Five things that happen when Dad takes care of the kids

Us mums are notorious for worrying, over-planning and fretting about the family when we deign to take a break away from work and domestic responsibilities.

Endless lists are made and distributed, meals are cooked and frozen and demands that everything keeps ticking over followed by hurried promises to be back soon are uttered before we take a short break from our normal routine.

And then, as we all know, once we leave the house, all bets are off. As long as the kids stay happy and healthy, then their dad is more than willing to loosen the reigns we placed so carefully in his hands.

Here are just five things that happen on our weekend breakaway with the girls.

1. No one goes to bed on time

Dad is unsure where the clean pyjamas are kept (third shelf of the airing cupboard, obviously) and the kids happily monopolise on this.

2. Standard meal times go out the window

All three pre-prepared dinners are eaten on the same day when the kids learn they’re a little more partial to mum’s cooking than dad’s interesting creations.

3. The house morphs into an adventure centre

You’re under the impression that both the sweeping brush and the airbed have a single function, but your kids and their dad know better.

4. The kids squabbles are diffused in a far more creative manner than you’ve ever employed

You daughter now calls on Game of Thrones for inspiration when administering a 'punishment' to her older brother.

5. Bath and shower times become more of an option than a requirement

Your imminent arrival back to the house signals the need for all hands on deck in the bathroom.

Fear not though; your absence is acutely felt around day two. This is when your worn out kids realise that 24 hour fun and games wears thin kind of quickly without mum there to implement rules. And upon your return their exhausted dad takes a moment to wonder how you do it and gazes at you incredulously while you smile serenely and begin dismantling the airbed/sweeping brush boat sliding around the bathroom.