It was Grandparents' Day last week, and having interviewed a delightful couple who were regional winners in the Grandparents of the year competition I couldn't help wondering why I didn't nominate Toddler's grandparents, too, for the prestigious award.

As you know, Toddler is a bit of a handful. He likes falling off his bike, falling out of cot/bed, climbing up trees and pretending to be Prince Richard which entails the chasing of members of his family who are the evil 'Voldar' and need to be stabbed intermittently with a plastic sword.

He has lately become obsessed about Mulan and whenever I have been foolish enough to leave my hair carelessly swinging from my scalp, he comes past and tries to lop it off, just like his fave Chinese character.

His vocabulary, too, grows ever more colourful by the day and now instead of saying "No!" to anything he doesn't want to do, he can argue quite eloquently e.g. "Well, the thing is, I can't do that actually Mater dear, because I have a slight headache - I think it is advisable if I retire to the chamber room forthwith etc", which makes us think that his inability to give a straight answer will result in him pursuing a career as a politician or a lawyer. Especially as it roughly translates into "Oi, leave off, I'm gonna trash me room."

But we've a long way to go yet, obviously, unless I start educating him at home which would

guarantee that he got into university at the age of seven. Unfortunately I have enough trouble scraping together the nursery fees so I have absolutely no chance of being able to pay tuition fees etc.

In the meantime Toddler is enjoying making up excuses to avoid going to nursery, and keeps his grandparents busy. When they recently went abroad for a holiday - from the both of us, no doubt, we had a lot of trouble coping. Grandma and Grandpa are a necessity, as invaluable as a carrytot or a baby sling and just as useful.

As someone who did not have, and still does not have, any relations in this country, I missed out on the benefits of having grandparents around.

Grandparents are for sticking up for you when your parents don't let you go out/eat sweets/have extra pocket money.

They are there to tell you wonderful stories of what life was like in the good old days and make you ambitious and devote time and energy and with their wide knowledge and experience they equip you with the belief that nothing is impossible and that you can be anything you want to be - especially a doctor.

They are also vital for working mums such as moi, who need hours of rest at the weekend and when nursery is shut.

Luckily Toddler's grandparents are young and have just about enough energy to chase him round the house 17 times in a vain attempt to get him into have a bath/go to bed/eat something.

But how would I manage if they were in their 100s? Or, indeed, if I was in my 70s? Life, I imagine, would be even more difficult than it is at the moment.

Meanwhile I'm just grateful that Toddler has his grandparents around. They have taught him many great things - especially the importance of Mummy's sleep.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.