I’m sick of apologising for having an only child
Speaking as the mother of one young son, I must say this parenting lark is a breeze. A doddle. An absolute cinch. I mean, let’s face it:…
Dear Richard: ‘I’ve lied to my mother about why I’m missing the family Christmas this year’
Dear Richard, The lockdown Christmas last year was the best one I’ve had in a long time: no squabbling aunts or dry turkey. Instead, my boyfriend and…
A psychologist’s guide to talking to your children about porn
After a report this week revealed that half of children are exposed to online pornography before they leave primary school, parents are being urged to talk to…
Parents are fighting a losing battle in the war on porn
I’m not sure at what age squeamishness about sex kicks in but I reckon the po-facery starts round about the point you stop laughing uproariously the moment…
‘My husband and I can’t agree on how much to spend on Christmas presents’
Dear A&E, I come from quite a ‘conservative at Christmas’ family, where we give one meaningful gift, but Christmas at my in-laws’ is a present-fest: they spend…
Like Jennifer Aniston, I’m tired of the ignorant assumption I chose a career over having children
I don’t think people consider “childless by circumstance” a real situation. If you want to get pregnant, just get knocked up, right? The number of people who…
Graternity leave is just as important as being able to work from home – and long overdue
To graternity and beyond! What splendid news that grandparents are to be given a week off when a new grandchild is born. It’s inspired, empathetic and makes…
‘Life in an empty nest was exciting, so having our son back was a big adjustment’
Like many parents in the same position, Jo and her husband, Jeremy, are happy to help their son get started on his career path – but cohabiting…
How to buy the best family car in 2021 – and grab a bargain
It’s a contentious question. As the SUV craze sweeps the country, many people are asking: do we really need them? For families, it’s clear where the advantages…
Important life lessons are taught at a nativity play – schools throw these away at their peril
To say I was anxious was an understatement. As I sat on the hard wooden chairs of a slightly stuffy assembly hall, my hands were clammy as…
How to be a modern grandparent: 10 rules you might not know but definitely should
1. Can I have a say in what they’re called? Before the birth perhaps but definitely not after. Our whole family has spent ages listening to names…
‘I discovered my mother had been lying to me my whole life’
When her grandchildren were born, Helen says her mother was dismissive and uninterested. She denounced Blossom, at one, as ‘a little madam’, Bailey as a ‘bad-mannered boy’….