Having three children means that you have to be organised, versatile and patient. It’s a balancing act. Feeding them, making sure they do their homework, getting clothes ready for the next day.

Bedtime, particularly, requires great skill. Getting them to bed at a reasonable time so that you can have time to yourself is an art form itself.

Last night they were all in the play room. ‘Come on!’ I yelled. ‘It’s time for bed!’

‘Hang on, we’re doing something!’ they all hollered back.

‘Well finish what ever it is and get ready for bed! Now!’ I retorted.

‘Just a minute!’

A few minutes passed and still no sign that they were getting ready for bed. So I knocked on the playroom door and went in.

There they were, playing a game on their computer.

It was ‘The Sims’ and they were having trouble getting the characters to bed so they could turn it off.