Happy Families S01E01 - A Mother's Tale

As a child, Mel always dreamed of being a mum – dressing up in grown up shoes and pushing her dolls' pram down the street. Her children are the centre of her world and she's determined to give them the childhood she didn't have. She's saving up to take them to The World of Beatrix Potter, and has instigated a reward system for good behaviour, good reading and eating all your dinner. Whilst juggling five kids, Mel's got her dream underway and has started her own online business. But the pressure is on for this Blackburn mum. Husband Kris is out of work and he's at home looking after the kids while she's out earning the money. As Mel contends with five young children and five jobs to make ends meet, she tries to balance following her own career and still being the devoted mum she always wanted to be.

Mum and step-mum to eight children, Carole can't remember not being a mother. In fact she thrives on the stress that motherhood brings. But as one of her eldest prepares to leave home, Carole struggles to let go.