At the risk of inadvertently turning this week’s article into a trashy gossip column, I’m going to broach the recent Beckham family fallout. A few days ago, the eldest son of David and Victoria, Brooklyn Beckham, released a statement to the effect that he was fed up living life on his parents’ terms; that they […]
Parenting: Should children get pocket money for basic household chores?
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The topic of chores and pocket money allowances often crops up on Letterkenny Babies Facebook page. Recently, a mother wrote in saying, “My daughter is 14 and has started demanding pocket money. This evening, I was told all her friends do chores and get pocket money. At the moment she has one very small chore […]
Parenting Column: Damned if they do, damned if they don’t – the dilemma of school snow closures
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‘Kids these days don’t know the magic of listening to their local radio station to find out if their school was closed because of the snow.’ Never a truer word was spoken. I’d actually forgotten about this, but as soon as I saw it shared on social media, memories of tuning into Highland Radio with […]
Parenting: Don’t be afraid to let expectations soften a little this Christmas
THEY say it’s only when your children have flown the nest that you can truly reflect on what is important at Christmas time. When you’re in the thick of it with young children, stress levels can get amplified as you aim to pull off the most spectacular Christmas celebration of all time. The current age […]
Parenting Column: Teachers don’t really expect a Christmas gift from their pupils
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Even if you try to be the most frugal version of yourself, this is an expensive time of year for parents. Some seasonal expenses can’t be avoided, but there are others that we can opt to bypass. Sometimes, we put undue pressure on ourselves to have the festivities all tied up in a bow; social […]
Parenting Column: The Late Late Toy Show – as magical and charming as ever
How many times have you watched the Late Late Toy Show? It’s a question I don’t know the answer to myself, but I’ve been trying to work it out. I’m in my early forties, so let’s account for the first few years of my life when staying up that late was beyond me, and my […]
Parenting Column: Acts of understanding make Halloween more inclusive for children with autism
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Halloween is upon us. It’s a night full of excitement – glowing pumpkins on porches and the happy chaos of trick-or-treaters filling the streets. But for many children with autism, the unpredictable sights, sounds, and social interactions can make the evening stressful rather than fun. The good news is that a few small acts of […]
Parenting Column: Fireworks can seem like harmless fun but can turn into a life-changing tragedy
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Every October, as the evenings grow darker, excitement builds for Halloween across Ireland. But alongside the spooky fun and deep-rooted tradition, there’s a concern for parents: the increasing number of teenagers and tweens getting their hands on fireworks. What might seem like harmless fun or a quick thrill can, in a split second, turn into […]
Parenting Column: The hardest part of owning a pet is saying that last goodbye
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LAST week, we said goodbye to our fifteen year old cat, Stella. It was really tough on the kids, but a valuable life lesson for them too. We knew she’d been unwell for a while, so they were prepared to a certain extent, but it still came as a shock for them. Myself and Ray […]
Parenting Column: Parents share nappy rash remedies after beloved yellow bum cream discontinued
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The concern you feel when you peel back your baby’s nappy and see bright red skin is nauseating. Nappy rash can strike at any time; from tiny newborns to teething toddlers. There used to be a cream on the market called Metanium, affectionately referred to as ‘yellow bum cream.’ It was miraculously effective at clearing […]