I was telling a couple of the Mums at school and one said “Oh, one glass won’t hurt” but I don’t want to. I was wondering if anyone else ever had a glass of wine when pregnant?

One of the other Mum’s suggested having a wine glass filled with ribena - mind over matter, I thought that was a good idea.

The other thing I’ve missed has been soft cheese - I was exactly the same when I was pregnant with my daughter. We have a picture of me on my first night at home stuffing my face with stilton - I can still remember how good it tasted!

I just seem to be eating constantly at the minute - there is no filling me! I seem to be particularly addicted to salt and vinegar crisps - why is it never something healthy? I finish one packet and I could go and eat another. I am also loving olives - again, I was exactly the same when pregnant with my daughter. Maybe it’s another girl?

Can you believe we are in November already? This means that Christmas is just around the corner - I’ve already been thinking about Christmas presents - I have quite a few actually.

I made the mistake of buying some and then the couple in question said not to buy anymore - am quite relieved actually as it does mount up!

Anyone have any cost-cutting tips this Christmas?!  Please send them on!

It is so hard to pick one and it seems even harder second time around because you want one as nice as the moniker you gave your first child!

When it comes to girls we seem to be on the same page and we agree on quite a few but when it comes to naming a boy we are polls apart. I actually find myself looking at him and thinking “I can’t believe you like that name”. 

I’m sure he feels the same way. My husband though does not do compromise, not on any level!

I’m starting to think that I’m carrying the baby so he should give in - I’m going to go through the pain of child birth so surely I should have the final say?

Dream on Joanne - he won’t back down.

I think I’ll have to start whispering my favourite names into the husband’s ear at night.  Hopefully he’d wake up the next morning and declare my favourite name is one that he likes. I’ll let you know if it works.

It was awful - by the time I’d walked the daughter to school I was panting like an 80-year-old with a 20-a-day smoking habit. I went to see the GP and my iron levels were low - not surprising as they’d also been low when I was pregnant with the daughter.

After a week of taking iron tablets I am starting to feel as though I have more energy.

Pregnancy second time around is really strange - you just have to get on with it! You don’t even see the midwife that much. The last time I saw her was in August and I won’t see her now until November.

First time around was completely different, I felt as though I was a pin cushion from the number of blood tests they do. My wee was tested every few weeks and I had a chart which I had to fill in to record how many times I’d felt the baby kick that day.

If nothing else, the appointments were a lovely excuse to come out of work - I have no such excuse at the minute - especially as I am working with the husband. He was definitely much more attentive first time around. He bought me flowers and made me tea on a regular basis.

No such look this time - he’s got me working more hours, doing the majority of the childcare, doing all the supermarket shopping and he still expects sex! MEN!!!!!!!! 

I was sat in the waiting room having bump envy - I was eyeing up all the other expectant mothers trying to judge how far gone they were and was my bump the biggest. I’m turning into the Queen Bee! Well, I say turning - I’ve always been like this!

Anyway, we got called in after just a 10 minute wait - during which time I was panicing that I wouldn’t feel he/she - even though the baby was moving around, then I was concerned that he/she would be too small or they would slip up and tell me the gender.

Anyway, in true Joanne style none of my worries materialised!

The scan was truly wonderful and the baby really performed! All is well - so it looks like we will be having a baby come February!

I seem to be in the minority here - but I’m not going to find out what sex the baby is. The husband really doesn’t want to know and I think it’s one of the few surprises you get in life.

I tell you what though, I can’t believe how you are just left to things nowadays. I haven’t seen the midwife since last month and I won’t see her now until November but I suppose I’m having this scan inbetween and I am in good health.

I am really tired though. I keep waking up in the early hours of the morning and then I can’t go back to sleep!

I can also feel the baby a lot - which is absolutely lovely but I definitely didn’t feel the daughter this early on.

The one downside to my pregnany is that I don’t really feel pregnant! I was the Queen Bee when expecting the daughter and the husband would regularly make me tea - it was always cheese on toast or beans on toast but it was a meal all the same.

I even got a bouquet of flowers off him, so excited was he that we were starting a family.

