So my eldest started pre-school this week. Rest assured it went much smoother than anticipated.

I had a weep the night before while stitching his name tags into his new school jumpers and covering his school books with wrapping paper like we used to do in the good old days, but once we were all at the school gate and he reached the classroom, the excitement kicked in.

He saw his peg with his picture and name on, hung up his coat and bag, kissed us goodbye, and that was it. He ran off without a care in the world and I walked to the car with Michael accepting that my baby boy had now gone. For three hours. I had another little weep, pulled myself together, and it was back to normality. He’s had a fantastic time thus far but no sooner has he started, we’re already looking at where he will go for full-time school. My mind is spinning.

Coincidentally this week I was asked to report on a story for The One Show about the perils of the school run and how it can be quite a stressful experience at times.

Parents and guardians have so much to think about in the mornings ensuring everyone wakes in good time; the little ones arrive before the school bell rings and most importantly parking safely outside a school so that no one gets hurt. I chatted to lots of parents who told me about their experiences and how they juggled it all to make their homes run smoothly.

As I watched parents interact outside the school gates, it occurred to me that I am now part of a new club. In no time at all I’ll be helping at school fairs, being a helper in the classroom and be standing around in the playground having a chinwag. So not only is this a new chapter for my son, but for me too. I guess we are both incredibly excited.