I have a Daughter and a Son and both are loving and caring. But it is my Son who will give his last penny to you if he thinks it will help you. While going through a nasty divorce, my Children and I moved into rented accommodation. I lost my business too as it was a childcare business from my previous home.

With no income, I had to fend for three of us. It is a great way to lose weight, as I could not afford to eat but I made sure my children did.

A month after moving into the rented accommodation, my Son had a birthday. I could not take him anywhere or do anything. I decided to have his friends over, and they could have water fights in the garden. The age group of the boys at the time was 10 and 11.

I became the star Mum. My Son and his friends saying ‘‘This is the best party ever!’’’ All it took was a garden, lots of water and crap food. My Son had received birthday money from numerous people. It totalled £90. Over the next year, I continually asked ‘‘Are you going to spend your birthday money?’’’

His reply was always ‘‘You have it.’’

My reply was always ‘‘I don’t need it, it is your money. Go and get something you want.’’

He never touched it. Just before his next birthday where he was turning 12 years old, he was also starting high school. One day he walked into the living room with a plastic bag and seemed a little excited.

‘‘Mum, look what I got,’’ he said.

From the bag, he pulled a new high school tie and said ‘‘I bought my tie for school.’’

Slightly confused I said ‘‘Why have you bought your tie for school? Where did you get the money from?’’

‘‘I used my birthday money,’’ he said.

I was shocked. ‘‘No, No, No, I am getting your uniform. I will give you the money back.’’

I could not believe what he said next.

‘‘It is not your responsibility. I am the one wearing the tie, not you. I had the money, and I wanted to help you. It is my uniform, not yours. I will spend my birthday money on what I want to.’’

I held in the tears as that would have led to him teasing me.

Always the joker that he is, with a huge smile he said, ‘‘I’ve got to be your favourite kid now?’’

And yep, I’d certainly be the happiest mum on Earth if that day ever comes. There and then, it struck to my mind on how we should treat our parents the way we want to be treated when we’re parents ourselves one day. Although I’m not considering myself to be one in the near future, but would really think that being a parent is not easy thus, parenting is a way of growing up as well, and you keep growing as your kid grows up.