This time I have had NOTHING and if I ever complain that the daughter has been playing up I get told “Well, what do you think you’re going to be like when you have two?”.

He drives me mad sometimes - as I do him I’m sure.

Oh well, I shall let you all know how I get on on Wednesday!

I got out of the shower - the husband was still in bed - I woke the daughter and brought her out of her room, balancing her school uniform in my teeth - the husband was still in bed.

I went downstairs, leaving the daughter upstairs and made breakfast - I shouted upstairs and the husband - was still in bed!

I shouted at them so the husband decided to get up and he said he would get the daughter dressed after breakfast - hallelujah!

I then dropped the daughter off at school and went to work, I then picked her up at 11.30, took her home to get changed and took her to my Mum’s for a few hours. And the husband wonders why I fall asleep at 9pm!

On Saturday I had terrible stomach cramps and an upset tummy - I am a drama queen but I was paranoid that I was going into labour - obviously disasterous at 17 weeks pregnant!

After much twisting and turning the husband said “Go and sleep in the spare room”. There’s sympathy for you.

Wasn’t it Jerry Hall who said a man wanted a wife to be a chef in the kitchen and a whore in the bedroom? Never a truer word. Mind you, she’s now divorced from Mick Jagger!

We have a great interview about reigniting your sex life. It’s on air on Tuesday 15th September between 4-5pm.

I know it’s a natural process but she just seems to be growing up so quickly! She was quite excited about going there but I’ve been moody all week and I think that’s why!

She looked adorable in her school uniform this morning - she loved her pinafore dress but she wasn’t as keen on her knitted cardigan. My Nan knitted it for her and they are lovely. She was complaining that they “itched” her. She is so like her Daddy! He’s the same with wool.

I dropped her off, she was clutching on to my hand really tightly and we seemed to wait for ages before the gates were opened!

She was ushered into the class by a teaching assistant - I think - and that was it! I don’t think we’re allowed to go into the room like we did in playschool.

I felt awful leaving her there and I cried all the way into work. Pathetic aren’t I!

I just hope she is having a good time. I am clock watching - just waiting until I can pick her up and check she is OK and had a good day.

The husband seems totally unfazed by it all. Men are definitely made differently to us - and I don’t care what anyone says. I don’t think he even gives the daughter a second thought!

In my next life I want to come back as a man!

According to the breakfast show’s findings some Mums have had to give birth in lifts, toilets and hospital car parks. Now is that true or have they just not reached the hospital bed in time?

I know when I gave birth to my daughter there was a woman coming up in the lift with her baby’s head between her legs - nothing to do with the hospital, she just hadn’t reached the unit in time.

I suppose there lies the argument. Maternity units are closing down and so Mums are being forced to travel further away to reach a hospital. Mine is just five minutes down the road but I do know of people who have had to travel up to an hour.

According to figures obtained by the Conservative party, the number of women giving birth outside of hospital care is on the rise.

Last year in England almost 4,000 births were recorded in locations other than a hospital bed, a figure which had significantly grown from the 3,500 cases of 2007. Examples of these places include midwife offices, caravans and ambulances.

Labour have cut the number of maternity beds by 22 per cent since 1997, and previous research reveals that maternity units in England refused care to women in labour 553 times in 2008 because they had reached their capacity.

It is suspected that these figures are underestimated because several hospitals failed to return all of their data.

Not great is it? I think the care varies from hospital to hospital.

A woman I know was once told that she couldn’t be ready to give birth as she didn’t sound like she was in enough pain! How patronising.

More and more of us are being asked to consider home births aren’t we. I should know - I’m expecting baby number two. Yes, you heard it hear first. Our second little Gallacher will be due in February - again.

I have already been asked to consider a home birth. I’m not sure though. What do you think? Let me know what your experiences have been and then I can make a more informed decision.

The daughter loved the beach and was splashing around in the water for ages. She’s not like me - I would’ve been on the other side of the beach at her age - nowhere near the sea! I’m not very good in it now to be honest.

I was saying to my husband that we always go on and on about how lovely Cornwall is - which it is - but we sometimes forget the beauty of North Wales which for us is just on our doorstep.

