A four year old boy and a “lipstick” could have caused a major incident.

I live in Ireland and have a very strong sense of my own identity. I love this country, and am proud to be Irish. I was a child during the seventies and eighties. A time of tremendous unrest in the North of Ireland, when a lot of wrong was done on both sides, by the … More A four year old boy and a “lipstick” could have caused a major incident.

Gone.

“Oh my God, he’s gone! He died. He actually died!” These are the thoughts that arrest me, out of the blue regularly. I might be driving, or out buying groceries, perhaps out having fun with friends, or teaching at the pool, when without any warning I remember. Dan died. When this moment hits it quite … More Gone.

She has dyslexia, is there any point in her learning spellings?

I have been waiting for today with eager anticipation. Today was results day. Results for what? Let me explain. Two of my children have dyslexia.  They are intelligent, bright individuals, who happen to somehow be wired to read what is written in a totally different way to the rest of us. It is not a … More She has dyslexia, is there any point in her learning spellings?

Aoibheanns Pink Tie. One fathers positive response to the loss of his child.

“You have cancer”.  Can you imagine sitting in a surgery and hearing that? Now imagine sitting there with your husband or partner and hearing “Your son/daughter has cancer”. Imagine the next scene, if your child is old enough, you must sit there and support your son or daughter, as they hear for the very first … More Aoibheanns Pink Tie. One fathers positive response to the loss of his child.