Today was Sports Day for year five and six. (Can you spot Carys in the relay race?)

Sports day tends to be a frantic day for me. Twelve events, three children competing in different areas on a sports field….what's a mum to do? Obviously enlist people! For years faithful Ursula came with me as a surrogate parent to cheer, console and congratulate Jasper Sela and Carys. We had a little rotation going on, after watching a child for three events she could seamlessly go to their next event and watch for three and then pick up after I passed over the last child. That was an act of kindness.

I have learned a lot about kindness from watching those around me. Charles, Ursula, Jo, Terri – top examples of people who had an endless capacity for kindness. Mel, who spoke to her son the other day and he's now making a special point to say hello to Seb in the hallways. These kindnesses arent lost on me. And I wonder why University was always marked out as the time of our life for learning. The time when we would pay to learn.

I do not agree University was the time for learning.

During those first few months of marriage, the learning is huge. Divorce isn't an option, you're going to have to work this out. But at what cost? Personal freedom? Changing a lifetime of habits? Backing down? Oh you are paying to learn.

And then, with children. You are learning. From books, but the greatest resource is other parents. Your circle, those you watch. Those who you choose to surround yourself with. And the price? The impact of your learning and subsequent actions? Look around you. Look at your world.

RANDOM ACT OF KINDESS #5

A small one, but I've been there. Today I walked up two extra flights of stairs to open a door for a lady who had a pushchair and a wheelie filled with groceries. I remember bashing knees on doors as I tried to navigate my bags, children and stroller through doorways. It's tough enough being a parent without having someone open the door for you. So I did.