Now that it is mid-December and the race for the Christmas No 1 single is well under way, there are more pressing matters to attend to: it is nearly the holidays. Hurray! Soon Toddler and I will be able to spend lots of quality time together and do fun things like go to the cinema and watch Disney films.

In the past we didn't have that pleasure because Toddler had the unfortunate tendency to scream through any function I ever attended. It is highly embarrassing when you are politely asked to leave - especially when you haven't even eaten yet. At these times we also go through a lot of sweeties in an attempt to get him to be quiet but it inevitably goes all wrong. And things turn sour when the sweets run out.

The decorations in town are another exciting thing for children to see. Look at those moving reindeer, you shout excitedly, while your beloved peers into the toyshop trying to decide what new gadget or plastic concoction he would like to be fixated and obsessed with and demand day and night until you actually buy the rotten thing. Which is guaranteed to turn him off it.

Santa Claus is a favourite. I took Toddler to see Santa at a grotto in a department store in town last year. He was terrified - Toddler not Santa, though come to think of it... - and surprised to get a present. He probably thought it was compensation for having to sit in close proximity to a large bearded fellow in a strange red suit.

Never mind expensive toys and gadgets though, this is a great time of year for developing children's imagination and art and craft skills. Unlike me who can't do anything. Creative play helps their language skills: "Look Mummy, mess!" But what an opportunity for making cotton wool snow and snowmen and glittery snowflakes and er, twinkly bits and bobs.

I am not particularly good with my hands. In fact, when it comes to co-ordination I have two left feet, but kids seem to enjoy just getting their hands dirty and the floor dirty and the furniture dirty. That's what so great about sending them to nursery. They can do all the messy stuff there and come home with glitter in their nappy and paint on their hair.

I sneaked a peek at Toddler's letter to Santa: I thought he might ask for a hi- tech battery-powered motorbike but, oh no, he wanted (I don't believe it) a biscuit and a bar of chocolate. I was mortified. Oh my goodness, I thought, his teachers will think that I don't feed him. As soon as I got him home I thrust a hundred chocolate biscuits under his nose. But he wasn't having any of it.

It will be fun doing low-key things, too, with him. Sitting together and reading and drawing and watching television together, though I am sure he doesn't get the same enjoyment out of Sunset Beach as I do. Well, after a busy day doing all this energetic stuff I will need to unwind, you know.

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