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#Parenting

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Notwithstanding her decreasing ability to play with the boys, our cat Mollie still brought them so much joy. Picture: iStock </p>

parenting

Julie Jay: Saying goodbye to pets is a part of growing up — and being an adult too

This week we said goodbye to our cat, and whilst it is never easy, letting go of pets is an important part of growing up

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Richard Hogan: We were so worried for our baby... now Sophie is flying it

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Joanna Fortune: My young children are struggling with the demanding online course I've taken on

Tired student trying to study in the night

parenting

Your child’s exams are a test of your parenting skills

My Childhood with Lottie Ryan: Dad was my best friend, counsellor and confidant

parenting

My Childhood with Lottie Ryan: Dad was my best friend, counsellor and confidant

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Dr Phil Kieran: Is overdoing it on the basketball court the cause of my child’s knee pain?

My Childhood with Dáithí Ó Sé: I never shut up as a child — look how all that talking stands to me now

S My Childhood with Dáithí Ó Sé: I never shut up as a child — look how all that talking stands to me now

The TV presenter reflects on his childhood and how, instead of becoming a teacher, he ventured into a career in front of the cameras

Sun, 10 May, 2026

Richard Hogan: Coaches — the heroes in society who guide our children

Richard Hogan: Coaches — the heroes in society who guide our children

The young generation need play — and we must salute the people who provide it for them

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Reflective moments of a modern teenager in her cozy apartment during evening hours

Joanna Fortune: My teenager is refusing to talk to me after a big row

Initiating repair communicates that your relationship matters more to you than being right, and it’s stronger than this row

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Happy young woman enjoys summer music festival, raises peace sign with sunlit crowd and stage background. Cheerful festivalgoer

Colman Noctor: Music helps teens hit the right note within themselves and with others

The way today's adolescents consume music is very different to previous generations but research has shown music still holds significant psychological importance for many teenagers

Tue, 05 May, 2026

No vegan diet concept. Teen girl pushing away plate with broccoli and other vegetables refusing to eat. Food waste. Selective fo

Aoife Hearne: My exam teens don't want to eat full meals

When students are preoccupied with their studies, appetite signals can take a back seat and three square meals may feel too much. Try the ‘little and often’ approach, which offers more flexibility

Tue, 05 May, 2026

Mother and Child Sleeping in Heart Shape - Graphic Illustration

Julie Jay: Children's invasion of our bed has me missing the fabled pillow talk

After what feels like years of musical beds, I feel it is time to insist on mammy and daddy sharing a mattress

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Hearing a father's advice

How to reconnect when a child starts to pull back

Your child may not have the words to explain what is upsetting them, but learning to meet them on their level can help bridge the divide

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

‘It was horrendous leaving my wife and baby’: Fathers call for more paternity leave

‘It was horrendous leaving my wife and baby’: Fathers call for more paternity leave

As a new campaign aims to extend paternity leave in Ireland, Emer Harrington talks to three fathers who believe it would be a crucial benefit for themselves and their families

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

My Childhood with Jacqui Hurley: My parents ran one of those houses where the door was always open

S My Childhood with Jacqui Hurley: My parents ran one of those houses where the door was always open

The sports presenter on her early childhood in Australia, her lifelong love of sport, and how her parents instilled in her a lust for life and an openness to making the most of opportunities

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Getting a good night's rest

Dr Phil Kieran: My grandson is still wetting the bed at six

Your grandson is still very much at an appropriate age for bedwetting, and chances are high this issue will resolve itself in the next year or so

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

My Childhood with Carl Mullan: 'I succeeded because I had mam and dad in my corner'

S My Childhood with Carl Mullan: 'I succeeded because I had mam and dad in my corner'

The 2FM Breakfast Show host on his struggles with confidence, falling in love with his wife in sixth class and the unwavering support of his parents

Sun, 26 Apr, 2026

OLIVIA MULVANEY

‘It’s our family life’: Circus ringmistress resumes work weeks after giving birth

Olivia Mulvaney shares how circus life, family support and touring helped her balance early motherhood and performing career

Sun, 26 Apr, 2026

Happy mother spending time with her small kids at home.