Our lovely weekend was brought to a halt though when the daughter and I went for a day trip on the train to Llandudno. What an absolute nightmare! I don’t think I will ever use the train again!

There were 10 of us going and so I pre-booked the tickets and reserved seats - including two for a three and four year-old - they are entitled to travel for free but I paid for them to ensure they had their own seats. I felt the train journey would be part of the day out.

What a nightmare!

When we got on the train NONE of our seats had been reserved. Not on any part of the journey. What is the point in offering this service if the company doesn’t reserve the seats?

As a result the children were sat all over the carriage - the two younger children didn’t even have seats despite my paying for them.

When the conductor came round I told him about the situation and he was very unhelpful.

He said I had no legal obligation to sit in the seats which I had reserved and he couldn’t ask the 10 people who were sat in our seats to move. To be fair to those people they had just sat down - it wasn’t their fault that they had failed to reserve them.

The conductor said I could ask them to move if I wanted to but that was all he could suggest.

I wasn’t feeling brave enough to go and ask them to move!

Anyway, 10 minutes later and he must’ve had a change of heart because he told them about the situation and said that I wanted to know if they would move!

To be fair they did but we had the same experience coming back - no seats reserved again! I kept my mouth shut this time but I have complained and I won’t be travelling with the company in question again - an absolutely diabolical service.

Is it just me or is public transport just unreliable? Not what you need when you have a load of children with you.

They had a woman from a teaching union on and she was saying that her members and fellow teachers were not happy with this latest trend. She suggested that the staff were there to teach and having to change nappies would take them away from this vital role.

I must admit I was quite amazed that children as young as four could be starting school this September without being potty trained.

I’m sure that in an age when all children and people are equal some legislation exists somewhere which suggests that it would be discriminatory if you stopped kids from attending school because they are not “dry”.

I know in my daughter’s playgroup they don’t like them to come if they are still in nappies.

For me though it was an added insentive to get her done and dusted by two and a half.

The daughter was actually quite quick - it did take patience and perseverence but we got there and once she was dry during the day she refused to wear nappies at night.

I find it hard to believe that some parents would struggle to potty train their youngsters by the age of four. That said, I am only speaking from my own experiences and all children are different.

My Mum was adamant that my brother and I were dry quite quickly but I think parents forget and she also had the added insentive of getting us out of terry towelling nappies!

What have been your experiences of potty training?

If you need help and advice about potty training why not listen to this interview with Elizabeth Pantley.

” I loathe smug modern Mums,” she writes. However, she then asks “Why do I suddenly want to be one aged 50″.

This is a woman who has had a fantastic career as Editor of many glossy magazines. She wears all the latest designer labels and eats in the most famous restaurants…yet is something missing?

Throughout her article she slags off Mums from all walks of life.

Stay-at-home Mums are “always tired,” she says.

In the past she has moaned about Mums who leave work at six pm, leaving the men or motherless women to do the work!!

She has also advocated Mums paying for their own midwives and health visitors!

Me thinks the woman protests too much!

Has she forgotten that it’s our children who will help pay for her in her dotage? They are the taxpayers of tomorrow.

Yes, we Mums do think about our children - maybe too much - but we are showing that we are capable of caring for others and the wider society.

Since I became a Mum I have become involved in so much in our local community because personally I have seen how important it is. We have chosen to bring up our child here and I want the village where we live to flourish - but not just for her but other children too.

Mother Theresa I am not, but since having my daughter I have socialised with more people - from all walks of life and I am less judgemental.

I had a high-flying career and thought my job defined me and the salary too - since having the daughter that’s not as important and it certainly doesn’t separate me from a woman who is a GP, judge, shop assistant or cleaner.

We all work hard and we all contribute to society.

I just cannot believe some of the things women say about each other - Whatever happened to the sisterhood? At the end of the day we’re all just trying to keep our heads above water and survive.

One Mum who turned her life around is journalist Tanith Carey. She has great tips on juggling motherhood and work.

Tune in to hear her full interview this Thursday 30th July from 2pm.

