School’s out for summer! Like other parents, I won’t miss the lunches, the uniforms, the homework or the morning scramble for the next few months. A slower pace of life awaits most of us as the summer holidays begin for primary school children. For many parents, school closure can create a headache as they juggle […]
Parenting column: Taking children out of school for a holiday is a personal decision
There’s been talk in the media recently of the detrimental effects of taking kids out of school during term time to go on holidays. They say that school absenteeism is on the rise and the powers that be have advised against the practice. Personally – and in my professional experience as a secondary school teacher […]
Joyous news – there’s a new arrival for Peppa Pig and her family
Right up there on the list of things I never thought I’d write about is Peppa Pig – and yet, here we are! The TV series which first aired over 20 years ago has always focused on four year old Peppa Pig and her two year old brother, George. A very clever marketing team announced […]
Exam time: Home should be a place of reassurance, not added stress
The Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle exams are looming large on the horizon. As a secondary school teacher, I’ve heard many parents say they feel as though they’re doing the exams again themselves, what with the LC or JC having consumed the whole house. While we can’t take the tests for them, parents play a […]
Miscarriage – I found so much comfort knowing I was not alone
May is the month when I reflect most on my journey to motherhood. It is the month when my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at 18 weeks back in 2012. Thankfully as the years have passed, the heartache has eased significantly. I have since been blessed with three children and my heart is full. But […]
Should schools take a back seat when it comes to Communions and Confirmations?
We’re well and truly in the thick of First Communion season. My own son, Evan, made his First Holy Communion last weekend. We had a fabulous day. The dry weather was a great bonus and everyone was very chilled out. Having celebrated my daughter Lucy’s Communion three years ago, I found it all much more […]
Parenting column: The importance of pelvic floor exercises – especially for mums
During the recent spell of good weather, I was out messing on the trampoline with the kids. A couple of bounces was all I could manage before my bladder warned me to stop! After you give birth, you do get advised to do your postpartum pelvic floor exercises, but it is something many of us […]
PARENTING COLUMN: Speed at which changes to Leaving Cert are being introduced is alarming
Over 20 years on, I still have recurring nightmares about my Leaving Cert maths exam. Sometimes, I even have one of those weird dreams where you know it’s a dream but you still have to go through the motions: ‘It’s ok, Louise, it’s just a dream. You’re 41 now and Leaving Cert maths actually went […]
Parenting Column: Mums to be should pack separate bags for the labour and maternity wards
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
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 […]