Dear Members

April has arrived, and with it came the clocks going forward. I really felt the change this year, which is a bit daunting. Perhaps I am just getting older and finding it harder to adjust.

On the subject of getting older, when did my son suddenly become a "big boy". It seems to creep up on you, but where has the little boy that loved feeding the ducks gone? Our outside activities seem to have reduced and been replaced with computer games. I promised that I would not let this happen, but peer pressure is incredibly strong and the constant asking does grind you down.

Having spent two interviews on two radio this month responding about the lack of security for our children on the internet and the games ratings, I found myself determined to get back on track and find other activities for James and Charlotte to do.

James is nearly 9 now, and I have decided to give him a bit of freedom. Where we live has a playing field about 100 yards from the back gate, so I will be letting him go down to the field to play rugby with his friends unsupervised. It will be incredibly hard, as like most parents I am also concerned about his safety but I need to give him some independence in a controlled way.

All I will have to do is work on Charlotte that she is still too young (only 6) to go on her own. It is hard to get the balance right all the time.

So with luck I will encourage my children to get out in the garden or park this spring and break the habit of sitting at the computer for entertainment!

Wish me luck, until next month my very best wishes,