She was saying that she’s worried about contracting it and then going into labour. She was saying that labour is difficult enough without having to go through it feeling ill! I suppose she has a point there - I’ve never really thought about it before.

She was saying that she’s normally very level headed and doesn’t worry about these things - now I feel better. You see I am the type of person to worry about these things and I think I’m justified!

We seem to be hearing so many different arguments though. One of the childbirth charities has even suggested maybe women trying to conceive should put off that decision for now.

It’s like the end of the world!

What about the suggestion not to travel? How could we realistically do that? If we all stopped going to work the economy would come to a halt.

My husband doesn’t seem concerned at all. Maybe I should take a leaf out of his book.

I am coming across as though I am slightly neurotic and don’t get me wrong I am slightly worried but I’m trying to keep it all into perspective. I am mainly worried about my 3-year-old. I panic enough if she’s under the weather ordinarily.

Simon and Jana are discussing the issue during Nipper News today (Tuesday 21st July) between 2 - 3pm.

If the daughter so much as sneezes I am considering whether to dial 999.

I know I am being over the top but there are rumours flying around constantly. I know someone who is keeping her daughter off from playschool because there were rumours that swine flu was in the school.

The problem seems to be that people have sore throats or flu-like symptoms and they’re being told it “could be” swine flu.

I have a friend who felt rough and full of cold. She called the GP and because she is asthmatic she is being treated with Tamiflu tablets but she hasn’t been tested for swine flu. However, it is now all around the village where we live that she has swine flu!

I feel quite sorry for her - she is being blamed for any epidemic we may have!

I do worry about the kids though especially after that poor girl died who didn’t seem to have any other medical problems.

I’ve obviously got too much time on my hands to be worrying about such things.

By the way, I have a great interview on Friday 17 July at 2pm. 

I will be speaking to a Mum who started her own business with a friend. They came up with a great idea for bathtime - over a glass of wine!! Find out what it was on Friday!

The music on the show is the perfect antidote for stressed out parents who just need to switch off for an hour, the first half hour is sun-kissed beats followed by relaxing classics and modern day hits. Plus, if you have a little baby then even better, great songs for them to fall asleep to.

Michelle Horn who presents the show also sounds great, as she has that laid back style that just makes you feel chilled out.

I have to admit I just sat back, read the paper and had lunch. I know you can’t do this every day but do remember it if you need to chill out during the day.

I highly recommend it!

The MID DAY CHILL, live every weekday from 12pm (UK time). x

I haven’t told the husband yet but the £2.99 bottle has gone - literally down the drain! She actually cleaned the shower more than she cleaned herself.

The husband wants to get her a shower cap now so we don’t have to wash her hair everytime she goes in there. Can’t see that going down too well to be honest!

I had to take her for her school booster last week. I was dreading it. Do you tell her why she’s going to the Doctor’s or do you just keep quiet?

She went in to see the nurse and she seemed to grasp what was going on. She had one needle but then she had to have another. She was holding on to me and saying “No Mummy, I don’t want it again”.

I felt awful - you naturally want to stop your child from being in any pain. I suppose in the long run that is exactly what I’m doing - it’ll protect her from contracting the severe form of measles further down the line. It was heartbreaking though!

She said to the nurse “I don’t want to see you again, I want to see the man.” She normally sees a male GP!

She had some sweets though and seemed to forget about it after that.

Anyway, on another note - if like me you are struggling wth your finances. We have a great interview coming up. I’m going to be speaking to Christopher Smart from ParentGuidetoMoney. Chris has three young daughters and knows how hard it can be financially. He’ll be on air on Monday 13th July from 11am. Can you afford not to listen?

She is really going through a stubborn stage. One minute she wants complete independence - “Don’t come with me to the toilet Mummy.”

The next minute she’s telling me to sit next to her on the sofa or throwing her arms up towards me “I need you Mummy, I want you”.

It is also taking us absolutely ages to get anything done. I ask her to do something and she just ignores me! Very frustrating.

Is this what having a teenager is like? Probably not, I’m sure that’s a million times worse!

You are constantly tested as a parent aren’t you and the boundaries get moved around all of the time. Did anyone ever suggest that parenting was easy?

