Mother's Day

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19 FEATURE Irish Examiner Friday 12.03.2010 XX1 - V1 And it isn’t just our physical well-being we neglect as we scoff a jaffa cake for lunch. Many mothers also neglect their mental and emotional well-being, rarely finding time to relax, unwind or indulge in some much needed mental TLC. Hazel Larkin with her daughters, Kashmira (5½) and 8-year-old Ishthara Picture: Maura Hickey 5 WAYS TO PAMPER YOURSELF Ten ways to treat her on Sunday Clockwise from above: enjoying a dip at Monart Spa, Co Wexford; hiking on one of Ireland’s many accessible trails; shopping at Kildare Village Outlet. Is the mum in your life sick of slippers and flowers? Pól Ó Conghaile has ideas for a day out she’ll really appreciate DIGGING THE GARDEN TRAIL Does your mother have green fin- gers? If so, you’re spoiled for choice. Ireland’s gardens start to come into their own in spring — from the daf- fodils at Carlow’s Delta Sensory Gardens to the rhododendrons and camellias in bloom at Mount Usher in Wicklow. In Clonakilty, the Robinsonian gardens laid out along the Argideen River at Lisselan estate are pure fairytale. Details: Entry to Mount Usher (0404-40205, mountushergardens.ie) costs 7.50; Delta Sensory Gardens (0599143527, deltacentre.org) 5; and Lisselan (023-33249; lisselan.com) 6. LET’S DO LUNCH Lunch is the new dinner. So why not take mum for a buffet banquet at Aghadoe Heights? The Kerry five-star has a Mother’s Day lunch special including a glass of bubbles and a surprise gift and, if you fancy going the extra mile, you can up- grade to an overnight stay. Details: Aghadoe Heights (064-6631766; aghadoeheights.com) has this lunch for 45. Upgrade to the overnight package, including a token gift and spa treatment for 195pps. SHOP TILL YOU DROP You don’t need a credit card for a heart to enjoy Kildare Outlet Vil- lage. The shopping outpost (at junc- tion 13 on the M7) is stuffed full of brands like Reiss, Wolford and L.K. Bennett. If you want to stay nearby, Barberstown Castle has a Mother’s Day special that includes a trip to Kildare Village with a stylist. Details: Kildare Village (kildare- village.com); Barberstown Castle (01-6288157, barberstowncastle.ie) has its two-night Mother’s Day package from 295pps. MOLLYCODDLING MUM-TO-BE Is there a mum-to-be in your family? Monart Spa in Enniscor- thy, Co Wexford, has a whole suite of treatments for expectant mothers. They include a full-body massage, a pregnancy stone mas- sage and a water lily float. The latter is a cooling body wrap performed on a dry flotation bed, and evokes a feeling of total weightlessness. Details: Monart (053-9238999, monart.ie) has this full-body mas- sage for 85, the pregnancy stone massage for 120 and the water lily wrap for 100. All three last 55 minutes. PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD Ireland’s network of walking trails has improved immeasurably over the last decade, so if your mum is footloose and fancy-free, what about a Mother’s Day stroll? From calf-busting circuits like Cork’s Sheep’s Head Loop to the scenic wow of Connemara’s Dia- mond Hill loop, there’s something for everyone. Details: Walking routes on discoverireland.ie/walking. KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL If your mum likes cooking, Mother’s Day is the ideal excuse to unleash her inner Nigella. Paul Flynn’s Tannery Cookery School in Dungarvan is a funky, state-of-the-art teaching space. This weekend, it’s ‘Stunning Seafood’. Next weekend, it’s ‘Paul’s Family Cooking’. Details: The Tannery Cookery School (058-45420, tannery.ie) Stunning Seafood course is 280. Paul’s Family Cooking is 150. TAKE ME TO THE ISLAND As the weather picks up, Ire- land’s coastline is starting to look tempting again. But what about taking mum a step further, for a spot of island-hopping? You’re spoiled for choice in west Cork. Garinish is a magical island garden cosseted away in Glengarriff Har- bour. Heir Island has a wonder- ful cottage cookery school, and Cape Clear will shortly open its first looped walk. Details: Glengariff to Garinish (027-63116, garinishislandfer- ries.com); Cunnamore to Heir Island (086-8092447; camproar- ingwater.com). Baltimore to Cape Clear (028-39159, 086-3465110, capeclearferry.com). DESIGNS ON KILKENNY As days out go, they don’t come