At the dinner table

This is how it goes in my house: "Kids, dinner's ready, come to the table." Then with a little less patience "Kids! Please come to the table!" Multiply this by pointlessly high number. Give up calling, start threatening and/ or physically lifting them into their seats. Cue dinner responses: Eldest: "What's this? I don't like this dinner. Why do we ...

12 signs my kids have taken over my house

office mum post: laundry

It's messy here. Marker marks on walls, little piles of folded laundry waiting expectantly but in vain for someone to pick them up, a single toddler shoe sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. When exactly did the kids take over the house? The most obvious sign that the kids have taken over the house ...

Product Review: Beltlock – keeping seatbelts closed!

Office Mum product review: photo of beltlock

Do your kids ever open seat-belts while you're driving? Or accidentally open a sibling's seat-belt when opening their own - the one that's supposed to stay closed because it's holding a car-seat in place? We don't have a problem with the first situation but the second is a regular annoyance. And OK, it's not always the ...

A six year old’s take on all things Motherish for Mother’s Day

Office Mum: six year old interviewee

I wrote a Mother's Day post for eumom and hadn't intended to write another one here, but then my six year old told me about a game they had played in school - all about mums. Taking her turn along with each of her classmates, she was asked to tell everyone what her mother's name ...

Product Review: Veronica’s Snacks

Office Mum review of Veronica

I was asked recently if I'd like to try Veronica's Snacks - a relatively new company, started just last year by mum of three Veronica Kenneally. I'm a sucker for a start-up, an Irish company, a mum running her own business. And I like crisps. So I said yes please. My crisps arrived a few days ...

8 Rules of Lent from the 1980s

Office Mum post 8 Rules of 1980s Lent

The Lent of my childhood in 1980s Ireland was driven by a complex set of rules and norms, some of which I've listed below: 1. "Giving up sweets" had many interpretations. It could in fact exclude crisps, cake and in extreme cases, even chocolate. And chocolatey sweets, like Minstrels, which were technically deemed to be chocolate ...

V-day

many hearts created this week

Of all the celebration days during the year, Valentine's Day is arguably one of the most commercialized; one of the more makey-uppy ones. Although not as makey-uppy as yesterday's "Get a Different Name Day" which coincided with "Madly in Love with Me Day" (what, you mean you missed both of those?). At least Valentine's Day ...

Obligatory year-end round-up

fireworks NYE

It's New Year's Day and there are familiar signs that Christmas is nearly over - the tree branches are starting to droop and wilt, the new toys are scattered all over the house, and the last few Heroes have been eaten (except the Eclairs and Fudges). Each year, I think we're going to have our best ...