All parents want to raise exceptional children : well-balanced, healthy, clean behind the ears and gifted for everything. In reality, children are often slovenly and behave like little savages. They spend their time watching television, wolfing down hamburgers and always need to be reminded to do their homework. Should we just give up ? Certainly not, because the perfect child does not exist - any more than perfect parents. A little guide full of humour to assist us in raising our kids from three to eight years old.

Libby Purves is an English radio and written press journalist and the mother of two children. She is also the author of the book How not to be a Perfect Mother.