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I remember when my eldest daughter was born, every single person that walked through my front door was made to wash their hands or use hand gel before they came within breathing distance of her. She was never ever dirty, to the point where my mum told me that I was being ridiculous and she would never develop immunity to anything because I wasn't letting her be exposed to anything for longer than a second. After realising that she was right (mums usually are .... that's what I tell my own daughter now), I began to relax.

I can't categorically state that I relaxed in every aspect and I can vivdly remember cooking, mashing, pureeing and storing food like my life depended on it and only the most naural and organic products would pass through her lips. I was officially the food police! I recall going on a caravan holiday with my best friend and her suggesting that we get the children fish and chips for dinner, I remember feeling a little panicky as my daughter had never had chips before, so I rustled up some rice and vegetables to go with the fish ....... she must have thought I was bonkers (but then again she has known me forever so probably knows this to be true anyway).

Fast forward to today and my youngest daughter has learnt to eat through baby led weaning and has today eaten pasta and vegetables for lunch, followed by an apple. However she then starts shouting at the cupboard. She wasn't cross with the cupboard, she does however know that is where we keep the chocolate, high up in the cupboard where little hands can't get hold of it. My mum now warns me about the little ones sweet tooth but this time, I think that I am the one that is right. My youngest daughter eats very well, she eats healthily and with a varied diet but when she sees her big sister (and "maybe" mummy too) eating chocolate, it feels wrong to deny her a small taste. Don't get me wrong, she would totally gorge herself if she could but at the end of the day, don't you always want what you can't have? My Nan would have told me that "a little of what you fancy does you good" and despite being so strict with my eldest, she will still ask for chocolate the same as the next child.

As I said at the beginning of this post, mummy is usually right but now that mum is me, I am no longer going to be the food police, I am simply going to be mum!