They always seem to misbehave when you are at your most tired too! Do you think they see a gap in your armour and go for it!

A mother’s work is never done.

To top it off I am also on the daughter’s playschool committee - I can see why some Mums don’t want to get involved. Sometimes I feel like I am in the United Nations.

One person thinks we should do this, another thinks we should do that, a decision is finally made and then when we all go home, texts go round from the Chair saying that she’s changed her mind!! AAAHHH. Hardly democratic.

I used to complain that Mums should make more of an effort to get involved - I can see now why they may have second thoughts. Still worth it though!

Now wouldn’ t you think one of the numerous people I have passed today would’ve told me. I’ve been to school, in shops, in work and I only discovered them when my head started to itch.

I’m also wearing clothes that I’ve had for about four years - definitely pre-pregnancy, in fact the wrap around dress I am wearing is being held together by a brooch as my boobs have definitely gone up a size.

Help is at hand though because I’ve been talking to Samantha Chapman. She is a make up-artist and she’s become a bit of a star on You Tube.

She has some tips on making us hassled Mums beautiful! Apparently though the majority of us want to know how to look like Audrey Hepburn or Sophia Lauren. I can see the appeal - not least because Sophia was not known for her stick thin figure! Although not fat I’d have more chance of looking like her than Posh Spice!

Listen to Samantha on My Baby Radio on Friday 22 May between 4-5pm.

I’ve watched their progamme a couple of times and she can seem as common as muck but I do like him and they both seem to be caring parents. They are both marvellous with Harvey who has disabilities.

It’s a shame for the kids but if they’re not getting on maybe it’s for the best.

Their little boy Junior is quite funny at times. It’s sad when any relationship breaks down but if it’s not right it’s not right.

One relationship I wish would break down is that of the daughter and her friend Annie.

I’ve mentioned before that the daughter has an imaginary friend called Annie. She is still around and driving us mad - well me actually. She’s very naughty is Annie!

The daughter swore at the dinner table. We were all sat chatting and we heard “ohhh bloody hell”. I told her not to swear and she said “I’m just telling you what Annie said”.

Then she ran off, she was told off again and she replied “Annie told me to run”.

If this carries on I’ll have to take her to see a child psychologist!

I explained that Annie is naughty and I’ll have to stop the daughter from playing with her. She thought it over and said “Annie’s Mummy has been to see me and she says she’s not naughty all of the time”.

Then this morning she said “Mummy, I haven’t said bloody hell today”.

I am despairing! My friend told me to start telling Annie off too.

Can you imagine - having to march this imaginary being into a corner to have time out!

Anyone have any suggestions?

The daughter is so bossy too. I was talking to our neighbour yesterday and the daughter said, pointing at our house “Mummy you live in here not there”.

That’s me told!

The husband discovered them yesterday morning. It’s the first time she’s ever had them. Do you think I should add this information into her Baby Book?

Is it the type of thing you mark for prosperity?

The poor little mite - no pun intended. She couldn’t go to playschool as they were found around 8.30 and the head lice lotion had to be applied and left on for eight hours.

The husband only found one live one but eight hours later there were a few corpses - I am typing away itching my head as we speak - it makes you feel so unclean!

We’ve been like a family of monkeys, looking through each others hair.

The husband said I don’t have nits but I do have dandruff - thanks!

We’ve stripped the bed - although someone told me they can’t live on clothing - we weren’t taking any chances.

I’ve been and bought a metal nit brush too - it’s really good. When your child has head lice you are a marketers dream!

I went and told the staff at playschool - hopefully they’ll put a letter out now so the other Mums can make sure their kids don’t get it too.

It’s a minefield though. So Mums say don’t treat with chemicals and other say use vinegar! Aaahhh. 

Ohhh - I’m off for another scratch!

We had a wonderful day and the daughter was really good in church, one of the children could be heard loudly in church asking for a wee. Bless him!

The kids were so well behaved and they had a fantastic time. There was a massive garden behind the venue and they were all outside running around and playing football. The brother managed to rip the sole off his shoe - I don’t think you are supposed to play football in them!

