Being a stay at home parent

Leeds Dads support group member Al Hudson-Frost, 36, is a stay at home parent. Wife Sarah, 33, is a teacher and their bundles of joy are Laurence who's four and Lillian, two. They live in Church Fenton near Tadcaster.

What are your top tips for getting children to do what you ask? In an ideal world just explaining clearly what you want them to do but if that fails plan B is bribery.

What family task takes you the longest? Things you used to take for granted like just popping into a shop now are an hour minimum.

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What’s the weirdest thing your children have done/brought home/done to your house? We constantly find parts of household appliances like knobs and buttons in unusual places like in shoes and in a child’s mouth.

What’s the most bizarre thing you have found yourself saying since having kids? You remember as a child hearing your parents saying such marvellous things like “If the wind changes your face will stay like that” and thinking I’ll never say things like that, but you bet I have now I’m a parent.

What’s the funniest thing your children have ever said/done? Sarah asked Laurence to say something nice in a video that she was sending to her sister and in it he cheekily asks “Can I press your...bottom!?”

Mini moan - what really gets your goat? Being a stay at home Dad and people constantly asking me “Daddy day care today?”

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What’s your favourite family day out? In the summer a day out to the beach and if it’s raining a trip to an aquarium.

What’s the hardest thing about being a parent? Just hoping that every decision you make for them when they are little is going to help them become a kind, loving and rounded adult.

What’s a typical evening for the grown-ups once the children are in bed? Recovering from the day!

What’s the best thing about weekends and why? For the kids - 48 hours with mummy! For the grown ups - seeing the kids have fun.

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What’s the children’s favourite food/meal? Carrots, sugar puffs and ice lollies at the time of going to press, but this could change on a weekly/hourly basis.

What’s your top penny-pinching tip? Bringing your own food from home. Eating out is so expensive.

* Leeds Dads meets every third Sunday of the month at The Tetley Arts Centre in Leeds City Centre. Kids get involved in art/craft, games, a singalong and storytime outside.