My Madness had a play area that would make any child’s eyes light up. She had a selection of dolls, prams, a huge play kitchen with all the utensils, craft equipment, a wall of books, dress up clothes spilling out of closets and a heap of other sparkly, glittery objects that were apparently must have things.

As we packed up her princess themed bed and took down her pink, sequined curtains she started to get upset. She gave us dirty looks every time we sold or took something to Vinnies. Once we started travelling on the road though all was forgiven. A couple of days in we noticed Madz was talking to something. She would turn to her shoulder or cup her little hands and whisper. “It’s Frog,” she would smile. I remember laughing with Troy how our daughter always had to be a little left field. I’ve heard of other kids having invisible friends but never an invisible frog.

Frog turned out to be quite the nuisance. He came everywhere with us. He would hop all around the car on everyone’s heads and the steering wheel. Madz would squeal with laughter. I got sick of him once so I turned the windscreen wipers on to flick him off the car.

That invisible frog kept returning no matter what we did to get rid of him… and now he has a pose of invisible friends. We have invisible dogs, babies, friends, fairies and even an invisible dinosaur. Sometimes they have been a hindrance; for example when she is putting her baby to sleep she will have a tantrum over any talking or music being played. I’m not even allowed to drink my hot cup of tea while holding it. She is an amazing actor and everything is mimed with precision. “Oh my gosh, stinky poo,” she says as she pretends to open a nappy. “Get me the wipes,” she calls. I pretend to open a packet and pass her a wipe. “You didn’t close the lid,” she says rolling her eyes.

Other times it has worked to our advantage. Shower and dinner time can be a drama in anyone’s family. “I called you’re friend Varina,” I say. It’s amazing how easy she will do things if I pretend to soap up an invisible person or place out another dinner setting.

She has made so many passers by chuckle as she runs by yelling at them to look out as her dinosaur is coming. I’m sure people in the next door cubicle smile as she makes us pretend we are locked in so she can call her fairy friends to sprinkle fairy dust so we can escape.

I remember once a lady stopping Troy, with Madz high up on his shoulders while eating an apple. She was having trouble balancing and not holding on. “Would you like me to take that?” The woman asked. “Not my apple,” she replied. The lady looked to the other hand clenching something. “It’s my dog’s lead,” said Madz matter-of-factually.
Or there was the time she got so excited about a pink cat she saw. “Take my photo mum!” she yelled. She passed me an invisible camera on a busy pathway and I started clicking away. We got a few strange looks as people passed us by.

It is increasingly said in a world with screens children are lacking an imagination. Well take them camping I say, it’s amazing watching a child bring their fantasy land to life. And we haven’t heard about her princess room since we left.