Thank goodness the new school bag arrived this morning, I now have one happy teenage daughter who is now looking forward to going back to school so she can show it off to her friends.

I would say it was an example of “pick your battle” but I think I probably just gave in to daughter pressure, the rucksack has plastic straps and is not in the least bit waterproof i.e. looks pretty but is totally impractical and I don’t expect it to last more than a couple of weeks.

But, my daughter loves it so if that is what it takes for her to be happier going back to school, then that is something I’m just going to have to live with (I still think it was a rip-off…).

Sometimes as a mum, it is the little things which do make a difference, staying calm, being positive and realising that it is not the rucksack which is the issue, it is about going back to school. But, it isn’t easy when we are also juggling 101 other things.

Which is why I am running my “Free to be me…!” workshop for mums  on  4 October, 9:30 AM-1 PM in Ruishton Village Hall, the cost is £25pp with a 10% if you book before 15 September.

Oh, by the way, she has just seen a photograph of herself when she was 7 and asked “Why did I have my hair like that, fashion crisis or what?” – I simply reminded her I did suggest it wasn’t the best look but decided not to fight that one too!