Each time I was expecting, I relished the thought of packing my hospital bag. It’s one of the most practical – and oddly satisfying – ways to prepare for Baby’s arrival. It felt good to be organised in spite of the uncertainty of the labour ahead. As it turns out, I was lucky to have […]
Parenting Column: Children should be encouraged to learn a musical instrument
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Last weekend, my daughter Lucy performed in An Grianán Theatre as part of Letterkenny Music and Drama’s Junior crew. Their variety show was called Socks Off and included a whole array of singing, dancing and drama sketches. It was fabulous to see the kids shine on stage. Thank you to producer, Fiona McDaid, for all […]
Parenting Column: Life is a gamble at the best of times, in the world of social media, it’s a minefield
I watched the Netflix show, Adolescence, during the week, along with millions of other people. Data released indicates that it is the most-watched British production of all time on the streaming platform. Since then, I have read countless articles and listened to podcasts and interviews about the show; so much commentary on it that I’m […]
Parenting Column: Irish mammy’s – what is it that makes them so special?
It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. Mind you, it goes without saying that mums should be celebrated and valued everyday of the year. Mums do so much of the heavy lifting around the house. Our brains are constantly on high alert trying to keep on top of everything. We know where the swimming goggles are and […]
Parenting Column: When it comes to school activities, it’s almost impossible to keep on top of everything
Juggling all the activities offered in primary school is tough. I regularly get calls from the school to ask if I can drop down my daughter’s guitar for orchestra practice. I am humbly resigned to the fact that these calls are inevitable, given my general disorganisation. I do feel guilty that the poor secretary has […]
PARENTING: Sometimes the most difficult question of all to answer is ‘Why?’
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By Louise Flanagan The way that Trump and his crony JD Vance barked at Vladimir Zelensky last weekend was a televised atrocity. Like anyone else with a brain cell, I was truly horrified to watch such a display of bullying and bigotry unfold – and in the Oval Office, of all unfathomable places. My kids […]
PARENTING: What to do about Verrucas
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Verrucas are such pesky things to deal with. What’s more, they seem to be very common among children. People don’t really talk about them, given that verrucas are hidden away on the soles of their little feet, but they are rife among children. It’s a battle we’re fighting in my own house at the moment. […]
Teaching children is more than reading and writing
It goes without saying that parents want the best for their children. We hope they’ll thrive in all they do. When our children encounter academic difficulties, it can be tricky to navigate. How much should we expect from the child? There can be a fine line between being a supportive parent and a pushy parent, […]
Parenting Column: Discovering that your child’s friend vapes
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By Louise Flanagan My oldest child is eleven years old and I can feel the pull of her friends starting to take hold. She has a great bunch of pals and I know that leaning more on them is a natural part of growing up. However, there seems to be a general consensus that for […]
Consistency is important when navigating back to school blues for little learners
We are flying through the academic year and, for some little learners, it’s all getting a bit tedious! The reality of going to school day in, day out is wearing thin for some, and it can be a real struggle for parents to deal with. One such parent recently messaged Letterkenny Babies Facebook page: “My […]