To declare that the worst aspect of parenting, after disturbed sleep and a general feeling of constant exhaustion that seems to be part and parcel of living with children...

[Ormirian]

is being a bloody taxi?

I know it's not a novel observation but it's struck me recently for the first time that I spend much too much of my weekend ferrying children about. Always have to a certain extent - swimming, karate, cricket, riding etc not to mention school disco and kids' parties - but it was limited and I could plan. Now they are older and more autonomous, it's worse! Because the call will come at any time: "mum I'm stuck in town and it's getting dark and x went home with his mum" or "I could walk to z's house but it's nearly 7 ...". And now parties aren 't next door or In the local community hall they're on a paintball park in the middle of nowhere and because we have a 7-seater we end up taking loads of kids home.

So when does this 'stage' stop then?

We are seriously considering moving house to be on a bus route so we don't have to be a taxi service. The thought of every Saturday night with no wine is just horrific!