What is it? When a parent ensures their child has a busier schedule than David Cameron, fitting in hours of sports clubs, music lessons and any other hobbies you might care to think of, not to mention school, homework and the small matters of eating

with other parents?(a) Strangely, I find them rather stand-offish. Which is rich considering the outfits they turn up in. I’ve even offered fashion advice, and had it flung back in my face.(b) Unfortunately, yes. (c) Well, they always greet me with broad

Le Cookie by Mickael Benichou (Ryland Peters & Small, £9.99)If there were to be a dessert Olympics, the two nations that would surely have the competition licked would be France and the good ole’ US of A. One, the purveyors of Parisian pâtisserie, pretty pastel-hued macaroons and...

Travelling with a family can be stressful but for a single parent it can all seem like too much. Specialist tour operator Small Families offers group holidays for single parents to various European destinations.Tel: 01763 226567 or visit their new

We've all been here before, so what do you do when you recognise that your downstairs brain has taken over and you have begun to lose your rational mind?First, do no harm. Close your mouth to avoid saying something you'll regret. Put your hands behind your back to avoid rough phy...

invention, the park bench, where you can feed your mind with a few lines of choice prose or poetry rather than tales of Thomas The Tank Engine.3. Train children to serve youRather than the parent serving the child, it should be the other way round. As soon

carpet in beautiful gowns by legendary designers such as Oscar de la Renta or Chanel, but also looks comfortably chic in Helmut Lang jeans and a fitted blazer whilst running around New York City.Email your choice of most stylish celebrity parent to

Do you remember everything you learnt at school? Or do you struggle to help with homework as you find all the facts have simply dropped out of your head? A new series of books devoted to five subject areas – I Used To Know That: English, Maths, History, Geography and General Scie...

Dubbed “A Week Of Sleep For Exhausted Parents”, the Almyra’s Hypnos Week Ritual aims to restore your sleep pattern. Treatments include reflexology, Oriental head massage and reiki alongside an Almyra signature bath. Your evening meals can include

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman Square Peg, £20You may not have heard of Deb Perelman, but among the foodie community of New York, she is held in reverential esteem. Cooking, photographing and blogging from her bijou Manhattan kitchen, mother-of-one Perelman racks up...