‘My boys aren’t a consolation prize – they’re equally as precious as their sister’‘Girls wreck your head, boys wreck your home,’ I was assuredMon Jun 24 2019 - 07:01
Mum’s the word: meeting up to give mothers their sayMum Talks is a monthly gathering for mothers to discuss everything from fashion and beauty to wellness and workMon Jun 17 2019 - 07:01
I wholeheartedly applaud the no medals, non-competitive school sports dayIt is imperative that children are active and the best way to do that is to make it funMon Jun 10 2019 - 11:41
Lessons learned from 14 years on the school runFrom WhatsApp groups to gate cliques, here’s what I learned as a parent on the frontlineMon May 27 2019 - 06:01
Summer with the children: ‘You’re either in or you’re out’Parents seemed to view the holidays differently years ago: I don’t remember anyone stressing about keeping the children occupiedSat May 18 2019 - 06:01
The kids are all howling for another dogSo far I’ve resisted because no dog could replace my beloved Rodney . . . but then againMon May 13 2019 - 06:01
The complexities of working from home while being a parentIf money wasn’t an issue, would you choose to work outside the home or be a stay-at-home parent?Mon Apr 29 2019 - 07:01
How does your child’s school handle bullying?Some schools turn a blind eye to reports of bullying, until something serious happensTue Apr 23 2019 - 07:01
Why are kindness lessons not on the school curriculum?The Leaving Cert looms for my eldest but the entire school journey was an education for us allMon Apr 15 2019 - 06:01
In a house with so many children, my parenting style often changesHow I parent each of them reflects the different personalities of my apparent clonesMon Apr 01 2019 - 07:01
Unrealistic expectations give parents a tough timeGive parents a break by sharing the spectacular tantrums and parenting wobblesMon Mar 18 2019 - 06:01
Time is precious – don’t use it all on after-school activitiesI signed my daughter up to everything and I’ve learned that sometimes less is moreMon Mar 04 2019 - 06:01
I’m told I’m lucky because my husband pulls his weight – but why wouldn’t he?I’m married to a ‘rare diamond’, but despite his equal capability, expectations are lowerMon Feb 18 2019 - 07:01
Parent-teacher meetings: the good, the bad and the novelEven as a parent, there’s a vulnerability as you wait to hear what teacher has to sayWed Feb 06 2019 - 07:01
As parents, we need to teach our teenagers about social media safetyYou can only teach when you understand the perils yourself – so I’ve joined SnapchatMon Jan 21 2019 - 07:01
‘I have never felt as alone as I did in the early days of parenthood’Jen Hogan: My friends had travel, nightclubs and parties on their minds, rather than dirty nappies and sleepless nightsMon Jan 07 2019 - 06:01
Magic of nativity shows: trepidation, tears, comedy and embarrassmentJen Hogan: I spend most of December away in a mangerMon Dec 17 2018 - 06:01
‘A perfect Christmas: The stress is up there with divorce, death and moving house’Managing present expectations and arguing about traditions awaits me this yearWed Dec 05 2018 - 07:01
Hanging on to the ‘stuff’ of childhoodI’ve no problem discarding my husband’s horrendous football shirts, but when it comes to my children’s outgrown things . . .Mon Nov 19 2018 - 07:01
The world is my daughter’s oyster. It’s different for her brothersJen Hogan: The world of equality appears biased if boys want to take ballet classesMon Nov 05 2018 - 09:30
The complexities of being ‘just a mum’Meeting family’s needs while trying to pay a mortgage is anything but easyMon Oct 22 2018 - 06:01
Postnatal depression: ‘It wasn’t easy to accept that I needed help’‘It felt like admitting I was weak and that I was failing at motherhood’Mon Oct 08 2018 - 06:01
‘I didn’t like homework as a child, but I hate it even more as a parent’Novelty of back to school has well and truly worn offMon Sept 24 2018 - 07:01
Work-life balance: ‘I love you mum . . . please don’t go’Guilt has had a field day with me since the day I first became a mammyMon Sept 10 2018 - 06:01
My sixth child is starting school. Here’s what I’ve learnedFive tips to help make the first day a little less fraught with emotionMon Aug 27 2018 - 10:30
Nine ways to save money on back-to-school costsSecond-hand books, discount outlets and online parent networks can all helpSat Aug 18 2018 - 06:00
Playdates: because parents don’t have enough on their plate alreadyDespite its US origins, one part stays truly Irish: our casual approach to invitesMon Aug 13 2018 - 07:01
‘For the four children I never held in my arms but hold always in my heart’As birthday season approaches for four of my seven children, joy is tinged with sadnessMon Jul 02 2018 - 07:01
Mother of seven: People assume we are ‘extreme Catholics’Our 1950s-sized family invites much well-meaning but misguided commentaryMon Apr 23 2018 - 08:01
