He’s really a lovely child, but… It can be a strange experience—opening a report card for the first time and seeing your child judged in black and white. It can raise a whole range of emotions—perhaps pride that someone has noticed their passion for music, their kindness or their mastery of Zeb and Danny. Perhaps relief that the temper that ... Read More »

Children start to learn about their bodies as soon as they are born.  Babies learn about themselves through touch and by watching and imitating others so cuddles, hugs and kisses from their parents and family are essential. It is important that they see affectionate behaviour between family members as well. Babies begin exploring their bodies from an early age–busy fingers ... Read More »

Becoming a mother is expected to be a joyous and happy occasion, full of Kodak moments.  The transition to motherhood is a period of intense change – physically, emotionally and mentally – that can be incredibly overwhelming. When the dreams about motherhood don’t always match the realities, it can be both frustrating and disappointing. At first, when they come home ... Read More »

We all know the feeling—you’re multi-tasking furiously between dinner, homework, activities, bed-time…Then, finally, quiet descends in the household, and you have a moment to yourself …And, then you fall asleep. As parents, we can be pulled in hundreds of directions on a daily basis as we try to meet the needs of those around us.  Most of us have become ... Read More »

The Community Mothers Programme with in Limerick Social Services Council – are pleased to announce the official Launch of their Community Mothers Programme Manual. The Community Mothers Programme, established in Limerick in 1993, is a universal home visiting service offered to families with new babies and young children in Limerick city and county. A Community Mother is an experienced mother ... Read More »

You look in the mirror and grimace—“Ugh, I look so fa”….but, hold on a minute. There is a little person just outside the door taking it all in, so it quickly mutates in to, “I look so FABULOUS!” as you launch into a silly dance and invite her to join in. We know that our children will be exposed to ... Read More »

Technology has improved the quality of our lives in many ways.  It can be a valuable source of education, entertainment and connection.  We can easily find ourselves, however, spending too much time online and responding too readily to the ping of the phone rather than our immediate surroundings. Young people, the digital natives, have never known a time when technology ... Read More »

Childhood, for the large part, is divided into clear blocks, usually according to developmental milestones. We see our children develop from infancy, through toddlerhood, middle childhood and into adolescence. However, as middle childhood usually refers to that period from 6/7 to 10 years-old, there is a cohort that science seemingly forgot to name. They are what have become known as ... Read More »

It started at 5 am on Monday with ‘mom I feel very hot’. The feverish 9 year-old was given Calpol, a hug and brought back to bed, while the toddler decided it was obviously getting up time. Fast forward a couple of very busy days in work and we end up in a late-night, walk-in clinic where the doctor informs ... Read More »

The basic building block in positive parenting is having a strong, nurturing relationship with your child. While this seems pretty simple, it can easily get lost amidst the morning rush to school, the growing mountains of laundry, the juggling of schedules and, of course, the constant pushing of boundaries. While we know that it is normal for children at each ... Read More »