to apply sunscreen. Next day, we were up early for our third theme park in three days. Gazing out of the window on our 90-minute shuttle bus ride to Tampa, there were so many billboards for so many theme parks, from Disney to Universal, Lion Country

school, where she was given homework on her first day, and now she has to carry a very heavy Gap backpack bulging with books. She’s wearing a pink T-shirt and jeans and her hair is in a ponytail. Her hair is a perfect Ginny Weasley auburn and it’s grown

, but can take up a lot of time. They need training, they need walking and you need to pick up their poo – which, having just got your child out of nappies, may not be appealing. Many breeds also absolutely hate being left on their own all day, so are best

on delicious Maison Blanc cupcakes. Amid the mild chaos, Evie stops every so often to give us a heartfelt X Factor rendition of Hallelujah, while Amelie is surreptitiously feeding Snowy, the family dog, the tastiest cupcake he’s ever had.Our impromptu front

. “My own children have been incredibly patient testers in the past, but they are getting a bit old for that now,” says Nicole. Such juggling of work and family has been made easier by working alongside other mothers. “We try to share things out, so

and the mastery, Mister Rob, as he also styles himself, is it. Big and ebullient, he is the sort of person who stands out in a crowd. A fact further enhanced by his strong Brummie accent, and penchant for letting his words topple out on top of each other in his

To TeaApril 3–September 2We’ve all been there: you are just sitting down to a civilised tea party, when a big cat gatecrashes, devours your comestibles and chaos ensues. Children who have missed out on this experience can go along for the ride when

of the villains… She will catch on quickly.4. Use a knife and forkSome children find it hard to master the art of eating with cutlery, so let her practice as much as possible. Give her her own cutlery set with her favourite design or character. Have family

Stress, Stress, rush, rush… Hold on there now! Isn’t it nice to occasionally put a full stop to the frantic pace of family life and take a well-deserved breather? And if you can do so in the blissful haven of a spa, where gorgeous candles glow, soft

went ahead and created a prototype. This first prototype was thoroughly tested out by little Ilias. It proved so useful, and versatile – we were using it day and night (!) – I thought I must turn it into a business idea and allow other new parents