TRIC KEARNEY: It's my life - Surviving the condition known as 'mid-term'

LAST week, I was struck down by a dreadful affliction which affects large numbers of the population but most are unaware of its existence, says Tric Kearney. 

The condition I refer to is called ‘mid-term’. Mostly affecting the parents of school-going children, it flares up approximately every six weeks or so throughout the school year, typically striking a few days after parents have congratulated themselves on having their lives in order. Symptoms are particularly severe during the winter months, when the days are cold and wet and children like to play indoors.

Mid-term affects both parents, but symptoms can differ greatly. It is believed those with young children or multiple children experience the worst effects. Parents of older children are not immune, but their symptoms are generally less severe. Since discovering I have this condition, I’ve spent hours on Google trying to understand it, but it would appear to be a hidden affliction of which I alone am the leading expert worldwide.