Category Archives: parenting
That conversation
Dot writes: and so we have come to the question every parent must, shuddering, face at some point: how much to tell them, and how soon? I’m not talking, fortunately, about the true Big One. (“Mummy, what do you actually … Continue reading
Filed under Family stuff, Lucky Dip, parenting
What makes a good playground?
Dot writes: they’re putting in a new playground at Dun Laoghaire, as part of a re-landscaping of the seafront near the DART station mostly directed at provided chic pavement seating areas for the cafes near the yacht club. I’ve been … Continue reading
Presentation
Dot writes: there are still a few things I try to do the way the Baby Whisperer told me to, and one of them is Fighting the Whinge. “Muuuuum, I want miiiiiiilk!” “How do you ask nicely?” “Pleeeeeeeease!” “Can you … Continue reading
Words in pairs
Dot writes: Frank says – “Dat way.” (Pointing in the opposite direction to the one I wanted him to go in.) – “Big bird!” (Big is his universal adjective. He knows “heavy” and “hot” and “cold” as well, and possibly … Continue reading
A post about willies
Dot writes: it’s one of my less admirable qualities as a mother, but I can’t help finding my sons’ penises amusing. There is something touching and also comical in meeting the most symbolically overloaded part of the male body in … Continue reading
Child benefit: an impact model
Dot writes: In these times of austerity it is fitting that all forms of funding be reviewed and scrutinized to ensure that they deliver value for money to the taxpayer. Under the proposed model, child benefit is no longer to … Continue reading
Filed under parenting, Politics, ethics and current affairs
Hugh is three
Dot writes: I realise that this year I have no birthday photo to post of Hugh. It’s not that we no longer care enough to mark his milestone with a portrait; more that he and Frank whizz by so fast … Continue reading
Filed under parenting, Prawn on the outside
Chocolate with menaces
Dot writes: we’ve just taken the boys out trick-or-treating; which is to say, we dressed Hugh as a knight (he was delighted) and Frank as a little toddling tiger (he was less delighted, but he looked extremely cute), and I … Continue reading
Filed under Ireland, parenting, Prawn on the outside, Sprouting
Tired
Dot writes: I’m tired. I was searching for striking and memorable metaphors to express how tired I am, but I’m too tired to think of one. I’m also too tired to bother recording in detail all the ways Hugh and … Continue reading
Balls-up in the ball pool?
Dot writes: Hugh is not a well boy. Last week we postponed Frank’s birthday party because I had gone down with a cold and swollen glands. This week we cancelled it because, with beautiful timing, both boys started to stream … Continue reading
Filed under parenting, Prawn on the outside
