KEEPING the kids entertained is no easy feat – whether it’s coordinating swimming lessons or organising playdates with other mums, there’s plenty to keep on top of.

But for one mum the admin of parenting has become too much, so much so that she is refusing to organise any activities for her three kids Alex, 10, William, 8, Robin, 3, instead dedicating this winter to being a ‘hedgehog mum.’

Catherine Lofthouse, 41, who lives with husband key worker Dee, 48, with their children in Leicestershire has gone the whole hog and banned playdates during the colder months, here she reveals why.

AS ANOTHER notification pings on the school mums WhatsApp group, I role my eyes and mute my phone as there’s no chance I’m responding.

Forget tiger mums and helicopter parents this winter I will be embracing the role of the hedgehog mum, shunning endless group chats or IRL get-togethers.

As autumn sets in, I feel like rolling up in a ball and hibernating at home with my hoglets. 

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I want to conserve my time and energy for my family, not feel like I'm constantly weaving through the traffic of everyday life, trying not to get squashed flat.

I first felt a bit prickly when there was some unnecessary drama in my son's Beavers WhatsApp group  – one of the other parents, who I don't even know, accused the Beavers leader of being useless and flounced out of the group. 

Before that, there were multiple messages back and forth for everyone in the group to see. 

Quite apart from being sucked into a situation that was nothing to do with me, I didn't need to know whose children had chicken pox or hear the endless excuses when they asked for parent helpers. That was the first group I decided to quit.

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Then the mums at school invited me to join a group chat to organise summer playdates as well as a camping trip. 

I immediately baulked. My logic was that if me and the kids didn't hear about whatever was planned, we wouldn't feel like we were missing out when we couldn't make it. 

The result was a summer of doing whatever we chose without having to fit into other people’s schedules.

The secret to being a hedgehog mum is being a bit bristly without being brusque, putting just the right amount of prick in your prickles. 

Although I know that keeping the kids at home with me is in both of our best interests I can’t help but feel a little guilty. 

No-one wants their children to be missing out, but I think my sons really want a happy and relaxed mum who has time to spend with them at home, rather than a stressed out social secretary who can't keep on top of her phone pinging. 

I'm glad I've cut back on the group chats as they are just a massive drain on my available resources, which are already in short supply with three boisterous boys to chase around. 

I've decided not to bother trying to sort any playdates or sleepovers for over the winter. 

We've been happy just being at home without the pressure to meet up with others and I can’t see that changing. 

The boys see plenty of their friends at school and I don't think they will miss being ferried between endless playdates, after-school clubs and parties by someone who's running on empty all the time. 

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We can always add more social events back into the diary as the weather warms up in the spring and we want to be out and about more. 

For now, I'm definitely channelling my inner hedgehog, spiking all the unnecessary activities and curling up for cuddles at home.

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