I SPENT another weekend without my child recently.

Having reread some of these little windows on my world I do appreciate I may be coming across as a slightly absent mum.

Although you would be forgiven for thinking that, I am able to justify this in a number of ways.

Firstly, Ben gets some much-needed quality time with his grandparents, and if I can make other people happy then where’s the harm in that?

Secondly, a happy mum is a happy child and joking aside there is a lot to be said for having a good balance between time with your children and time for you.

Although admittedly June has certainly been weighted in favour of “mum-me” time it has meant that the time I do spend with Ben has been all the more lovely.

As I have said before in these columns, I have never been one to be completely immersed in the world of motherhood but I did find myself missing the little bundle of chubbiness on a recent mini break/hen do.

It was just lovely when I saw him at the airport and not only did he remember who I was but he gave me a great big cuddle on cue – making me love him even more.

What was incredible, though, was the rate at which he is developing. Just a few days away and the difference in him was amazing.

His speech had dramatically improved. For example, not only could he just say “poo”, he could now extend that to “horsey poo”. This was not only preceded by a short little gallop but finished off with a crouching manoeuvre and the letting out of a massive raspberry through pursed lips.

The little man was totally in character – he had become the horse doing his business. But showing this off in Terminal one was not really the debut of this performance I would have liked.