The family business

They say to write what you know. And as a father of three, David Campbell is all too aware of the pain that is the witching hour. From tears over denied screen time to fervent pleas for late-afternoon sugary snacks to tantrums thrown when dinner isn’t to their offspring’s liking, every parent paddles frantically as the children ride the emotional waves of that perilous early evening period.

“It’s horrible,” he says with a laugh as Leo, 10, and twins Billy and Betty, both five, happily blow bubbles at each other as we sit down to chat. “There’s the Kübler-Ross model of the five stages of grief – which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. That’s what toddlers and kids go through at dinner time, and this is something we’re constantly going through. Kids now are getting their own autonomy and requesting things but also, we’re not a hotel. You’re going to get what you get and you’re not going to be upset about it.”

So when Scholastic came knocking on David’s door, asking if he’d be interested in penning a children’s book, this topic was, needless to say, one that soon came up. And thus Stupid Carrots was born.

Dedicated to the brood he shares with his wife of close to 12 years, producer Lisa, 40, the book is the tale of young rabbit Betty (and yes, she’s definitely modelled on their daughter) who cycles through those stages when carrots are served again