It's end-of-term-syndrome and it's not just teachers who suffer from it. We parents get it too.

Our usually busy schedule has become even more hectic and I actually turned down the chance to go to a party at the weekend because I so desperately needed to collapse on the sofa for a couple of hours.

I am truly exhausted with all the to-and-fro. So much seems to be crammed into the last few weeks of term.

We have had visits to an open evening at the high school with our youngest who moves up in September; to a fact-finding university open day with our eldest, who at last is thinking about his future; to an
end-of-term barbecue and social at the primary school and a freezing sports day.

We have transported our eldest back and forth all over the place – if he doesn't need running to his Saturday job then he needs running into town to see his mates.

We have also had a few social gatherings of our own – yes, parents can have a life too – which although great fun have been jolly tiring, They have ranged from a summer ball, to a barn dance to a surprise birthday party for a friend at a posh restaurant – thank goodness I had a posh frock in the wardrobe.

I also spent several hours last weekend burrowing through old boxes in the attic to find a Sheriff of Nottingham outfit for our youngest to wear in his end-of-term entertainment, finally finding just the thing in the bag of clothes that I had got ready for the charity shop.

If you are told by a clutter coach to throw out all last season's clothes ignore the advice, otherwise you will never be able to throw together a Sheriff's outfit!

The entertainment will probably be the last function we attend at the primary school and it will be an emotional moment. As the last of our children leaves primary education, we can reflect on 13 enjoyable years of plays, sports days, book bags, spelling tests, fundraisers and accompanying children on school trips.

At times it has been a rollercoaster ride, but one I wouldn't swap for all the tea in China.