A parent’s perspective

Eimear Kiely describes her experience of a youth leadership programme in Limerick

A magical sweet shop looms large in my childhood memory, stacked to the rafters with every imaginable confectionary delight. I returned to it recently with my own kids to introduce them to this earthly paradise, and was astonished to see that the shop also sold vegetables, washing-up liquid and other ordinary household items. Somehow, as…

A parent’s perspective

When I first left work to become a full-time parent, I recall my irritation at being labelled a ‘homemaker’ and not ‘full time mother’. I wanted acknowledgement that I hadn’t left a career to simply play house. I wasn’t choosing to shine brasses, mop floors and dance around with my feather duster, I was mothering.…