollipops in your handbag. They take quite a while to eat and should keep your children quiet.