THERE are many similarities between myself, Posh Spice and Cherie Blair. It goes without saying that when it comes to our physical appearance there is an uncanny resemblance that borders on spooky, but the bonds run much deeper than that. Not only are we three shockingly attractive women, despite the psychotic grins (just look at the picture above and tell me you're not scared), but we are also all mums with a firm belief in family values.

And the family value that we believe in most is family value-for-money. Raising a brood is an expensive business and when, like poor old Posh, Cherie and me, you don't get much housekeeping from your hubby and have to find yourself a little part-time job to keep you in nylons and knicker-elastic, you have to consider what to do with the kids.

Selling them is out of the question because a) Mr and Mrs Kilshaw have run out of cash, and b) the exchange rate just isn't what it was; and we no longer have the option of packing them off down t'pit because all the mines were closed by the people who used to live in Cherie's house.

So what is a modern mum to do? Well, for Vic, Chez and myself, the decision was simple. Where Brooklyn, Leo and Jack are concerned only the best will do, and in this case the best was grandma.

Each of us relies on our mums to care for our children while we work. My munchkin goes to his gran's three days a week while I work my fingers to the bone crafting words of wisdom like this. All right, so I sit at a keyboard leisurely tapping out whimsical witterings about nothing in particular, but you get my drift.

Similarly Cherie drops off little Leo at his nan's before donning her wig and gown to fight for justice and speak out against inequalities, and Posh orders Becks to take Brooklyn to stay with his grannie (presumably affectionately known as Old Spice) while she dons her wig and gown to, well, stand about a bit and, erm, look thin and pretty.

And we are not alone in choosing to keep it in the family. According to the latest Social Trends Survey by the Office of National Statistics, eight out of ten mums with children under the age of five turn to their mothers for help.

So why are more and more of us deciding that grandmother knows best when it comes to nurturing our children? Well, while I thoroughly enjoy being a statistic, I can only speak from my own experience and so far that experience has been extremely successful.

Like many 21st century grandmothers, my mum is not a little old lady with white hair and apple cheeks who spends her time crocheting novelty loo roll covers while reminiscing about rationing. She is a vibrant 50-something gran with a busy social life and more energy than a woman half her age (that would be me).

She also has more than enough stamina to deal with a rampant two-year-old, more than enough experience to teach him without preaching, and more than enough humour to deal with the unrelenting chaos that is the toddler group.

I'm sure she must sometimes find caring for my noisy, energetic little bundle of smells a thoroughly tiring, and perhaps even tiresome, experience, but she never shows it. Even when he has been at his noisiest and smelliest and anyone else would be only too glad to pack him off back home, she always claims to be already looking forward to her next 'Jack day'.

And so on behalf of myself, Posh and Cherie, I would like to say an enormous thank you to our mums. You have made us what we are today (but no one blames you for that) and now we are happy and thankful that you have chosen to pitch in with the next generation. Just don't ask for a pay rise, okay?