I think I’m a good person to know, and there’s one very good reason. I can’t lie. I always forget those little white ones I tell, so a few years ago I decided the best thing to do was to tell the truth, that way I’d never get caught out. So far, so good.

However, someone came along almost three years ago and ruined that; my beautiful little H. She’s hit the phase where she’ll ask “Pleeeeaaaseee Mummyyyyy” in such a way you, you have to be quick witted and think of a reason why she can’t do it. We were recently on holiday at Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, getting some food from the entertainment centre. She spotted a Bob the Builder truck and wanted to sit in it – I actually think she’d have been happy doing that, but did ask if we could put some money in to make it “play the song”. My response “Oh dear, I think it’s broken!

But you can sit in it” – so she happily did.

The following day we were back in the same area, and H exclaimed with delight “LOOK MUMMY! It’s working again!” – so we lost that one, and even my best distraction techniques didn’t work. Oh and incidentally, when did those machines go up in price by so much? A pound a time and an earworm all evening? Grrr.

We’re also well into the world of tantrums which often amuse me – though it does have to be said, when on holiday and your toddler refuses point blank to go out and just lies there screaming “I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE” you have to resort to desperate measures. So being the kind, loving parents that we are, the first thing that sprung to mind was inventing a museum which featured her least favourite television programmes.

“Oh well, if you’re not going to get up, then we’ll have to visit the ‘Grandpa in my Pocket’ museum and miss the trains” I told her. Shaun added “And I think the ‘Justin’s House Museum’ is open too?”

The look of horror on H’s face as she realised this could be a reality was a picture. She stopped being angry and refusing to get ready – and instead a bit more subdued said “I don’t want to go there… I want to go to the trains…” Bingo! “Well come on then!”

I’m happy to say that within five minutes of that we were ready and out of our “Little House” (as she called it), and ended up having a very enjoyable day on various miniature trains, so yes, a happy ending.

I just have to keep remembering that there’ll be lots of these museums. Oh, and for some reason she thinks one of the train places we went to is now the ‘Thomas the Tank Engine Museum’ – which of course I’m going to let her believe she went to as, well, it makes her happy.

What little white lies have you told your toddler? I may end up adopting them for future reference…