Grass is always greener at the grandparents'...

DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR A FIRST TIME DAD OF TWINS

- RICHARD IRVINE

"I want to live at Grandma's house forever," Thomas said, as we walked to school.

“Has Emma been annoying you?" I asked, thinking he'd finally had enough of his dominant sister.

“Her house is much bigger than ours with more rooms to play in, and a bigger garden," he replied.

He elaborated, explaining she also had more bathrooms so you didn't have to wait for someone to go to the toilet, and finished by telling me we needed more money to buy a mansion, where he could be happy.

He was preaching to the converted, as I too felt endless riches would be a good thing, but it was difficult not to take it personally, and as a damming indictment on my failure to provide what he needed.

I decided against suggesting he can get a job and attempted to excuse our poverty.