Mum - Maria Rushe

“Drive for yourself and let other drivers worry about themselves…” 

Words of wisdom from my much missed Granda Pops.  

He said these words to my Mum many times and …
Read More

What a week it’s been eh?

We’re all feeling a bit incredulous really. This past few days, it’s felt like we are slowly sliding into chaos once again.

We’re trying …
Read More

Mammy is offended…

Given that everyone is now allowed and encouraged to be offended by absolutely everything, I’ve decided to crack down on the lyrics of other Christmas songs which, …
Read More

I LOVE it! I love everything about it.

I love the sparkle, the sounds, the smells, the smiles.

I love the kindness. I love how it brings out the best …
Read More

“Surviving Christmas,” “Christmas Survival Tips for the Working Mum”, “How to Survive Christmas”…

I Googled these last night.

Some of the “advice” online is nothing short of HILARIOUS. I fear …
Read More

HOW do you work with teenagers?”

I get asked this quite a bit.

My answer?Very easily actually.

Because ‘teenagers’ are wicked.

And let me tell you, since schools reopened, they’ve …
Read More

1. I shall never shout at my child: 

Oh, you will, you know!  

Actually, it’s more a case of shouting at yourself really, because if you are having to shout at …
Read More

Aren’t you lucky you have a job?

Aren’t you lucky you have your health?

Aren’t you lucky you can work from home?

Aren’t you lucky you don’t have to…fill in …
Read More

Banana bread; I never actually did get around to baking one.

I did eat a slice that someone else baked, but that was the height of my lockdown success. 

Lockdown …
Read More

Last week was a bumpy one.

Not only was it the girls’ first week back at school and my first week back at work, but it was also the week …
Read More

Maria the Mammy…

Nope.Not a hope.Not sending them ANYWHERE NEAR schools.Need to keep them safe.Can’t control things when they’re away from me.Feck the government and their ineptitude.I don’t want them …
Read More

So it’s time to finally get back into our grooves, however wobbly they may be this year, and return to normality and reality with everyone back to School, Childcare, activities …
Read More

Once upon a time, the words “Let’s meet at soft play” instiled a sense of dread in me.

I hated it.

Gasp… yes I just typed that out loud… HATED …
Read More

Now that we finally know that our little darlings will be going back to school, we can start to think about getting ready.

Maybe you are already organised.Maybe you have …
Read More

“We’re going on da train Mammy.”

“Are we really?”

I do enjoy how much of a novelty the concept of a train is for my kids.Mini-Me will probably GET that …
Read More

“We don‘t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

George Bernard Shaw

Over the past 4 months, playing has changed.

Our kids went from …
Read More

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” 

I’ve said these words more than a few times over the past few weeks. Mainly, because I found myself absolutely bricking it over …
Read More

I haven’t learned a new language. 

I haven’t made banana bread. 

I haven’t decluttered my house. 

I haven’t painted the house. 

I haven’t organised my life.

I haven’t sorted my …
Read More

Mammy likes rollercoasters. I like theme parks. 

But we’ve all been landed into a theme park that we had not planned to visit, and it seems that we all have …
Read More

Every year, I teach Robert Frost’s ‘The Road Not Taken’, whether it’s on the course or not.

I love it. And I love passing his wisdom on to my students. …
Read More

We’re all so looking forward to the lockdown being over and to returning to “normal”… but I’ve been wondering how much of this we will eventually miss.

Now, don’t get me wrong. …
Read More

“Mammy, when this is all over…”, Mammy will need to have won the lotto.

I hear this line at least 5 times a day, from both of the girls.

And …
Read More

Tinterweb is currently full of Instahuns and Twitsickles telling us all that we must use ALL of this time to do ALL of the things that we have ALWAYS  wanted …
Read More

WHISPERS ON THE WIND

Two little sisters played on the beachAnd just when their parents had stepped out of reach,Wee Sis asked Big Sis in quiet hushed words,“What’s …
Read More

What a week it’s been eh?

We’ve all found ourselves slowly sliding into chaos. And even for those of us who hoped it’d all pass and gently laughed it off, …
Read More

“Where do you find the time?”

