The Rules of Love, 3rd Edition

RULE 75

Your children come before you

There’s a disturbing trend I’ve noticed over recent years of parents putting their own wellbeing before their children’s. I’m talking here about children who are still under 18 and living at home. This trend is coupled with a horrid expression: ‘me time’. Don’t ever let me catch you using this phrase.

The fact is that when you decide to have children (whether it’s a conscious choice or an accidental one), part of the commitment is to put your children before yourself. You’ve only got to stick it until the youngest is 18, but until then your hobbies, career, free time and all the rest take second place.

Here’s a case in point, and one of my particular bugbears. Children really look forward to spending time ...