LORRAINE Thomas has the sort of soothing voice that leaves you feeling all is fine in the world. Which must come in handy for her day job as a family coach, helping grown-ups ride the rocky road of parenthood.

Her new book, The Mummy Coach, does exactly what it says on the cover, offering “ten essential skills you need to be a great mum”. (Dads can fee feel free to dip in too, she says).

Split into short, easy-to-read chapters, the book is designed for busy parents looking for a quick fix to family problems, whether their child is a toddler or a teen.

Lorraine then offers simple, three-step skill-builder strategies to boost your confidence and make family life less frantic and more fun.

If she sounds like Jo Frost, TV’s Supernanny whose new show Extreme Parental Guidance airs tonight on Channel 4, then that is not the intention.

“Coaching is not about telling people what to do; we look at the solution rather than the problem,” says Lorraine, a mum of two who is the UK’s leading parent coach and chief executive of The Parent Coaching Academy.

“Parent coaching is about what you as a mum can do that is in your control. It’s about how you respond rather than react to your children.”

The problems facing parents today are many, mostly stemming from the fact we are hard-pressed for time. “There’s never quite enough Mum to go around,” says Lorraine.

Not surprisingly then, research shows that staying calm and keeping our cool are the biggest challenges for the modern mother.

“Most clients say they want to be more of a fun parent than a frantic one and want to be calmer and less shouty,” says Lorraine.

The ten chapters emphasise the positive messages about parenting such as: I am my child’s number-one role model; I am positive about discipline; I am a calm mum and I am the mum I want to be.

As every parent knows, we can wake up full of good intentions, but the onslaught of getting children clothed, fed and out to school on time would try the patience of a saint. Comic writer Kathy Lette was right when she observed that the Dunkirk evacuation was easier to organise than getting the kids out of the door in the morning.

Lorraine understands that certain times are more challenging than others, such as school mornings, but also weekends and holidays.

“It should be really great being with your children all the time, but actually because we set the bar so high in terms of expectations, we can find it quite stressful,” she says.

As half-term begins, Lorraine is full of suggestions on how to make it an enjoyable experience for all.

“Sit down and draw yourself a ‘to-do’ list and have some specific goals and stick it up somewhere where the whole family can see, like on the fridge.”

Obvious outings include going swimming, bowling, to the cinema – but Lorraine urges us to think more creatively and of things to do that don’t necessarily cost money.

“These could be as simple as getting into bed with your daughter and reading Cinderella, or reading Harry Potter under the duvet with a torch.

“Create things with your kids that they will remember and do with their kids. Things that cost less are often the things that memories are made from.”

Other ideas include cooking together. “Get the kids involved in setting the menu, shopping for the food, and cooking it,” says Lorraine. “Pick a theme and turn it into a special event.”

Half-term is also a good opportunity to get crafty. “This is a time when they can make a mess. Decide you are going to paint today and get everything out. The children will be so excited, it will make it so worthwhile.”

Lorraine is conscious we can’t be a “100 per cent Mum, 100 per cent of the time”, however younger children sometimes have difficulty in understanding the concept of time and find it hard to let their mother get on with jobs around the house.

“They get bored very quickly,” says Lorraine. A top tip is to buy a large egg-timer, which will run for five, ten or 15 minutes. “If you have something you have to do, this gives them a good idea of when you will be finished and when you will be ready again to have fun with them.”

Lorraine makes much about being a role model to our children, reminding us that if we have bad habits our children are likely to copy them. Therefore, if we shout and stamp our feet to get our own way, we shouldn’t be too surprised if little Jonnie and Jessie to the same.

“Life is about negotiating and resolving conflicts,” says Lorraine. “If your children can see that you can talk about things and sort them out that’s the way they will grow up to deal with conflict.”

She adds: “Look at your child as a little person setting out on a journey from dependence to independence. See yourself as walking next to your child on this journey, walking with them, not pulling or pushing them in any direction.”

And when their behaviour tests you to the limits, Lorraine says: “Don’t take it personally. It’s about them growing up and becoming more independent and flexing their muscles.”

During these testing times, she advises parents to draw a heart, either on paper or in their imaginations, and write on it all the things they love about their child.

Also, parents should be more forgiving to themselves. There’s no such thing as the perfect child, or parent, says Lorraine.

“Parenting is the most important job we do,” she asserts. “We are in charge of our own company and have to handle our own budgets, deal with personnel matters and do crisis management.”

Ultimately, at the end of each day, Lorraine suggests we count our blessings. “Think about all the things you have to be grateful for in your life. Focus on something you have enjoyed during the day, and go to sleep.”

• The Mummy Coach, by Lorraine Thomas (Hamlyn, £9.99)