Blog List

No matter how much of a tough day you are having, there are always things that make it that little bit better, something blogger Franziska Foerster McLoughlin from Queen of My Castle knows about. The mum-of-four used to work for a multinational corporate and ventured into blogging to share her experiences, joys and frustrations of being a mum. Here she tells us exactly what happiness means to her...

My three-year-son is possibly the most inquisitive little creature I have ever encountered. As a mum-of-four, I have fielded my fair share of questions over the years, but since the arrival of Nathaniel my world has revolved around responding to queries and replying to enquiries. Eager to know how the world works and why, Nathaniel will question everything from the colour of the sky to the...

Since becoming a mother, I have found myself moved to tears over anything and everything. While I was by no means made of stone before the arrival of my two children, I was generally able to keep it together during TV commericals intended to pulled on your heartstrings, movies described as tearjerkers and love songs made for a good sniffle. But now? Now, I'm a wreck. And it's bizarre...

Life is such a wonderful thing with our three little miracles in it. Don't get me wrong, I miss my family so much more since the babies have been born and so wish I was nearer to them, as well as my friends at home in the UK. I also miss my dad and think of him everyday and how proud he would be. If only he was here to give the triplets the love that he gave me, my brothers, sister, and nieces...

For almost as long as my second oldest child can remember, there had been issues with her older brother. Issues which required professional intervention, issues which caused untold upset and tension within our home, and issues which affected my daughter so greatly she became - what can only be described as - a bag of nerves. Her brother battled desperately with low self-esteem from an early age...

The greatest joy I have ever experienced was the day I gave birth to my daughter, Kitty. It is, of course, a cliché, but from the moment we met her, my husband John and I fell deeply and madly in love. Kitty is now eighteen months old. She is a toddler – walking, running, climbing, pointing, observing and doing her best to talk. I couldn’t imagine our lives without her. No different to any...

Listen, I have never subscribed to the school of thought that material objects act as any measurement of your spouse's love or affection for you. Believe me, the fact that my partner will remember to defrost the chicken breasts when I forget, slip a hotwater bottle under the duvet while I'm brushing my teeth or return home with my favourite magazine, chocolate and bubble bath when I have...

Remember the last time someone approached your teenage child and expressed concern over their developmental progress? “14?! And you're still out and about with your mum?!” “15 and you're only 5'2”? Is your mummy not feeding you at all?” Yeah, me neither. So, why do veritable strangers deem it appropriate to pass comment on the progress of your younger children? Thankfully...

Let me preface this blog post by saying that my mother-in-law is a much-loved and hugely respected member of our family. Not only did she accept me like one of her own when I first starting dating her son, after getting engaged she was the first person after my own mum who I wanted to tell. And while I respect her in innumerable ways and felt genuine delight when I learned she'd be moving a...

I have two girls in primary school, work as a Councillor and am also running in the General Election for Fine Gael, so my days, like most parents, are very busy. The extension of the free preschool programme, starting this September, means that parents can now benefit from two years of preschool education. It is estimated that this will increase the number of children receiving free pre-school to...