History repeating: Why you sound like your mum

WHY is it that parents start sounding like their own mothers and fathers once they have children? Because I said so.

And if that phrase rings a bell of familiarity, then think about the last time you reprimanded an insubordinate youngster with words of warning straight from your own childhood.

According to a survey by Mothercare, the majority of parents have verbal flashbacks to their youth when faced with their own children’s challenging behaviour, but women are twice as likely to echo their own mothers in the process.