My son recently turned four. And just because any such event requires it, I have to say - where has the time gone?! Four seems to be a magical marker for becoming a “grown up” because we’ve had many conversations since that begin with “Now that I’m four, and grown up, I can ….”

And the truth is, he really does seem to have grown up a lot in the past couple of months. He seems to have shed the last traces of baby/toddlerhood and is now definitely a preschooler. He no longer fits so comfortably on my lap, he’s getting tall. I know my days of voluntary cuddles are numbered so I savour them while I can get them.

For the first time we had a party to celebrate his birthday, with the added excitement that his birthday conveniently fell on a Saturday. It was not a large party by any means, about ten children and various parents and siblings.

He had a killer cake (no, I didn’t make it. I wanted him to like it!). We had a pinata … although, a “pull the string” pinata, not a “beat the crap out of it and ended up attacking it with a pair of garden shears when it doesn’t break, to get the lollies out” pinata. There was pass the parcel. There was face painting and balloon animals (with thanks to my talented family for providing!). There was fairy bread (even though the thought of sprinkles on bread makes my stomach churn, and not in a good way).

And I was a nervous wreck. I’ve read enough threads on scary parenting forums (is it even necessary to say SCARY parenting forums?) to know there are mothers out there who abhor taking their children to birthday parties where there is (God forbid!) lollies. And cake. And all those empty calories! And stupid cheap plastic toys in the loot bags.

I was worried that I was meant to be providing macro-biotic organic fresh produce, a tofu cake and educationally accredited activities.

Seriously. I really was.

Fortunately, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and if the mummies thought there were too many lollies, and the toys were too tacky - well, I haven’t identified myself on any narky parenting forums yet so maybe I got away with it …