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Two and A Bit

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I was worried this week about the toddler as her siblings went back to school. She insisted on getting a new school bag. She kicked her boots off in a rage in a packed shoe shop last week to have her feet measured for school shoes too. She told anyone who would listen to her that she was going to school and then in typical unpredictable toddler fashion she waved off the other three, normal service resumed and apart from one request to “please just bring me to a little school Mam” she has been content to get back to routine of pottering around the house while the other’s are in school. Continue reading →

Looking back and looking forward

Looking Back and Looking Forward

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Last week, my six-year-old stayed up later than normal and was too tired to change into her pyjamas. It was only when I asked her to put her hands up so I could take her t-shirt off that it stuck me that it had been months since I done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I helped her to get ready for bed. She does it herself. She does lots of things herself. She always has done, having a brother and a sister who are older than her has always encouraged her to rush to do what they are doing. But she’s only six and a half, a baby really. Continue reading →

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They Get That From Me

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Do you partake in this activity regularly too? You know the one where you pick out things from your kids appearance or behaviour and attribute it to yourself of your partner? I think it’s a standard activity as a parent.

My husbands genes won out with our eldest three children. They all look like him and each other. Brown hair, brown eyes, they have some of my features but they  predominantly look like the husband and his family. Then the new one came along and she looks like me. It was a shock when her eyes didn’t turn to brown but stayed blue like mine and her hair is blonde and despite being the size of a mouse she has a double chin. All me. Continue reading →

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Vive la France

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Have you ever heard of Paris Syndrome? It’s a temporary psychological condition that effects some people, it is most common with Japanese tourists, upon finding Paris is not what they expected it to be. It is considered an extreme form of culture shock caused by the realisation that Paris is in fact not full of happy stylish people wearing beret’s and cycling merrily on vintage bicycles.

I have never suffered from Paris Syndrome which is probably not that surprising but anytime I have visited France as an adult I have been generally left underwhelmed.I had never ventured further than French cities though and I as I recently discovered out of the cities, France, is a very different beast. Continue reading →

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F&F – Clothing at Tesco,Back to School Shopping- Our Thoughts

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Back to School COSTS

The Irish League of Credit Unions recently surveyed over 1000 parents on back to school costs. As a parent of three primary school going children, their findings didn’t shock me. Their results showed the cost of back to school has increased each year over the past four, over 30% of parents will get into debt for back to school costs and  one in ten parents will sacrifice spending on food to make up the costs. The research found that back to school costs ( including extra-curricular activities) now stands at €967 for primary school children and €1474 for secondary school children.  You can read their full findings here and their advice is “Avoid Money Lenders, Shop around and Plan a Budget” Continue reading →

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Summer Reads- 10 Books To Read in Summer 2016

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I mentioned my summer reading list in my Summer Goals post yesterday and a couple of people asked me what was on it so I decided to add it here. I have lofty ambitions of holidaying with four children and getting loads of time to read. I know, deluded.  Fortunately, for this purpose only , I have regular bouts of  insomnia and a child who still wakes at night so I will get to read the following over the summer. Continue reading →