First week of maternity leave so I’m going to take a slight departure from the usual post format and, instead, share the contents of my hospital bag. Yep, it finally happened. Disposable underwear has been purchased and the bag has been packed. What’s in the bag is a combination of what I remember finding useful the first time around, what ... Read More »

Love Parenting’s Friday News Round Up from 23rd May to 29th May  Dyslexia Correcting vision in children with dyslexia ‘unlikely to help’  Dyslexia-eyesight link ‘unlikely’ Disability Employment strategy for people with disabilities in weeks Surrogacy Eamon Gilmore calls for action on surrogacy Travel Children go abroad at younger age Childcare Cooper wants free childcare for all  Health Doctors given until ... Read More »

Putting your own child first does not mean ignoring your own needs. Happy parents tend to have happy children. So it’s important to spend some time thinking of your own needs and feelings. No matter how much you long to have a baby, in the early days you will probably feel quite overwhelmed by the tremendous responsibility of caring for ... Read More »

Week 37 Last week of work! This really is happening. I turn 38 on Friday, my official last day at work before maternity leave begins. In medical terms that makes me a ‘geriatric expectant mother’. I kid you not. When I had the fall on the stairs and needed to be monitored over in the maternity, a doctor asked me ... Read More »

Love Parenting’s Friday News Round Up from 16th May to 22nd May  Parenting Goo goo brains: why dads have their own brand of baby talk Parenting has turned me into a bit of a hypocrite Disability A letter to … my son, who has autism, for whom I’ll always do my best Ireland ill-prepared to address needs of those with Down ... Read More »

 “Because being a parent is the most important job in the world” An exciting new campaign hit the streets of Limerick last week with the launch of the Population Approach, an initiative that promotes positive parenting to all parents and families in Limerick. The campaign features images of local children on buses and billboards throughout Limerick city with the message ... Read More »

Exam times bring with them varying levels of stress and anxiety for both children and parents. For the children the stress is more direct and obvious. Thoughts like “have I done enough study, could I do more?” “I’m running out of time”. “I’m no good at remembering details” “I hate this subject” and many more run through our children’s minds ... Read More »

What You Need 2oz soft brown sugar 2oz butter ½ oz cornflour ½ a beaten egg 4½oz plain flour 1 teaspoon mixed spice Boiled sweets or other decorations Pastry cutters Baking parchment A straw How To Make It Mix sugar an butter until smooth and creamy. Add egg and beat well. Sift flour, cornflour and spice and add to butter ... Read More »

Week 36 The baby is the size of a watermelon this week, eh? Well no s*** Sherlock. More of a bowling ball disguised as a watermelon. I know the theory is that these final few weeks are when both mom and baby pack on the pounds but wow, it literally happened overnight. I went from feeling like I had a ... Read More »

Love Parenting’s Friday News Round Up from 9th May to 15th May  Abandoned Babies Cases of babies found alone not as rare as you might think Maternity services Doing nothing is not an option when lives of mothers on the line Cyber Issues Cyberlaw expert warns of dangers of young people sending nude images Addiction Parenting through addiction: Breaking the ... Read More »