Ohhh, we do remember those moments. But when we grow older, we often look back and try to understand them differently. We realise our parents may have been going through difficult times themselves.

My mum was very strict, but she was also very loving and responsible. She could be really strict, though. Sometimes all it took was one glance and her widening her eyes, and I'd instantly stop whatever I was doing! 😂

I was a very sensitive soul back then, and I probably still am.

I remember one day when we were at the little river at the bottom of our garden. The five of us (my two brothers, 2 sisters and I) had been swimming, and afterwards Mum sat us down and cleaned our feet and fingernails one by one, starting with the youngest and finishing with the oldest.

When it was my turn, I chatted away as usual, asking her endless questions. She looked at me and said, "You sound like an old lady." After that I stopped talking.

I took that comment very badly. I carried it with me for years, and even now I can still remember exactly how it made me feel. She never explained what she meant, and as a child, I certainly didn't want to sound like an old lady! I remember thinking, What's wrong with me?

It's funny how our minds hold on to little moments like that and how they can shape us without anyone realising.

That's why I think explanations are such an important part of parenting. Most of the time, parents simply tell children off and expect them to understand. But children are like sponges, they absorb everything so quickly. The words we use, and the way we explain our actions, matter so much because those little moments can stay with them for a lifetime.