He talks a better game of rugby than George Hook, knows the nuances of the offside rule like no other, and shouts “ahh c’mon ref!” on a regular basis. Sound familiar? Here are ten clues that you might be a sports widow: 1. No sport is left unwatched: F1, hurling, golf, rugby, handball, darts (yep, […]

7 years ago

In today’s tech-obsessed world, it’s more important than ever to make sure our little ones are getting outside to run around in the fresh air. Taking up a new sport is the perfect way to keep them fit and healthy, and what better game to choose than our national sport? Watching your little girl pick up […]

7 years ago

Experts found a 101 percent increased risk for allergic asthma.

7 years ago

Pet dogs provide valuable social support for kids when they’re stressed, according to new research. Darlene Kertes and her colleagues from the University of Florida have tested the popular belief that pet dogs are stress-buffers who provide social support for children. For their study, published in the journal Social Development, the researchers recruited approximately 100 pet-owning […]

7 years ago

The heavy head, the wretched coughing and a streaming red nose – there is nothing glamorous about being struck down with a bad cold. Many cold and flu remedies we pick up in the pharmacy can be both costly and full of sugar. Yes, sometimes you can’t beat a natural remedy when it comes to […]

7 years ago

If you’re pregnant and nauseous, you’ll feel anything but glowing. In fact, the only thing that’s blooming is your need to chuck up lunch.  Although the exact cause isn’t known, a rapid increase in hormones including hCG and oestrogen is probably to blame for the morning sickness (which is a misnomer given that nausea and vomiting can […]

7 years ago

With the number of home-schooled children in Ireland having almost doubled in recent years, we asked two parents what it’s really like to educate your own kids. New figures released by the Child and Family Agency Tusla have revealed a significant rise in the the number of children being home-schooled in Ireland, rising from 699 children […]

7 years ago

It all started circa 1992 with a sex education book called Girls Talk… The problem was, as the sisterless daughter of a single father, I didn’t have any girls to talk to. I only had THE BOOK. That was OK because The Book appeared to have all the answers. Unfortunately, I was so chronically mortified […]

7 years ago

Nowadays there are early home pregnancy tests and blood tests that your GP can do, but have you ever wondered how they determined a pregnancy in days of yore? Well, some of the ‘tests’ were pretty out there. Here are some of the strangest ones: 1. The Onion Test Be warned, you may never look at […]

7 years ago

For about half of every week, I wear real, clean, grown up clothes, and may even venture so far as to shovel on a face of makeup. Those are the days when I’m in work, at a ‘do’ or in serious danger of bumping into an ex-boyfriend. On the days where I have school runs, play […]

7 years ago

We’re officially over it.

7 years ago

Childhood bullying may lead to long-lasting health consequences, including heart health, well into adulthood. A study has tracked a diverse group of over 300 American men from the age of seven through to their early thirties and the findings indicate that both being a victim of bullying and being a bully are linked to negative health outcomes […]

7 years ago

There are very few things a parent dreads more than pulling an all-nighter with a sick bubs. And it’s not about the sleep deprivation – which is hard – but that feeling of helplessness that you can’t make them better. Every part of your being wants to be able to make them happy and healthy […]

7 years ago

When you’re in the midst of child-rearing madness taking on the responsibility of a pet can be the last thing you want or need. But if you are considering another family member make sure you’ve asked yourself some serious questions before you take the plunge… Walking a dog, cleaning fish tanks, tending to crying kittens, and […]

7 years ago

I may as well come completely clean. Or not, as my house is never completely clean; because I’m a hoarder. I should clarify that I’m not quite at the climbing over stacks of newspapers, keeping my poo in a jar kind of hoarder but I wouldn’t rule it out in twenty years. I am surrounded […]

7 years ago

Why live in a tent for nine months?

7 years ago

Considering a Gaelscoil for your child but worried that your own cúpla focal won’t be up to scratch? Worry not, experts say children don’t need exposure at home in order to learn a new language. Children who speak two languages have been shown to have cognitive advantages in many areas, including quicker problem-solving abilities and […]

7 years ago

You’re not alone, mama

7 years ago

Hormones. Hormones everywhere.

7 years ago

Because everyone has a story.

7 years ago

That growing pile of ironing…

7 years ago

Having trouble keeping your tot in the ‘time out’ spot for more than 10 seconds?  Trying to get an upset toddler to remain in one place until they calm down is no easy feat. To help them go the distance, you need a gimmick. That’s where the sensory or ‘hush’ bottle comes in. Also known […]

7 years ago

Robbie Williams once infamously compared being down the business end of his wife giving birth to “watching his favourite pub burn down.” Male viewpoint aside, many expectant mamas do worry about how their lady-bits will be after their baby is born. So, how will your poor old vajayjay be after childbirth? What changes can you expect? Will […]

7 years ago

It just doesn’t get any easier than a mug of overnight oats. Literally wake up to a delicious ready-made cup of healthy goodness. This food trend is not going away – probably because it takes a couple of minutes and around five ingredients and you have a delicious and portable brekkie the next day. The kids will love these too. 1. Raspberry […]

7 years ago

The bump is everywhere.

