Parenting | The Irish Times

Gavin Leonard with his three-year-old daughter Jade. Gavin tries to meet up with dad friends periodically but says ‘every time we try to arrange something, one of us will have an issue so generally we spend most of the time rescheduling’. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw

The lonely, isolated and challenging lives of many parents

Three mothers and a father give their accounts of what parenthood can really feel like

Jen Hogan and her children.

Seven children later, I am still judged as a mother, mainly by other mothers

I thought I was immune to criticism until, two weeks ago, my daughter caught mumps

“One of the big challenges for any busy working parent is making the most of the limited time they have with their children and family.” Photograph: iStock

‘Our toddler prefers his dad to me. I feel like a bad mother’

My husband is a stay-at-home dad while I work long hours. I feel guilty about not being there

Even the most amenable brides and grooms can find themselves quarrelling with their parents before the wedding day. Photograph: iStock

Avoiding rows with parents before wedding vows

Guests, venues and menus can put a wedge between families before anyone says ‘I do’

Children

Focusing on the shyness can inadvertently make a child think something might be wrong with them. Photograph: iStockphoto

How to encourage your child’s potential . . . from toddler to teen

Saying ‘don’t be shy’ or ‘has the cat got your tongue?’ can increase his anxiety

Teenagers

For teenagers, bereavement can be particularly difficult to come to terms with. Photograph: iStockphoto

Ask the expert: Our daughter is struggling since the death of a classmate

She is struggling to get a proper night’s sleep and is very anxious before going to bed

Toddlers

Sleep training requires a lot of patience and does not yield immediate results. Photograph: Thinkstock

Ask the expert: How do we get a toddler to sleep all night?

If you have a parenting query, send your question to health@irishtimes.com

Babies

Pixie McKenna: ‘In an ideal world, if you can cook something, great. It’s cheaper, it’s more convenient, you can batch-cook and, ultimately, as you go through the stages, you can all eat the same thing, which is really important.’

Pixie McKenna on weaning: ‘I hadn’t a clue’

‘Dr Pixie’s First Foods’ examines weaning and babies’ first food recipes . . . sugar included

Relationships

As one of my boys is 12 and prepubescent, I’m concerned about telling him about his dad before he has established his own sexual identity. Photograph: Thinkstock

Ask the Expert: How do I tell my sons their father is bisexual?

John Sharry helps solve your parenting problems. Send your queries to health@irishtimes.com

Summer of Family Come rain or shine our guide will help your family make the most of it

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