It’s an insult to give children a birth certificate which records two parents who can’t have physically engendered them, writes Victoria White

It was my Granny Murphy’s birthday recently. She probably wouldn’t be too pleased with me if I revealed her exact age in De Paper but let’s just say that it was a considerable milestone, one that many of us would be delighted to reach, writes Louise O’Neill. 

There is no easy way of explaining dementia to a child, but there is a very useful aid in the shape of a new book designed to address the fear children can feel when that special connection with Granny or Grandad is under threat.

Getting young adults to cook sometimes means untying the apron strings and letting them fend for themselves, says Valerie O’Connor.

Helen O’Callaghan says children need to be told if a relative is suffering from dementia so they can understand the changes in their behaviour.

A grandmother from Co Cork is €61,000 richer today.

Abtran lends a hand as their employees head into schools for a Literacy Support Programme in Sunday’s Well, writes Niall Murray, Education Correspondent

“THERE’S another one down here that we could go to,” said Fionn’s uncle. “This one will be too crowded.”

Home, Tuesday, 7pm, and my daughter is unsettled to discover, that, at 23 years of age, she’s lost the ability to do the splits.

Almost three out of four Irish parents have thrown out their children’s toys before Christmas and not told them.

Helen O’Callaghan hears about a book by children for children on real-life ups and downs, and what helps them overcome difficulties and feel more positive    

The words ‘shopping’ and ‘men’ have always been uneasy bedfellows. The idea of buying anything outside of the usual ‘boys toys’ like sports gear or electronics has always been uncharted territory for the average guy.

Irish women love nothing more than talking about each other

Nominated for an Oscar earlier this year, Song of the Sea (PG) is a stunning animation from the people who brought us The Book of Kells (2009). 

“DID you hear that?” asked Ciara as she ended a phone call with her mother. “Mum’s going to come over on Saturday night so we can go out.”

YOU’RE about to visit Granny when your child announces he doesn’t want to go.

If you are blessed with a traditional Irish name, you may want to look away now before the massacre unfolds.

Just two days after going skydiving to celebrate her 100th birthday, centenarian Georgina Harwood decided to give shark diving a go.

HANDY CRAFT: The popular Alex & Ani range has a charm to suit any gift occasion. 

I am trying to establish the house phone’s whereabouts. 

AS much as 37% of seven-year-olds have imaginary friends, according to research. It’s a phenomenon that can continue through the ages and stages, says Dublin-based psychologist Niamh Hannan.

MY DAUGHTER is sitting in the conservatory looking over my mother’s shoulder. My mother, who has come to visit along with my sister, sits beside my daughter on the sofa, reading.

CHILDREN have a knack for making the ordinary extraordinary, so why not use this innate ability to make this Christmas truly memorable for them.

It’s Friday! Time to for our readers to share their Good News.

Can you imagine being so dedicated to vintage clothing that you wear it to work, going out at night, even doing your weekly shop? 

Young and old are enthralled as Gran makes her way through the city on the second day of her journey.

There's also a bus full of spuds driving around.

A sensational Grandmother Giant will walk the streets of Limerick from Friday, writes Jo Kerrigan

Gardaí have described the forthcoming visit of a giant grandmother to Limerick as the biggest event to be staged in Ireland this year.

Au pairs don’t have to be young — as the success of a ‘granny’ agency shows.

CORK airport, 2.30pm, and, as expected, the rain has travelled for hundreds of miles against prevailing winds especially to decant itself on top of my mother when she disembarks the plane.

This, lads, is great.

“Mary Poppins is yesterday — Granny Aupair is today”.

ELEVEN in the morning, Customs area, Stansted airport — and no amount of wishful thinking is going to turn my over-stuffed canvas holdall into “a second small carry-on bag, no bigger than 35cm x 20cm x 20cm, which will allow a bottle of wine or equivalent to be carried”.

HOME, 2pm. My mother is in the conservatory, in combative form.

I MEAN, seriously? What’s it all about? First there’s the shopping.

For the former front man with Granny’s Intentions, the most popular ‘beat group’ in Ireland in the 1960s, Johnny Duhan’s latest album, Winter, reflects something of a rite of passage.