7 years ago

Dieticians and nutritionists should probably look away.

7 years ago

It’s a lot of craic but it’s certainly different. Here are some things you’ll only get if you’re raising your kids in the country. 1. You have to drive everywhere  Country-living means a LOT of driving, a situation that only gets worse as your children get older. Journeys are made even more fun by getting […]

7 years ago

Many women experience pelvic pain in pregnancy, and while it is relatively common, it is extremely uncomfortable. Why do my hips and groin hurt now that I’m pregnant? The two halves of your pelvis are connected in the front through a rigid joint called the pubic symphysis. This joint is reinforced by a dense […]

7 years ago

Going through IVF, or having trouble getting pregnant, can intensify cracks in a relationship. Many couples going through IVF are so focused on achieving a pregnancy that they find themselves in the fertility relationship trap. Sexual difficulties, relationship conflict, financial stress, infidelity, and even addiction issues are all lesser-known ‘side-effects’ of assisted reproduction. For these […]

7 years ago

How many of these gems have you come out with recently?

7 years ago

‘We’re all a bit tired of the act now.’

7 years ago

Sibling rivalry is to be expected, let’s face it; however, all that squabbling isn’t fun for anyone – least of all parents. If the bickering is getting on your nerves, try introducing a get-along jar. We can’t promise it will restore perfect harmony in the household for good, but this cute craft might just get you a small […]

7 years ago

The first time I gave The Child the finger, he definitely wasn’t quite fully aware of life just yet. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself for reassurance. He was about six days old and had been crying for the entire six days (possible exaggeration due to prolonged sleep deprivation). Now, I’m not proud of giving […]

7 years ago

There are some areas of parenting that I can hand on heart say I’m really good at: getting goofy and playing games with the kids, bed time stories and making them feel better when they are sad are a few. But there is one major area that I am completely shit at and that is known […]

7 years ago

Wishing for more hours of uninterrupted sleep at night? Well, then you might want to try this very nifty trick – that basically works by “tricking” your baby into thinking he is so full he doesn’t need to wake for a feed and therefore sleeps through the night. Curious how? Well, according to Happiest Baby, the […]

7 years ago

Have you ever used one?

7 years ago

The words ‘morning’ and ‘brilliant’ do not usually go hand in hand when you are a parent. The hour between 7am and 8am is basically more exhausting than a high-intensity training sesh. By the time breakfasts are eaten, the car is loaded up, forgotten items are retrieved, and we’re on our way to work, school […]

7 years ago

It’s a Christmas miracle. It can be such a tedious job, it takes ages to do and then within three seconds flat, all of your good wrapping skills are crumbled into a pile. Well, we have a new hack to show you which means your gifts will be wrapped in no time and will also […]

7 years ago

It looks DELISH

7 years ago

Making your own baby food may seem like a chore but in actual fact it can save you a huge amount of money. Supermarket jars of baby food are costly and by making your own you can widen your baby’s taste buds and allow them to try many different types of food. The average baby […]

7 years ago

A multi-tasking menu awaits

7 years ago

Backed by AIB. It’s true what they say. One minute you’re holding them in your arms wondering how they’ll every grow any bigger than they are now, then boom — before you know it they’ve started school, swimming lessons, guitar lessons, need constant new shoes and clothes and have a better social life than you’ve had […]

7 years ago

Backed by AIB Saving seems like the solution to many every day woes doesn’t it? From family days out before Christmas, to birthdays around the corner, events like these can take its toll on your finances so it’s always good to have a little bit stashed away. However the reality is that most of us […]

7 years ago

With a toddler in tow, you may find a lot of questions you get asked contain the word ‘still’. After a while, all this makes you feel pretty crap. Are you still not getting it right? Naturally when responding to these types of questions I can’t help but want to shout: are you STILL talking? A […]

7 years ago

When we parents make our way out into the world, for the most part, we put up a pretty good show of being normal, high functioning humans. A pretty heroic effort when considering the fact that we have scarcely slept a full night in several years and rely solely on stimulants, Peppa Pig and iPads […]

7 years ago

She’s hosted a Christmas feast for 60 years.

7 years ago

It’s all about YOU now mama!

7 years ago

As Irish women, we’re no shrinking violets when it comes to speaking out about the health of our families, friends, and children. But when it comes to ourselves, it seems we still have a tendency to brush things under the carpet… especially with one wee issue: bladder control. According to research, fifteen percent of Irish […]

7 years ago

Although it might sound counter-intuitive to busy mums, the best way to get more done each day is spend at least ten minutes meditating at the start of each day. Author of The Authority Guide to Practical Mindfulness, Tom Evans, says that while many people turn to meditation to help reduce stress or anxiety, there is a […]

7 years ago

I have made a BIG mistake. I have been forcing my family to dress their beds each morning the minute they get up. My reasons have been varied; firstly, we have so much to do each morning to get everyone out of the house that dressing the beds seems like a good place to start. […]

8 years ago