Coming up for air next week, since 1998

Preschooler - Office Mum

June is mad. So says everyone. Teacher presents and end-of-term nights out and inductions for junior infants. Sports tournaments and school summer fairs - and barbecues every time it stops raining for more than six hours. I woke up this Monday morning and let out a long breath - another manic weekend done, and finally time to ...

The Handover to Crèche

Cake - Office Mum

Over the last few weeks, one friend announced her first pregnancy, one finished work to go on her first maternity leave, and one is counting down towards her first return to work. All three are going through a mix of nervousness and excitement, but unsurprisingly, for the friend who is going back to work, it's ...

The Moods of Motherhood – Ebb and Flow

Newborn - Office Mum

The earliest mood of motherhood comes before there is motherhood at all - prompted by that first moment staring at blue lines on a stick. It may be joy, or relief, or surprise, or shock, or fear - very few moments can be so life-changing and provoke such opposing emotions. For me, it was an inexplicable sense ...

Tales of parenting moments gone by (almost)

office mum post: photo of baby foot

What parenting moments are over for you? And how do you see them now, when you look back? What do you miss? These are the questions being asked by The Busy Mamas for her brand new linky, so I got thinking. I thought about some tangible stages that have finished for good; the milestones that made me teary when ...

Parent like someone is watching

hmm still not sure mum

"He loves his new baby sister" enthused my work colleague about his little boy, "he's not jealous at all, he's always hugging and kissing her, he's so good" Great so, the upcoming birth of my second child was bound to lead to exactly the same kind of loveliness. I wasn't just basing this assumption on one ...

Product review: MikaB Teething Jewellery

My baby is not so much a teether, more of a biter. Happily for him and for me, he hasn’t ever gone through a really painful teething period, but he does love a good bite. Of anything. My shoulder. My handbag strap. His sister’s leg. Dolls’ legs. Blankets. My husband’s nose. Anything.  Whenever he can. I ...