Last year I found myself rushing around for days on end and constantly telling my sons to "Hurry up, hurry up!". I was always late or nearly late for something or other, forever rushing to the next thing. Hurrying the boys off to school, hurrying myself to work, hurrying through the day, hurrying back home, hurrying to see my horse, and on and on. "Quick, quick, quick! Come on, let's go!" was a constant refrain. It was rather exhausting and we weren't spending much quality time together at home. I was like some kind of manic mum hamster on an out of control wheel. Too much racing around.
A book called Love Bombing by the psychologist Oliver James found me. It offers an opportunity to "reset the emotional thermostat" of your child. This involves spending a period of time alone with your child, offering him or her unlimited love and control. You explain to your child that the two of you are going to spend time together, one to one, and have a lot of fun. Your child decides what he wants and when he wants it, within reason. You give the message that this is going to be a Big Event: It's Coming Soon ... How Exciting! The child then draws up a list of things to do. It doesn't matter what it involves: the key is that your child has chosen it. I thought this sounded worth a go.