Happy families - are they?

FOR the second time this week, my six-year-old has brought home a book for homework reading practice.

The first was dubbed Miss Dirt the Dustman's Daughter and is taken from the 'Happy Families' range of reading. Settling down to unfold the story one night this week, we were taken on a journey that revealed how Daisy Dirt's dad was a dustman on the dole but her mum had re-married a Duke and became richer than rich.

Daisy's double life was shared spending time between the two parents and saw her going from rich to poor until everything changes. The demise of the Duke sees the filthy rich pair having to sell off their Daimler while dad scoops the lottery and gets himself quids in. The story focusses on the ins and outs of divorce and re-marriage and sets out to a child how 'normal' it all is.

The second book to come home, from the same range, was Ms Cliff the Climber. The clue is in the title as to what happens to this thrillseeking ladette.Every morning, Clara Cliff gets up and puts on her climbing boots. Closely followed by her climbing clothes and her climbing hat. She then climbs out the window ... and up onto roofs of buildings and mountains and all manner of heighty places.

In a nutshell, Clara finds a soulmate who shares her interest of all things rope-like. It follows her story of ups and downs, and tangles in life - from marriage, to children, through a divorce, re-marriage, even more children and in all, having more than the usual quota of family fun and adventure.

I was a little saddened to be reading stories like this to my youngest who, after completing the full range of books, will understand that life isn't always as simple as it could be.

But in all reality, this IS reality and who am I to say any different?