Barnaby Bear

Today my 5 year old did really good writing and as a reward she was thrilled to finally be able to bring home Barnaby from school. Dear old Barnaby...old, grubby, smelly, crispy, snotty Barnaby. Who for the last few weeks has been dragged around playgrounds, dinner tables and had countless sleepovers in her classmate's beds.

I hate this bear...but not just because he's a manky rag. I hate it because her teacher uses it to get the children to behave well when they should be doing that anyway. I hate it because it makes parents feel like they have to compete to have the best diary entry. But most of all I hate him because for every day she doesn't get him, my daughter thinks she's failed, or done something wrong which just isn't true but it's a hard concept to get your head around when you're 5.

Tonight the soap dodger has had a bath...in our washing machine. His first in weeks the scumbag.