“How can you be bothered?”

“It can’t be worth that much work?”

Here we go again!

Musicals.

I’ve been on stage my whole life, …
Read More

Recently, the Dolly Parton challenge’ circulated Instagram where everyone posted four different images; How they look on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tinder. 

Each showed how their profile picture on …
Read More

“Your Mammy doesn’t work.” or “Your Mammy doesn’t have a real job”.

I remember hearing this a few times as a child and as a teenager.

I remember not thinking …
Read More

I’m brushing my youngest’s hair and we’re chittering away. 

‘You’re my beautiful Baby girl’ I say as I kiss the top of her inexplicably fuzzy head when I’m done.

…
Read More

I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions. You all know that I hate the ‘New Year, New You’ rhetoric. I hate the constant stream of “You need to change” and “You …
Read More

Tis the season for bling and rings and it’s our wedding anniversary so I’m wedding on the brain! 

The Him and I got married on a Wednesday, over Christmas in …
Read More

Before the onslaught of New Year, New You Bullshit starts, let me remind you of a few things…

Yes, January 1st is an obviously good starting point for new beginnings …
Read More

As the season of festive joy and frollicks descends upon us, so too can the stresses and responsibilities of trying to everyone happy. 

So remember, No is a complete sentence. 

…
Read More

Good afternoon!

I do hope that we all woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning. It’s time to repost Mammy’s rules for surviving the Christmas party (which unfortunately Mammy …
Read More

I am offended…

Given that everyone is now allowed and encouraged to be offended by absolutely everything, I’ve decided to crack down on the lyrics of other Christmas songs which, …
Read More

It’s the weekend of Toy Shows and trees for many…So I am posting my Christmas Survival Guide for the Mary of the Poppins types…

“Surviving Christmas,” “Christmas Survival Tips …
Read More

When a 6 year old asks a question, sometimes, it makes us think. We begin by explaining it to her in the simplest terms possible, and in doing so, sometimes …
Read More

I’ve written before about my love of a good “to-do” list.

I love them. I make them constantly and nothing pleases me more than drawing an aggressive and satisfied line …
Read More

HOW do you work with teenagers?

I get asked this quite a bit.

My answer?

Very easily actually.

Because ‘teenagers’ are wicked.

They have …
Read More

Don’t.  Just Don’t.

I’ve written about this before but it seems that it’s like non-parents parking in mother and baby spots, or people feeling the need to comment on how …
Read More

What makes you smile Mammy?

“My children’s arms around my neck… spending time with my family… seeing my children’s faces when… hearing my children’s voices…cuddles with my babies…”

Yadda yadda …
Read More

So it’s time to get back in our groove and return normality and reality with everyone back to School, Childcare, activities and work.

I don’t know how you other Mammies …
Read More

“Your Mammy doesn’t work.” or “Your Mammy doesn’t have a real job”

I remember hearing this a few times as a child and as a teenager. I remember not thinking …
Read More

Although it is many moons ago, Mammy remembers getting her Leaving Cert Results.

Mammy was certain that the contents of the little brown envelope were going to change her life. …
Read More

A few summers ago, we went to Redcastle for a day out.

Reminiscing enroute about the famous “big yellow slide” of our childhoods, we knew it was no longer there. …
Read More

Yesterday, we were exploring our beautiful county, as we love to do.

We were on beaches, we found the Boardwalk, we drove off the main roads and over mountains. …
Read More

“We won’t get much longer dressing them in matching outfits” says Me to He as we walked along the promenade in Salou. We were on the last night of our …
Read More

What is Legacy?

It’s a word we usually retain for after someone has departed for the Big City in the Sky, (or wherever you believe we go after this life.)

…
Read More

My journey through the jungle of Mammyhood so far has many things. I am always learning and yet it feels like I never learn!

Regardless of how you become a …
Read More

Exam season is upon us again.

It seems to come around faster and faster each year, doesn’t it?

If your little darlings are about to do their Junior or Leaving …
Read More