But this week something happened which really made me stop and think about the kind of parent I am, and how my son views me.

The day started just like any other, the alarm went off, I crawled out of bed and jumped into the shower, woke Samuel up, put on the TV and had the following conversation. . .

"What do you want for breakfast, Samuel?"

"Mmmmmm....."

"Samuel stop watching the television and answer me."

"Mmmmmm....."

"Samuel, Cheerios? Wheetos? Shreddies? Come on make a decision..."

"Mmmmm...."

"Right, that's it, Wheetos."

"No, I don't want them."

"Well, come on then. I don't have time for this, for goodness sake!"

"Mmmmm...."

"Samuel, I am seriously going to lose the plot in a minute. WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

"Mmmmm... Wheetos."

"Argh! For goodness sake, Samuel. Right. OK. Here you are."

"Mummy, why are you cross with me?"

"I am not cross with you really, I just need you to hurry up in the mornings and make a decision quickly Samuel. It's Tuesday and mummy has to be out of the house in 30 minutes, I am still in my dressing gown, I haven't made your packed lunch and I am feeling very stressed."

"Don't be stressed, mummy. It isn't good for you, and I don't like it when you shout."

Well, I have to say that comment stopped me in my tracks and made me realise how unreasonable I was being. Samuel has no real concept of time or why five mornings of the week are manic, while the other two are relaxed happy affairs.

Of course, I appreciate he has to start to understand these things, but shouting at him and getting stressed is not the way to do it. Especially when I have come to realise that although our children can make us cross, they are in fact very good stress relievers.

I often arrive home after a day in the office feeling stressed out, but the minute I walk through the door and see my son all the troubles of the day are forgotten. Yesterday I arrived home and spent 30 minutes colouring in a huge picture of Spider-Man while chatting to Samuel about his day.

He looked over at me and said: "Mummy? I love you so much. I love you as big as trees and houses. Actually, I love you as big as the Incredible Hulk." Now you can't get love much bigger than that, can you? Stress? What stress?