Mum's world: First child like a first pancake

I CAN’T remember who said it, but it has a certain resonance: the first child is like the first pancake. We get better with subsequent attempts.

We cut our teeth on Lughaidh and he got the gold-star treatment. He had our full attention 24/7. He was whisked to the GP for the slightest temperature fluctuation. His outfits were colour co-ordinated. His car seat cost more than a small pony.

Dearbhail did reasonably well on account of being female. Her father is besotted so there is no danger of being overshadowed by her older brother. As the only girl, she will escape the ignominy of hand-me-downs. She has a car seat fit for a princess. Her gender guarantees her own bedroom.