Because I need cake

Because I am a therapist Because I am a referee Because I am (apparently) a "fun sponge" Because I am a pack-mule Because I am a (sub-standard) chef Because I am a personal shopper (who gets it wrong) Because I am a shoulder to cry on Because I am the holder of the stationary Because I am a (very under-qualified) medical consultant Because I am a listener ...

In the interests of full disclosure

There's no such thing as a perfect parent - even the kindest, most calm parents have off days (and I suspect it's a good thing for kids to know parents aren't perfect) but apparently more than half of Irish parents feel they're failing, and this feeling is amplified by the internet and social media. So from ...

28 Book Recommendations From my Kids to Yours

One night a few months ago, I made a third attempt to get my six-year-old interested in Cabin Fever, a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book by Jeff Kinney. I read it for him as his bedtime story, promising he could have a second story if he didn't like it. There may have been an ulterior ...

If I Could Bottle It

"Mum, give me three words that describe me," one of you said to me last night, as you twirled around the sitting room, fifteen minutes after you first said goodnight. "Enthusiastic, enthusiastic, and enthusiastic," I said, and you laughed. "Okay give me three that don't describe me." "World famous singer. Now go to bed." There are so many other ...

Sisters are doing it for themselves

I am the mean-mom who doesn't let my kids have new toys when it's not Christmas or birthdays, despite the fact that every single child in the school goes to Smyths EVERY SUNDAY to buy new toys - these are the same children who apparently all have their own YouTube channels, own iPhones, are allowed ...

The Things I Thought I Knew – A Parenting Evolution

“But why can’t I make a sandwich with a burger bun?” my youngest asked, “There’s no bread in the press anyway.” He had a point. And despite being the mother who won’t let her kids have treats in their lunch boxes (I’m the meanest mother in the class apparently) and despite everything I know about processed ...

And then the pieces fell into place

They came on Saturday afternoon - my almost-last round of edits. This is the time to make final tweaks and find typos. (Typos are so hard to find, but I know they're there, lurking, grinning slyly, hoping to make the final cut.) And for me, the only way to do this is to read it out loud. All ...