NOW that daddy is back from being away, it’s important the children have some fun times with him before he has to start parenting in earnest.

He was away for almost a month, and when you are ten or five years old this can seem like forever.

My children bicker with each other constantly. It could challenge Mary Poppins, and I don’t have the added assets of a magic umbrella and a spoon full of sugar, so I generally just end up yelling, or sometimes rocking under the table.

Invariably, military daddy might start shouting too early in the re-introduction transition, so it makes good sense to have some family decompression by spending time all together so that he can resume shouting after we have had some fun.

So for the last two weekends it’s been family fun time, with trips to two different theme parks.

The first weekend involved combat laser in the woods – and it was a tremendous laugh as we had the distinct advantage of a military tactician on our side.

After laser we split into pairs, the five-year-old and I painted pottery, which turned into a tactile sensory paint exploration – I hope granny and grandad love their Jackson Pollack cat and dog ornament this Christmas – while the boys’ team went off to win at archery.

After this we headed to the tropical indoor pool oasis. And as I threw myself continuously down slides and rapids, secretly dreaming of spa sessions, I realised that I really felt my 41 years of age.

To finish the day off we had a supper and a magic show.

Now, the ex and I had planned to let the kids enjoy the show while we chilled out on the edges, but he found hilarious reserves of energy.

The next weekend involved a more sedate fairground car ride when daddy and I exerted our revenge by asking if we were nearly there yet and declaring our constant need for the loo.

It didn’t go down well and we were forced to go around again, promising we would be on our best behaviour.

After a day of doughnuts, gokart racing and spinning on spinning rides, I made the ex do the water splash.

Once again the children had ‘the best day ever’, so now daddy can join me once again in real parenting – also known as shouting.

l Writer and journalist Clare Macnaughton’s latest book is available on Amazon worldwide. A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline is an honest account of a decade of being married to an RAF officer serving in the British military.

Follow Clare on twitter: @amodmilitarymum Blog: amodernmilitary mother.com.