The Daily Mail Quick Crossword for today has the downward clue of "male parent" which is clearly FATHER this confused me as the across answer was obviously MISHAP and did not begin with an F but an M. I rang the answer line and the downward answer is MOTHER, so there you go everyone, your mother is actually your male parent! Stupid paper.
I've been struggling with this one too. The capital 'M' convinced me they meant male not female.
Count-A-Strong's a bit shirty. Not get enough last night, love? Sleep, I mean.