Dear worried parents everywhere, When I was 8, I was in hospital for the entire second half of the school year. I did no course work - only read books and kids’ magazines, did puzzles, and watched every single episode of I Love Lucy, and countless old movies.

And you know what? It had no lasting ill effect. In fact, I think I am Pretty Much A Geniusor at least an Okay Person Who Isn’t Criminally Stupid. So don’t worry if you’re not getting all those work sheets done, or if you struggle with Grade 3 math.

Love your kids. Keep them safe. Read to them. Play with them. Listen to them. That’s enough right now. They’ll be fine. Just like I was.