Trust a mum to leave a list like this.
Eight children would be a handful for any parents, not to mind a bereaved dad trying to do it all alone after losing his wife.
British Dad Ian Millthorpe has revealed that his other half left him a list of fifteen rules to follow for raising their children after her death.
His wife Angie passed away in 2010, having been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer two days beforehand, according to
The Mirror.
Clearly concerned about how her husband would get by after her death, she jotted down her 'rules' in a notebook for him.
She gave Ian guidelines on everything from caring for their daughters' hair and wearing suncream to vetting potential boyfriends and girlfriends.
- Plait girls' hair as it splits
- Must do homework before bed
- Must be in one hour before dark
- Vet TV programmes
- Don't let them bite nails
- Vet boyfriends/ girlfriends
- Keep going to Thornwick with rest of family
- Be strict with them
- Check their hair for nits
- Only one hour a day on computer
- Make sure Ella has her meningitis boosters
- Don't have iron too hot for shirts
- Don't leave Ella alone in bath alone
- Don't give them too many sweets
- Sun block on hot days
She also noted each of their eight children's birthdays to make sure Ian never forgot one.
The kids, Ryan, Damon, Reece, Connor, Jake, Jade, Carey and Ella, now range in age from 31 to ten and Ian is now a grandad to five grandkids.
"I miss Angie every day but I really did feel her absence during the birth of our grandchildren," Ian said.
"She’d have loved hugging them, just as I do.”
"I’m very fortunate. I have a bunch of hard-working, caring kids. I’m really proud. My children talk about Angie every day, what their Mam used to do, what she used to say.
“I can never replace Angie – I don’t want to – but I’m determined to do everything that I can to make her proud of our family. Luckily she has made it easier for me."
