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Saturday 23 September 2023 Dublin: 13°C

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Dreading the return to 'normal'?' Here's how to emerge from lockdown with your wellbeing intact
Sheena McGinley shares her thoughts and fears about returning to the ‘new normal’ after Covid-19 shutdown.
'Is the virus coming to our house?': 5 weighty questions from my kids - and how I've answered them
From the coronavirus to mortality, my kids cover all the bases, writes Sheena McGinley.
Repeating yourself? 9 effective ways to say 'no' to your kids - without the word 'no'
Sheena McGinley shares some of the alternative phrases she’s employed in her own home.
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Worried about your child being bullied online? Here’s some helpful advice
Cyberbullying can happen to anyone. It’s always wrong and it should never be overlooked or ignored.
How to keep costs down as your kids grow up - from creative packed lunches to DIY drama classes
Sheena McGinley shares some practical advice for handling the basics on a budget.
'There’s a different in-law here every week': 7 working parents share what they do for childcare
Sheena McGinley asks families around Ireland how they balance all those spinning plates.
'Mum didn't deny the magic of Christmas, she was just so exhausted dealing with Dad'
Sheena McGinley on making Christmas magic – and making up for lost time.
5 ‘reassuring’ phrases I didn't want to hear after my miscarriage - and 5 that actually helped
Sheena McGinley offers some dos and don’ts.
10 milestones I worried about with baby #1 - and threw out the window for baby #2
One look at the official list of developmental landmarks would put any new parent on edge, writes Sheena McGinley.
'She stopped crying when she heard me': Mums and dads on the moment they first felt like a parent
Here’s when reality started to hit home.
'Nothing can actually prepare you': 8 mums share how they dealt with their fears about giving birth
From pre-natal yoga to positive thinking, there are lots of different approaches. Here, some veterans share what worked for them.
'My straight hair turned curly': 8 mums reveal the unexpected ways their bodies changed post-baby
‘I grew a new mole with each pregnancy. So that’s three new moles…’
7 things a mum with postnatal depression doesn’t want to hear - and 4 helpful things to say instead
Sheena McGinley recalls the sentences that made a dark time easier, and the ones that definitely didn’t.
The difference between hangovers pre and post-kids - starting with the 6am toddler wake-up call
The headache and dry mouth is bad enough without two restless kids to wrangle, writes Sheena McGinley.
'She wasn't ready to share us': How we prepared our toddler for the arrival of a new baby
“When her dad mentioned that she’d soon be meeting her baby sister, she declared, ‘I must fight her with a sword!’”
26 parenting hacks to make travelling with young kids a whole lot easier
You might think holidays are for relaxing, but under 5s don’t agree, writes Sheena McGinley.
'Put him in the sling and start walking': 7 practical tips for surviving the dreaded colic, from real parents
Sheena McGinley scouts out some advice for dealing with a newborn who Just Won’t Stop Crying.
Bellybutton, ankles and pelvic floor: 10 body parts that take on new significance when you're pregnant
I was suddenly hyper-aware of the shape of my feet, writes Sheena McGinley.
How I threw a birthday party with 15 kids on a shoestring budget - from the invites to the goody bags
When Sheena McGinley realised how much the local play zone would cost, she took matters into her own thrifty hands.
7 'joys' of pregnancy that most definitely weren't joyful for me
Sure, eating for two was enjoyable… when I wasn’t battling all-consuming heartburn.
'No detectable heartbeat': Miscarriage is devastating - here's the advice I wish I was given after mine
The mumbled “sorry for your loss” from hospital staff just wasn’t enough, writes Sheena McGinley.
'How does he get down the chimney?': Kids' trickiest questions about Santa, answered by experts
If you don’t know the answer, science probably does, writes Sheena McGinley.
7 truly awkward parenting moments you'll experience at every playdate
Step one, attempting to use the word “playdate” without smirking, writes Sheena McGinley.
Mind your manners: I'm teaching my kids to say 'please' and 'thank you' - but nobody says it back
The exchanging of pleasantries is an important social buffer, says Sheena McGinley.
I know breast is best, but here's why I stopped feeling ashamed about bottle feeding
Let’s support mums whatever their situation is, writes Sheena McGinley.
9 truths about childbirth I wish I'd known before going into the labour ward
Prepare for sweating, grunting and lots of bodily fluids, writes Sheena McGinley.
10 things nobody tells you about your first few weeks* as a new mum
*Or months. Or years, let’s face it.
9 annoying types of adult you're guaranteed to meet at the local playground
#4: The competitive parent, most often heard roaring “who wants to go higher?” at the swings.
C-section guilt and not being "there": Why do mums feel such pressure to have a natural birth?
An emergency C-section kept my daughter safe, but it certainly wasn’t on my birthing plan, writes Sheena McGinley.
When the baby blues don't go away: How I recognised the signs of post-natal depression
Sheena McGinley on the overwhelming experience of new parenthood – and the moment she realised that she needed help.
12 genius phrases to stop the kids squabbling in two seconds flat
‘That’s it, I’M TURNING OFF THE WI-FI.’
Naptime deadlines and ignoring the dishes: 9 realistic tips for working from home with kids
I’ve learnt to put my blinkers up and ignore the crumb-encrusted floor, writes Sheena McGinley.
6 survival tactics I've employed for staying sane around my in-laws
If I can endure an 18-day holiday with my MIL, you can get through one Sunday lunch, writes Sheena McGinley.
7 outdoor family events to enjoy this weekend - from pirate parks to trail runs
Lather the kids up in sunscreen and head outside.