Parents don't want to have a favourite — here's what to do if you appear to prefer one child

You love all of your kids deeply, but may feel closer to one. Instead of feeling ashamed, be more attentive to all of them, writes Helen O'Callaghan

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Kindergarten Classroom With Table and Colorful Chairs

Joanna Fortune: My children are struggling to adjust to creche routine

Your children are still adjusting to a significant cultural upheaval, which may make the transition to their new group care environment even more challenging

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Kitchen magic

Julie Jay: It’s easy to think you know better from the sidelines of parenting

I once imagined a lot of baking in my parental future, but I'm not baking again with the children until one of them is old enough to go to the shop to buy the ingredients and to drive there

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Woman lay on a bed holding a pillow to her stomach

Dr Phil Kieran: Should I take my 13-year-old to our GP for her painful periods?

From the symptoms you describe, it sounds more like dysmenorrhoea rather than endometriosis

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Colman Noctor: Given the choice, I would choose life without ADHD

Colman Noctor: Given the choice, I would choose life without ADHD

However, I have found that surrounding myself with patient, compassionate people is crucial to my wellbeing

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Baby Stock

'I'm still waiting': Uncertainty around parental rights remains two years after assisted reproduction legislation was passed

The delay means that parents of children already born through surrogacy and are living here, still cannot access the legal recognition envisaged under the act

Sun, 19 Apr, 2026

Tired concerned mother rocking sleeping baby.

Joanna Fortune: I'm at breaking point following arrival of my third child

You feel overwhelmed because this is an overwhelming time but putting a plan in place to get help from your husband or friends could make a big difference

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Frusrated redhead teenage boy after he lost the game while playing video games

Dr Phil Kieran: Are computer games the cause of my son's hand and wrist pain?

I appreciate that he may not be keen on this, but I would encourage him to look at the longer-term picture.

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Boy with chickenpox. Rash on child body close up

Julie Jay: Like lightning, chicken pox doesn’t strike twice — unless you’re very, very special

Number One has been in chicken pox quarantine all week and I don’t have the heart to tell him that, based on my own history of chicken pox, it might not be a one and done situation

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Grandparents Cuddling Granddaughter In Bed

What's expected of you as a new grandparent? Here are 12 things the experts recommend

Granny and grandad have years of parenting experience, but they need to resist the urge to take charge of their grandchildren

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Little girl talking to friendly chatbot character on phone at home

Colman Noctor: As technology becomes more human, we risk becoming less so

Much of the public debate about AI has focused on jobs and economics. What concerns me more are the subtle shifts in trust, connection, and the way we experience one another

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

From smoking to a life abroad, these are the things we gave up for the sake of our children

From smoking to a life abroad, these are the things we gave up for the sake of our children

From giving up work and sports, to quitting smoking and moving to another country, Arlene Harris meets parents who have made huge sacrifices for their children. It was worth all the effort, they say

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

My Childhood with Marty Morrissey: 'My father always said no son of his would fight for America'

S My Childhood with Marty Morrissey: 'My father always said no son of his would fight for America'

Marty Morrissey's childhood in New York instilled in him the American attitude he could be whatever he wanted to be, but it was his parents' steadfast support and his community in West Clare that set him on the path to fame

Sun, 12 Apr, 2026

Empty Swing in a morning light.

Richard Hogan: The fleeting beauty of watching a child growing up before your eyes

The days out cycling, tucking them up in bed, the pushes on swings... there is a last time for all of them when you're a parent, reflects Richard Hogan

Wed, 08 Apr, 2026

My team mates

How to help girls stay in sport during their teenage years

Female participation in football and athletics often wanes in the teen years, despite the huge benefits of sport

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

severe hand itching scratching. scary wound Itchy rash, allergies, fungal skin diseases

Dr Phil Kieran: My teenager got scabies on a camping trip

It is important to let your son know that he won’t be left with this rash forever, and the itch will pass

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Girl Lying on Sofa with Stomach Ache at Home

