And for every sad man who moves on to a 'younger model' there are a dozen people watching him and laughing. The hair dye is bought, the car traded up, the paunch ill advisedly concealed in clothes designed for a much younger guy...and one morning she wakes up and realises she could do much better. And you are left on your own.

And then you have an awful lot of life left to wonder where it all went wrong. Despised by your kids, loathed by your family and ridiculed by your colleagues.

More power to all mums whatever their age. They are giving us the future. Only those unhappy with their present can't appreciate that.