By Louise Flanagan Young children being light-fingered in shops seems to be quite common. Whether it’s sweets, small toys, or something random that catches their covetous little eye, the urge overwhelms some of them. Based on my own experience as a mother, the statistic is one in three! A page member recently wrote into Letterkenny […]
PARENTING COLUMN: May back to school time be filled with curiosity, laughter, and just the right amount of chaos
By Louise Flanagan And just like that, the summer is over. Most kids are back at school this week, with many walking through the school gates for their first day back. There’s a unique mix of emotions in the air – relief for parents, excitement for pupils, and maybe a pinch of anxiety for some, […]
PARENTING: Breastfeeding is a wonderful, natural experience, but it’s not without its challenges
By Louise Flanagan The first week of August marked World Breastfeeding week, a global campaign to raise awareness and promote the benefits of breastfeeding. Alas, my own breastfeeding experience was short-lived. I’m glad I tried but overall, I found it hard and the pull of the bottle was too much for me to resist. (Not […]
PARENTING COLUMN: Water balloon incidents – fun for some, not for others
By Louise Flanagan DURING the week, Letterkenny Babies Facebook page received the following message: “Milford area. 8.15pm Wednesday, Church Road. Boys were throwing water balloons from the church graveyard over the wall on church road. My car was hit by four; the first hit the windscreen, one hit my wee girl’s window very hard, the […]
Parenting: A story which highlights the qualities of kindness
By Louise Flanagan Last weekend, Letterkenny Babies Facebook page received an appreciation post to share. It gained great traction with well over 1,000 people reacting positively to the story: “My son had a bit too much to drink last night and was sick and unable to stand. “A young man who couldn’t have been more […]
PARENTING: Preparation is key when you’re planning a trip on a plane with the kids
By Louise Flanagan WITH summer on the horizon, there’s a good chance some of us will be hopping on a plane and saying ‘adios’ to the rain for a while. Making that trip with babies and toddlers can add another dimension to the airport experience. Gone are the pre-boarding cocktails and 20kg of heels and […]
COLUMN: Life is rarely a perfect score sheet – and the same applies at exam time
By Louise Flanagan I recently read a quotation credited to Leah McDermott: “Let’s stop glorifying academic success and start praising our kids for the weird and wonderful interests and talents that make them uniquely who they are. This is how we inspire the next generation of artists, problem solvers, and creative, joyful souls.” It struck […]
COLUMN: Small things can become big issues when you are doubting yourself as a parent
By Louise Flanagan Parenthood is the steepest of learning curves. Babies don’t come with a manual; we’re expected to figure it out as we go. Trust your instincts, they say. And yet, there are loads of guidelines that we are urged to follow. Advertisement Yes, they’re in the best interest of our babies, but it […]
Parenting column: Remembering lockdown four years on
By Louise Flanagan It’s been four years since the country locked down for our first rodeo with Covid – March 12, 2020. To mark the occasion, I’m going to do a lockdown lookback focusing on good family memories. Leo’s speech was like something from the sci-fi film, Independence Day. It came after other European heads […]
Is there a right age to start school?
It might seem like a strange time of year to discuss ‘school starting age’ but most schools are currently enrolling for incoming junior infants. Letterkenny Babies Facebook page often gets messages from parents asking what the best age is for a child to start school. First off, I’ll say that every child is unique and […]