More importantly - none of the children were ill and the daughter did not succumb to chicken pox! If she gets it now we’ll just have to get on with it.

The husband is looking at the pictures as I type. It’s great that you can digitally enhance them but the husband tends to go a bit mad. If you have grey eyes you suddenly have sparkling blue ones and we all have teeth like Simon Cowell. Not very natural!

My little brother has gone off to Italy on his honeymoon with his lovely new wife - I hope the weather is nice and they have a fab time.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Hughes! 

The daughter is excited about being a flowergirl - or Princess as she likes to call herself!

I’m in a panic though as chickenpox is doing the rounds. It’s bound to be the case that she’ll erupt in spots between now and Saturday and I don’t think polka dots will go with the spring theme. Nothing I can do though. Although she will be gutted if she’s unable to go.

I went to see the pharmacist and they just advised getting calpol in and calomine lotion. I know a friend suggested lavender in the bath and my Nan swears by salt baths! Anyone else have any ideas?

Sometimes the older remedies are the best. Although you’d have to be brave to try out some of my Nan’s lotions and potions.

She swears blind that goose greese saved my Mum from certain death as a tot. Apparently she had a terrible chest, hadn’t eaten for days blah, blah, blah…..but one spoon of goose greese and she was saved. She was sick and right from that day forth she was fine. Well, apart from the wonky eye which my Nan attributes to the cough and fever!

I know that my brother, cousins and me all had goose greese at one time or another - no wonder I am now a vegetarian!

She also swears by fresh air and always wearing a vest - at least until the end of May! There must be something in it though - she’s a fit and healthy 82-year-old!

Well known author Liz Fraser thinks her Granny knows best too - in fact she’s written a book about that very issue! Listen to our interview with Liz and hear some of her granny’s pearls of wisdom.

The drive over to their house took over two hours and was a bit fraught as the daughter had car sickness - she has had it before but not lately. I did have spare clothes but she was sick on these too so I had to pull over, find a clothes shop and buy her a new top and trousers.

Poor little love and quite frustrating for me as I’d put her in a lovely outfit to go over there!

My friend seems to be a natural Mum and she’s doing brilliantly. She is so laid back and the breastfeeding is going brilliantly too.

I can’t believe how calm she is actually. I was a tired wreck two weeks in - she looks totally fresh faced and says she isn’t tired at all.

I suppose it just goes to show that all babies and Mums are different!

The little girl is gorgeous and so peaceful - you forget just how tiny they are. She’s over 10lb now but she still looks really small to me. The daughter looked like a giant in comparison!

For any Mums who are struggling out there, I have a brilliant interview for you on Friday. I’m speaking to Sasha Miller, Editor at Babycentre.co.uk. She’s with us between 10-11am and 5-6pm on Good Friday with advice about everything to do with a newborn baby!

We went into a club which I did enjoy as they played 80s music but it made me realise that my clubbing days are over - it’s too late a night. When you’ve had sleepless nights with a newborn and know how it feels to see 3am - I don’t want to see it again - under any circumstances!

When you go out with a group of younger girls who don’t have kids you realise just how much of your time your own take up!

They were excited at make-up and cheap shoes - I couldn’t believe it when I saw sale signs on childrens clothes! Oh well - there time will come and maybe it will have gone full circle and I’ll be going out - although wouldn’t want to be mutton dressed as lamb!

We did have a lovely time in Cloud 23 inside The Hilton in Manchester. The view from there is amazing! We ordered Cocktails - I had a Cosmopolitan, just like Sarah Jessica! Well, if I don’t look like her I can try and drink like her!

It was so lovely to come home too and see my little girl with her Daddy. He is so good with her and they had a great weekend. He even took her to her dance class - how good is he!

My friend was an absolute trooper and sounds as though she had a very, very tough labour. Well Done girl and welcome to the club. I can’t wait to see her!

By the way - the Chinese lunar calendar here at My Baby Radio was right - it predicted a girl!

MANY, MANY CONGRATULATIONS!

I’m quite excited. She’s one of the few these days who doesn’t know if it’s going to be a boy or a girl. I’m saying girl, she’s guessing boy. Think we’ll soon find out who’s right!

