When it comes to a rain-soaked childhood, the only thing differentiating my kids from the McCourts is our ability to get new Dunnes wellies delivered to the house at the click of a button

My husband took our son for a haircut and came home with an army regulated crew cut and the gun to match

My 'paediatrician' — aka a friend with four children — told me that as much as my children will have to become resilient in the face of rejection by their peers, I need to be resilient for them too

After a few weeks of being a cranky old wench, I am convinced I am giving even Medea a run for her money in the bad mammy stakes

Every time I head to the supermarket with my children I arm myself with a list and bags for life and convince myself this time it will be different. Spoiler alert: it never is

When a town wins the All-Ireland final, it’s not just the players at the pitch who win, but everyone, whether its the child blowing his horn or the 40-something-year-old woman like me who’s never kicked a ball in her life

With missiles flying around my kitchen left right and centre, I feel like Packie Bonner in Italia 90

Despite both being on antibiotics, I am still chasing my children around shops, because even when fuelled by penicillin, they have yet to meet an automatic door they haven't wanted to run through

I used to feel melancholic putting away the decorations, now I am craving beige interior, floor space, and a life that is tinsel-free

I used to be great at napping during the day, but now I am as much a stranger to an afternoon siesta as I am to brushing my hair