A mum again AT 50

With her arms folded firmly and her face red with anger, Tracy’s granddaughter, Alice*, 10, stamped her feet under the restaurant table.

‘I want to go home,’ she demanded, before slumping into a sulky heap in her chair.

It was nothing new for Tracy and her husband, Phil*, 65, but even so, it was deeply embarrassing. ‘We were surrounded by couples in their 50s and 60s like us, only none of them were dealing with a child having a massive tantrum over the menu,’ Tracy says.

‘I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy for them enjoying a peaceful Sunday lunch. “They’ll probably go home