Colman Noctor: Silence around menstruation leaves girls quietly isolated

While it is understandable for teens not to talk about their bodies, a stigma around periods can lead to silence, shame, or misinformation

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

BOTOX Botulinum Toxin Bottles on Black Background

Julie Jay: I’d have booked a Botox appointment had I known who I would meet at the school gate

When it comes to trying new things, it is never easy no matter what age you are. Especially when you are surrounded by the ghosts of Christmas past and the last time you brushed your hair, Michael D Higgins was still president

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Unhappy teen girl wearing headphones feeling isolated and depressed

Joanna Fortune: My daughter is finding it difficult to find her tribe in secondary school

She clams up if I try to speak to her about it and it's difficult to see her struggle

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Two bikini-clad girls with outstretched hands near water

Joanna Fortune: My 15-year-old is going away on holidays with her friend's family

Her decision to go on holiday with another family instead of her own is not just hers to make

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

My Childhood with Alison Spittle: I didn’t talk to Dad for a few years after the divorce

S My Childhood with Alison Spittle: I didn’t talk to Dad for a few years after the divorce

Comedian Alison Spittle tells Sharon Ní Chonchúir about her early life on the move with her parents before they settled in Westmeath, and how grateful she is to them

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Delicious cheeseburger with cola and potato fries on the wooden table. Fast food concept.

Aoife Hearne: How do I talk to my teen about her weight gain and snacking habits?

There is no doubt that you are dealing with a delicate situation

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

School Yard Soccer Competition

Colman Noctor: Learning improves when children have opportunities to move more

For many children, particularly those with ADHD, the expectation to sit still and focus for extended periods is not just difficult, it conflicts with how their brains are wired

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

'Teamwork is central': How rowing boats with Meitheal Mara boosts confidence

'Teamwork is central': How rowing boats with Meitheal Mara boosts confidence

Being part of a Meitheal Mara rowing crew helps teens develop skills and build an understanding of teamwork

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Row of colorful easter eggs on green grass bunny ears

Julie Jay: I won’t sugarcoat it — my children eat far too many sweet treats

Whether your kids are eating treats on the daily or indulging only on a Friday afternoon, ultimately we are all just out here doing our best as parents, and isn't that all that matters (my dentist might disagree)

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Fintan McCarthy 27/7/2023

S My Childhood with Fintan McCarthy: 'When we moved from London to Skibbereen, I stood out'

The world champion lightweight rower talks about dealing with moving with his family to Skibbereen from London when he was six and how having a solid base of family support helped him as an athlete

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Richard Hogan: All these pathetic manosphere influencers want is views, clicks and shares

Richard Hogan: All these pathetic manosphere influencers want is views, clicks and shares

The Louis Theroux documentary on the manosphere exposes a harsh truth — that these men are ruled solely by algorithms and clicks, says Richard Hogan

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Colman Noctor: Teen boys in a bind, caught between old and new views of masculinity

Colman Noctor: Teen boys in a bind, caught between old and new views of masculinity

Young men today are navigating expectations very different from those of previous generations. They are encouraged to be empathetic and emotionally open, yet can be criticised for offering a seat to a woman, which was once considered polite or respectful

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Cute little baby sleeping in crib at home. Bedtime

Lucy Wolfe: These are the most common childhood sleep-related questions parents ask me

The primary task in their first few months is to make sure your baby feels loved, safe, and supported, says sleep consultant Lucy Wolfe

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Multiple lice combs with multiple fine teeth for effective lice removal and scalp care

Julie Jay: Head lice or an extra-marital affair? I know which one I would pick

On the day my husband phoned me to tell me he had spotted something moving on one of our children's scalps, I would have been much less upset if he told me he had met someone else

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Parent and teenage son conversing at home

Joanna Fortune: My teenage son and husband seem to be drifting apart

My husband is a big sports fan but my son couldn't care less so they miss out on the bonding opportunity of watching a game or going to matches

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Sad woman holding her nose because sinus pain

Dr Phil Kieran: What can my teen do about her repeat sinus infections?

They leave her feeling miserable and she's stressed about her upcoming Junior Cert, which probably isn't helping

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026