I made three new year’s resolutions this year; one for work, one for running, and one for home – this is the home one: “fix afternoons with the kids so they’re less chaotic.” But unlike my work and running goals, the home goal isn’t specific, nor is it measurable, and it
Kissing each child goodnight, I said the same thing – in my head so I wouldn’t wake them – I said “From now on, I’m going to be the best parent ever.” It’s something I often say when I’m kissing them at night – when they’re fast asleep and it’s
A few years ago, I was at a party the day after the clocks went back, chatting to a friend of a friend. She was bemoaning the fact that her child had woken up even earlier than usual that morning. “He usually wakes at 6.30,” she said, “But this morning
“And then the sixteen-year-old found out she was pregnant too, and she wanted to run away with her boyfriend!” This was the sentence that left me speechless last year, when my then seven-year-old was recounting the plot of the book she was reading. It was a Jacqueline Wilson book that
Another week done; in fact a whole month done now, and a little more progress with getting used to school. Actually, to anyone who sees at us at the door every morning, it would all look perfect – my small boy gives me a cheeky grin, runs towards his classroom,
I own a book monster. I take her to library, she gets out ten books, and two days later, she’s read them all. I usually find her roaming around the house at night, picking up newspapers and magazines, desperate for something to read until she can get her next library
I know this is supposed to be an emotional time. My smallest; my baby; my last baby is off to school. I am meant to be in floods of tears. I should have pockets stuffed with tissues. I’m supposed to just about hold it in when I drop him to
Dublin, August 2016 Dear Universe, I’d like a little word about something. You see, we had this deal – I do the right thing, and you don’t punish me. A very straight-forward agreement. But you don’t seem to be holding up your side of the bargain these days, and I
“Mum, can I go into the sandpit?” Hurrah! Music to my tired ears, after an hour following him around slides and swings and zip-lines and rope bridges. I’ll just sit on the side here and keep an eye on him in case he throws sand or walks off to try something
My name is Andrea, I’m a yeller, and it’s been 163 days since I last shouted at my kids. By no coincidence, it’s precisely 163 days since I had a blow-out shouting match with my six-year-old. She is a chilled out child – my easy one. But unlike her siblings, who are
Once upon a time, when I worked a lot more hours than I do now, I felt like I never had quality time with my kids. Each night when they went to bed, I thought about how another day had slipped by without me noticing. I would try to think
“Mum, do you think I’m a good singer?” This is a question that causes me to freeze every time it’s asked. And it’s asked at least once a week, and by all three children. I don’t know why they’re obsessed with asking this or what kind of X-Factor plans they
Two things happened yesterday within ten minutes that stopped me in my tracks – not in a world news, earth shattering way, just little things that made me stop and think. We were out on the green (that is where I live now) and my eight-year-old was running up and down the
It’s the question being asked this week, after research published by the University of California showed that 70% of parents do favour one child over the others. Obviously, if I really did have a favourite child, I wouldn’t write it here, in case the other two read it in years to
This article first appeared in maternity & infant, October/ November issue, and after watching Sugar Crash on RTÉ earlier this week, I thought I’d post it here. Why is dental decay in kids on the increase in Ireland, and why is nobody telling parents that waiting for primary school screening
Since switching to work-from-home life earlier this year, I’m re-learning being with my kids, and one thing I’ve noticed is that they lack self-sufficiency. It’s entirely my fault – only being off at weekends meant that my priority was spending quality time with them. Whether or not they knew how
Mark Zuckerberg is pledging to give away $45 billion – 99% of his fortune – an announcement made to coincide with the birth of his daughter. “Don’t think they’ve realised they might need it – babies don’t come cheap!” said one commenter on Facebook. Indeed, I thought, as I handed over €22 at
One of the most confusing (and nerve-racking) areas of parenting for me has always been car seats. There’s a huge choice, there’s lots of information, but unlike picking a playmat or a highchair, the top consideration is of course safety, and there’s no room for error. As a parent, I
Sitting in the cinema, one recent Sunday afternoon, we waited patiently for Inside Out to start. A McDonald’s ad flashed up on screen. One with a girl dressed as a fairy. My kids were transfixed. I was transfixed too, but for entirely different reasons. I can’t remember the last time my
When my eldest was two, I remember that she really disliked saying sorry. I remember because I found it fascinating that at such a young age, she instinctively recoiled from apologising. It seemed like a very adult reaction from someone too small to really understand the concept of right and