Diary of a slightly mad, single mummy...

Let me introduce myself... my name is Laura, I have a ten-month-old daughter named Summer, I’m a single parent and have been given my dream job – writing a column...Carrie Bradshaw eat your heart out.

After watching an episode of Supernanny I suddenly felt empowered to get Summer sleeping in her own bed all night, especially with me being single: hardly a catch with a child in my bed constantly.

Only, my column will be very different to that of Miss Bradshaw, as I have a baby that takes away any opportunity for a date with a body-builder in a hot-tub (a past Manchester city centre based life of mine).

Instead my days are filled with tantrums, pooey nappies, bites and scratches – such a lovely rug-rat I have...

Being a single mum may not give me rock-star drama, but it certainly offers entertainment.

In a frank, brutally honest manner, this column will give you the story of a new mother (me), discovering the wonders and terrors of motherhood, trying to mark her career (did I mention I had just written a book), and find love...

After watching an episode of Supernanny I suddenly felt empowered to get Summer sleeping in her own bed all night, especially with me being single: hardly a catch with a child in my bed constantly. So this month my mission is to get her sleeping all night in her own bed.

First thing’s first, nip the, 'let her fall asleep on me', routine, in the bud. As per Supernanny’s instructions I lay her in the cot and leave her to cry: 58, 59, 60...time to go back in.

I lay her back down, place dummy back in mouth and leave the room again (this goes on several times). I do exactly as Supernanny says only her cries get worse; she starts coughing - then gagging. I run into the room and she has been sick everywhere. After a quick bed and PJ change I feel guilty so let her cuddle me while sobbing, until she’s fallen asleep. Great. That didn’t exactly go to plan...

It’s funny how different your life becomes when you’re a mum. I’m trying to remember the last time I did tequila shots, flirted with someone inappropriate or wore an outrageously short skirt. It doesn’t help that I’m single, looking-for-love, skint - to the point that I’m actually considering growing my own potatoes and wearing the sacks they’re kept in. I do have joys, of course I do, they’re just different ones; like a few weeks’ ago when Summer stopped jumping in her walker and instead put one foot in front-of-the other; I was starting to worry that she would be kangaroo jumping through the school gates rather than walking. But this month I made a pact with myself that I would have a messy-night on the town. Only, the night didn’t live up to expectation. Where have all the people gone? And why wouldn’t a drive-thru McDonalds serve me through the window when they were still serving cars?

So much for a messy night on the town, I was lying in a bath-bombed bath at 1am craving a double cheeseburger and a bit of entertainment.

If you can’t wait until next month to see what I have been up to, feel free to follow me on Twitter.

Laura's book, My Summer Bump is available here.