On Friday morning, the boys burst into our bedroom, shouting, and within approximately 12 seconds, Joshua had located the advent calendars I had hidden behind an armchair.

‘They were meant to be a surprise for later,’ I said glumly as he stuffed a chocolate into his face and Jacob started tearing numerous windows open.

‘What are you doing, Jacob? It’s one day at a time. You know this.’

‘No, I don’t!’ he shouted, then had the audacity to shove a second chocolate into his mouth before starting to cry.