We hear a lot these days about the rise of childless – or, following a timely rebrand, child-free – women. At 59, I am technically one of them, since despite longing for a baby, I never had one of my own.
But I’m also a member of another group that is less talked about. I am one of the legion of women who put our lives on hold to help our relatives or friends raise their families after divorce, separation or widowhood. I am a second mum.
This is nothing like the ‘PANK’ (professional aunt, no kids) who appears laden down with lavish treats and gifts, plays with the children for an hour or so and just as swiftly disappears again. A second mum takes on the everyday chores. For me, that has meant co-parenting my two nephews, George and Oskar, since
