20 reasons my father-in-law muttered under his breath in one morning

Recently, a fellow mum took time out of her day to document the various reasons her daughter saw fit to throw a tantrum.

From her brother looking at her to her mother offering the wrong breakfast, this particular journey through a little girl’s typical day offered an unrivalled insight into motherhood and family life.

Like millions of other mothers, I immediately related, but perhaps surprisingly it was neither of my children who came to mind when empathising with this fellow mum – It was my father-in-law.

Having spent a week with us, tensions were at an all-time high and nerves were more than a little frayed.

Let me be clear, my husband’s father is, at the heart of it, a good man, but that doesn’t mean he’s easy to live with.

Like a toddler, the smallest thing can set him off and like the mum of a toddler, it’s up to me to put it right.

Taking a leaf from my fellow mum’s book, I decided to take note of the first twenty things which yielded an abrupt change of mood in my home last Friday.

1. The Savlon and the toothpaste were too close together and he COULD have confused them.

He didn't.

2. He couldn’t read the labels on the kitchen bin and didn’t want to be blamed for recycling ‘the wrong damn thing.’

He wouldn't have been.

3. His collar was too tight.

And it was my fault.

4. He lost the remote.

He was sitting on it.

5. He found the remote, but forgot what he was watching.

Again, my fault.

6. I don’t buy fabric conditioner.

Who does?!

7. My daughter jokingly called him ‘Grumps’ instead of ‘Gramps’.

Good one, Grace.

8. I work outside the home.

Otherwise I woudn't own a home

9. My husband – his son – supports this decision.

He too likes owning a home.

10. He didn’t know what courgette spaghetti was.

I shouldn't have confused him apparently.

11. His son doesn’t wet shave.

My doing, apparently.

12. I bought our son a toy kitchen for his birthday.

It's what he asked for.

13 .An advertisement for tampons appeared on the TV.

They should be "after the watershed" apparently.

14. The kids didn’t know was Ovaltine was.

It's 2016.

15. He lost the rubber ring he uses to sit on to alleviate certain “discomfort.”

One day we'll all need one.

16. He found his rubber ring, but didn’t like when my son asked what it was for.

He thought it was for the swimmingpool.

17. The kettle made too much noise.

Too shrill.

18. The phone didn’t make enough.

Too subtle.

19. His fingernails were too short and felt “stubby”.

My fault.

20. My daughter farted and then laughed.

Her father's fault.