Bless her, the daughter is three now but I remember when I went into labour - also very slow and I was in denial! I actually told the husband that we should have an early night but ten minutes later I was jumping up with cramps.

It was the sister-in-law who finally said maybe the baby was on the way. Up until that point I’d blocked it out.

My friend wants her waters to break as at least then she’ll know to go in. Mine didn’t though, not until the baby was very nearly born.

I told her if she keeps rushing to the loo for a poo - get to hospital, you are pushing! That’s a giveaway as well as sounding like a cow mooing!

Anyway, GOOD LUCK. Will let you know what she has - bet baby will be born today!

I know it’s not for everyone…some Mums don’t feel the need to go and that’s fine but I think they can be a lifeline for mothers.

They’re great for the babies too - I always found my little girl much more manageable when other children were around. They are so interested in each other and they really engage - which is amazing considering their communication skills are so minor!

I always find my spirits are lifted when ever I attend such groups. It’s nice to know that you’re not the only one struggling with sleepless nights, weaning issues, fighting, spitting, answering back - the list goes on!

Don’t get me wrong, with that support can sometimes come competitiveness and worry that your child isn’t doing as much as other children but that might just be something in me!

I was talking to a friend about the benefits of toddler groups and she was arguing that they weren’t around years ago so how did women cope then? Well, they were certainly around when I was young because I know my Mum used to take me. I suppose going back even further than that new Mums and Dads used to live with Grandparents so Mums had a lot of support from their own families.

Also, lots of our grandparents lived in terraced streets where everyone knew everyone and gardens were shared so there was a greater sense of community.

We don’t live like that anymore though do we? Lots of us live further away from our immediate families. We still want support though don’t we - and to have a chat!

I remember feeling really isolated in the early days of motherhood and my next door neighbour ran a toddler group - she persuaded me to go along and I’m glad I did. You can feel awkward going in for the first time and everyone is sat in a cicrle BUT it’s worth it! You don’t click with everyone but most groups are really welcoming and cheap too! Mine is £2 and Mums/Dads/Grandparents get two cups of tea and toast. The little ones get a drink and toast too plus we do craft and sing songs at the end.

I have recently written an article about motherhood and the isolation it can sometimes bring. In a recent survey 70% of Mums admitted that they would like to make new friends. Maybe a toddler group would be a good place to start - I even had a Dad in a recent session! He said he really enjoyed himself - more importantly so did his son!!

It totally deserved the Oscar wins and the young Indian children acted brilliantly - they were adorable.

My husband turned to me though and said “I wouldn’t call it a feel good film”.

I don’t know what he thought he was going to be watching. I suppose it was a love story though - it was right up there for me with SEX AND THE CITY THE MOVIE!!

It was great to see an adult film - not that type! - but I’m just so used to watching The Disney films at the minute! We saw Bolt recently in the cinema but the daughter was a bit scared of the man who had laser eyes! We also watched Madagascar 2 - I thought it was great and funny too. The daughter liked it BUT she was scared when the men tried to shoot the lion.

Her favourite at the minute is The Aristocats - how old is that one?

She had The Jungle Book for Christmas but I couldn’t watch the bit where Baloo is unconscious. I couldn’t watch it because I thought he was dead but the husband said he survives.

I’ve gone through all of my childhood and adult life believing that Baloo died - what a waste. That sad tale could’ve shaped the girl I am!

Oh by the way I’m speaking to author Liz Fraser on Friday 6th May between 1-2pm. She’ll be explaining what parenting advice her Granny has!

She’s white and sometimes pink, she’s little and yesterday she had three eyes! Oh, she was also swallowed by a fox yesterday but it was “OK because she’s warm and cosy in the fox’s tummy”.

My Mum had to perform an emergency operation but we got Annie out safe and sound.

I was driving the car yesterday and I had to stroke Annie but I was told off for not stroking her in the right place. I must’ve eventually got it right though because the daughter said “Annie is laughing”.

I also had to put a plate out for Annie whilst we were having dinner last night. Am I indulging her or am I right to fuel her wonderful imagination?

I know the obvious thing is that she wants a dog - she has one though and he is also white and small!

