Mammy

New mothers in Ireland are calling for a once-off extension to maternity leave and pay by three months following the disruption of Covid-19.

The #ExtendMaternityLeave2020 campaign aims to highlight how …
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“We don‘t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

George Bernard Shaw

Over the past 4 months, playing has changed.

Our kids went from …
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“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” 

I’ve said these words more than a few times over the past few weeks. Mainly, because I found myself absolutely bricking it over …
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I haven’t learned a new language. 

I haven’t made banana bread. 

I haven’t decluttered my house. 

I haven’t painted the house. 

I haven’t organised my life.

I haven’t sorted my …
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Mammy likes rollercoasters. I like theme parks. 

But we’ve all been landed into a theme park that we had not planned to visit, and it seems that we all have …
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Every year, I teach Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’, whether it’s on the course or not.

I love it. And I love passing his wisdom on to my students. …
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The Cuidiú Breastfeeding Counsellor (BFC) team has reported a rise in the number of local women reaching out for help during Covid-19.

With all face to face support groups suspended, …
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We’re all so looking forward to the lockdown being over and to returning to “normal”… but I’ve been wondering how much of this we will eventually miss.

Now, don’t get me wrong. …
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Emma Begley, aged 11, and Ollie Mc Laughlin, aged 4, are hitting the roads to walk 150KM this month to raise money in memory of their grandparents.

The cousins have lost …
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“Mammy, when this is all over…”, Mammy will need to have won the lotto.

I hear this line at least 5 times a day, from both of the girls.

And …
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Donegal hypnobirthing instructor Anne Doherty Quinn helps mothers take control of the most memorable experience of their lives, and she has some extra advice for expectant mothers during the current …
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Tinterweb is currently full of Instahuns and Twitsickles telling us all that we must use ALL of this time to do ALL of the things that we have ALWAYS  wanted …
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Outstanding mums across Donegal got a welcome lift this week after scooping Donegal Mammy Awards.

The virtual online awards were launched a week ago by Evelyn Mc Glynn and Meg …
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Donegal toy company Lottie Dolls has launched a new charity doll in honour of brave children who need to go to the hospital.

The ‘True Hero’ doll, dressed in a …
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WHISPERS ON THE WIND

Two little sisters played on the beachAnd just when their parents had stepped out of reach,Wee Sis asked Big Sis in quiet hushed words,“What’s …
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It has certainly been a difficult time for everyone and even more so for the many families who are now home schooling, dealing with childcare issues and generally learning a …
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What a week it’s been eh?

We’ve all found ourselves slowly sliding into chaos. And even for those of us who hoped it’d all pass and gently laughed it off, …
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“Where do you find the time?”

“How can you be bothered?”

“It can’t be worth that much work?”

Here we go again!

Musicals.

I’ve been on stage my whole life, …
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Recently, the Dolly Parton challenge’ circulated Instagram where everyone posted four different images; How they look on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tinder. 

Each showed how their profile picture on …
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The most popular baby names chosen by Donegal parents in 2019 have been revealed – with three newcomers topping the list.

Jamie was the most popular boys’ name in Donegal …
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“Your Mammy doesn’t work.” or “Your Mammy doesn’t have a real job”.

I remember hearing this a few times as a child and as a teenager.

I remember not thinking …
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I’m brushing my youngest’s hair and we’re chittering away. 

‘You’re my beautiful Baby girl’ I say as I kiss the top of her inexplicably fuzzy head when I’m done.

…
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The Letterkenny Babies Facebook group is back with a second Communion Wear fundraiser in January 2020.

The sale is a win-win for everyone – families donate their pre-loved communion wear …
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I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions. You all know that I hate the ‘New Year, New You’ rhetoric. I hate the constant stream of “You need to change” and “You …
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Tis the season for bling and rings and it’s our wedding anniversary so I’m wedding on the brain! 

The Him and I got married on a Wednesday, over Christmas in …
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Before the onslaught of New Year, New You Bullshit starts, let me remind you of a few things…

Yes, January 1st is an obviously good starting point for new beginnings …
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As the season of festive joy and frollicks descends upon us, so too can the stresses and responsibilities of trying to everyone happy. 

So remember, No is a complete sentence. 

…
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Good afternoon!

I do hope that we all woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. It’s time to repost Mammy’s rules for surviving the Christmas party (which unfortunately Mammy …
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I am offended…

Given that everyone is now allowed and encouraged to be offended by absolutely everything, I’ve decided to crack down on the lyrics of other Christmas songs which, …
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Mammy knows best, as the saying goes, and when you pool together the tips of mothers all over the world, then you’ve got a wealth of wisdom.

Two Donegal mammies …
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Do you know a child with Autism or Sensory Processing Difficulties?

One thing on the list for many families this Christmas is a visit to Santa’s grotto. But for children …
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It’s the weekend of Toy Shows and trees for many…So I am posting my Christmas Survival Guide for the Mary of the Poppins types…

“Surviving Christmas,” “Christmas Survival Tips …
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When a 6 year old asks a question, sometimes, it makes us think. We begin by explaining it to her in the simplest terms possible, and in doing so, sometimes …
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I’ve written before about my love of a good “to-do” list.

I love them. I make them constantly and nothing pleases me more than drawing an aggressive and satisfied line …
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HOW do you work with teenagers?

I get asked this quite a bit.

My answer?

Very easily actually.

Because ‘teenagers’ are wicked.

They have …
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A very special children’s sleepover will be taking place in Ballybofey this November in aid of a popular local mum.

A Teepee Party, organised by Mama Bear Parties, will be …
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Don’t.  Just Don’t.

I’ve written about this before but it seems that it’s like non-parents parking in mother and baby spots, or people feeling the need to comment on how …
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The Maternity Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital is introducing new policies to reduce the number of visitors allowed in the ward. 

The changes, which are based on feedback from new …
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Support for new mums in Donegal is set to get a boost as 14 new Cuidiú Breastfeeding Counsellors qualified in the region this week.

The new Cuidiú Breastfeeding …
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What makes you smile Mammy?

“My children’s arms around my neck… spending time with my family… seeing my children’s faces when… hearing my children’s voices…cuddles with my babies…”

Yadda yadda …
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It’s September. As we all struggle to settle into the craziness that is “routine” with our kids and lives and activities and commitments, we are more susceptible to Mammy Guilt …
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So it’s time to get back in our groove and return normality and reality with everyone back to School, Childcare, activities and work.

I don’t know how you other Mammies …
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“Your Mammy doesn’t work.” or “Your Mammy doesn’t have a real job”

I remember hearing this a few times as a child and as a teenager. I remember not thinking …
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Although it is many moons ago, Mammy remembers getting her Leaving Cert Results.

Mammy was certain that the contents of the little brown envelope were going to change her life. …
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More new mums are being asked to donate their breast milk to help the Human Milk Bank meet demands.

The Human Milk Bank, located in Enniskillen, collects milk to help babies all …
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A few summers ago, we went to Redcastle for a day out.

Reminiscing enroute about the famous “big yellow slide” of our childhoods, we knew it was no longer there. …
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The Tea & Toast group hosts casual meet-ups for mothers to get together and learn new tips and tools for taking care of their own mental well-being.

Mothers of every …
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Yesterday, we were exploring our beautiful county, as we love to do.

We were on beaches, we found the Boardwalk, we drove off the main roads and over mountains. …
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“We won’t get much longer dressing them in matching outfits” says Me to He as we walked along the promenade in Salou. We were on the last night of our …
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The once-off payment will be made available again this year and families who are not automatically entitled to the scheme are being advised to check their eligibility. To do this, families must …
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