“You know I could help you with biology,” I say, a little too eagerly.

“What are the two types of immunity?” my daughter asks, casually flipping her eggs.

“Innate and adaptive.”

“What do ribosomes do?”

“They translate messenger RNA into amino acids.”

“Wow, are you a doctor or something?” she deadpans, before scooping up her eggs and sauntering away, leaving my offer untouched.

Next, her younger brother avows that he will fail chemistry.

“I can help!” I volunteer. “I did chem at school, you know.”

“All good,” he says, shrugging. “But if you ever need help writing a column, just ask.”

Chafing, I think they might be taking their cue from their older sibling, now at university. Early in school he adopted a policy of non-interference, which is to say he did not brook my interference. O

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