I don’t remember ever having an imaginary friend but I know my cousin did - he had Jake. I remember my Uncle lost his temper one night because he got into bed but his son was crying “You’ve sat on Jake.”

My Uncle retorted “It’s bad enough sharing a bed with my son but I refuse to share it with an imaginary boy”.

I went to pick up her ballet uniform yesterday and she tried it on in the shop. She looked so sweet and she was absolutely delighted with it! She started spinning around there and then. The only problem them was the sizing. Her ballet shoes and cardigan fitted fine but the leotard and tap shoes were to big and her skirt to small!

We’ve had to re-order them in and she wasn’t over the moon not to be leaving the shop with them.

I tell you, this being a Mummy lark leaves you shattered - I’ve been running around all week! Now I’ve made things worse for myself by introducing dance classes!

If you’re a Mummy trying to juggle everything tune in on Wednesday 25th February to listen to my interview about Super Mummies! Do they exist? The interview will air between 10-11am.

I told her all about it and I explained what it was all about and she said she wanted to give it a go. It’s in a converted chapel but she thinks it’s in a castle!

She went for the first time on Saturday and you should have seen all of the little girls dressed in pink leggings and leotards! One even had leg warmers on - her Mum admitted that she’d been a Flashdance fan!

As the other girls were spinning around or should that be pirouetting - the daughter got up and started joining in. I shouted her to come back and she said “My name is Fairy”. Little Madam.

She had to go into the studio next door and I was to wait in the other room. I took her in and introduced her and then I watched for a couple of minutes. She loved it! She started dancing straight away. I left her to it and kept checking in every few minutes. Everytime I went back she had a grin from ear-to-ear.

When it finished I asked if she wanted to go back and she said she did. Since then she keeps saying “Can we go back to the castle?”.

Unfortunately it’s half term so she won’t be going this week.

She wants all the kit now too although we’ll wait and see if she really does want to stick at it.

It’s a mixture of ballet, tap and modern so in an ideal world she needs ballet shoes, tap shoes, pink leotard, tights, ankle socks and hairband oh and a little wraparound skirt too. All in all it’ll cost around £50.

Still, I think having a hobby is a good thing and it gets her into exercise.

They do a show too - I know I”m getting carried away - Just found out they do an adult beginners tap class too. I know, getting carried away - I’d end up looking like one of Les Dawson’s Roly Poly’s.

The daughter is becoming just like him too. This morning I had to go and wake her up at quarter to eight. Isn’t it funny how they never have to be woken up at a weekend! Now isn’t that ironic?

She wanted to climb into bed next to her Daddy - sweet. I went downstairs to make breakfast but I was still shouting them 10 minutes later. They finally appeared but I had to leave to go to work.

The husband was going to take her to the childminder’s so I left him to it - even though I’d left all of her clothes laid out.

When I saw her later she looked lovely - apart from her hair, it was half up and half down in a sort of 1980s style. The childminder actually said to me “You can tell her Daddy got her ready”. - Bless him!

My brother is getting married in April - rapidly approaching and the daughter is going to be a flowergirl. I bet she’ll look so sweet. Her dress has been bought for her and she’s tried it on - looks lovely.

We went yesterday to buy her shoes. My brother’s fiancee had told me which ones she wanted me to buy so we knew what to get. She had great fun trying them on but she wanted to try the brides shoes on too.

“I want to wear the Princess shoes,” she said. It takes me ages to get her boots on every morning but you’d be amazed at the speed in which she can take them off, slip stilettoes on and wiggle her way down the aisle of Monsoon.

She also found it hilarious to hide in between the expensive sequinned dresses. I could feel myself going red as other shoppers looked at me.

“They think I can’t control my child,” I thought. Oh well, wait until yours are out of their pushchairs - you’ll have the same problem - your shopping days are numbered.

Mind you, I don’t shop much nowadays - no spare cash. Everything goes on the daughter and the supermarket bill!

If you’re the same, listen to my interview with mum-of-one Gemma Johnson on Friday 13th February. She’s on between 4-5pm to discuss ways to spend and save at the same time!