much finer than Kilkenny — from the jewellery box of villages scat- tered throughout the county, to the mosey-friendly medieval city itself. On Mother’s Day, if you buy lunch at the Kilkenny Design Centre you’ll get free desserts with tea or coffee. For a post-prandial, pop across to the craft centre or Kilken- ny Castle. Details: Kilkenny Design (056-7722118; kilkennydesign.com) has main courses from 12.50. TEA BREAK After the noughties blingfest, home comforts and refined chic are back with a bang. And nothing says home comforts and refined chic better than afternoon tea. Dainty sandwiches and pretty pastries are the perfect way to wile away an af- ternoon in spaces like the Ritz Carlton’s Sugar Loaf lounge or the Westbury Hotel’s sprawling Gallery (the latter even has a chocolate in- dulgence special). Details: Afternoon Tea at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Co. Wicklow (01-2749377; ritzcarlton.com) costs 36. The Westbury in Dublin (01-6791122; doylecollection.com) charges from 26.50. MIDWEEK MUMS If you want to go the whole hog and book your mum in for an overnight break, the best value is undoubtedly to be found midweek. At Kelly’s Hotel in Rosslare, Co Wexford, a ‘Thank You Mum’ package offers bubbles on arrival, dinner at Beaches Restaurant and a choice of facial, reflexology or full body massage. Details: Kelly’s Hotel (053-9132114, kellys.ie) has this midweek package for 165pps. It is valid midweek until April 30, ex- cluding Easter. Spoil yourself — if no one else will! Colette Concannon with her 2-year-old daughter Eryn at home in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. She says her own Mum has been her ‘rock through tough times’ Picture: Ray Ryan On Mother’s Day, single mums have a great excuse to spend the day doing the things they love best, writes Hazel Gaynor B ECOMING a mother brings about many, many changes — most of which are well-documented in the multitude of books available on the subject of pregnancy and moth- erhood; changes to our bodies, changes to our social life, changes to our relationships, changes to our hormones. But perhaps one of the biggest changes is that we forget to look after ourselves. Most mums spend their days and nights worrying about their child’s well-being; whether they’ve had their five-a-day, whether their teeth have been brushed properly, whether their shoes still fit. We notice when our child seems more tired than usual and apply the best creams money can buy to their deli- cate, dry skins. All this attention on the children leaves little time to focus on our own well-being. And it isn’t just our physical well-being we neglect as we scoff a jaffa cake for lunch. Many mothers also neglect their mental and emo- tional well-being; rarely finding time to relax, unwind or indulge in some much-needed mental TLC. Blog www.mindapples.org is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting mentally healthy living for everyone. They ask the question, if eating five portions of fruit and veg a day keeps you physi- cally healthy, what’s the equivalent for your mind? What do you do every day — or regularly — to take care of yourself and keep your mind healthy? I’m sure most mums can answer this one fairly quickly: not much! Parenting mentor at Practical Par- enting, Sheila O’Malley, agrees that parents have to learn to parent themselves as well as their children. “How you care for yourself will heavily influence your parenting. A strong sense and acceptance of self are essential to a fulfilling life and to parent well.” So, with Mother’s Day this week- end, many mums will be looking forward to the excuse the day pro- vides for some much-needed ‘me time’. Whether a simple breakfast in bed and a lie on is what you crave, or spending the day relaxing at a spa, or having a special family lunch, Mother’s Day can often be just the tonic for frazzled mums. In the UK, Asda and Mumsnet are even promoting the concept of Mother’s Day Eve to make the occasion last longer! But whatever your personal ex- pectations of Mothering Sunday, for some, the day can be a less than exciting prospect. For moth- ers parenting alone, it can be a difficult day. Single mum Colette Concan- non looks at Mother’s Day differ- ently now that she has sole re- sponsibility for her three-year-old daughter. “I imagine Mother’s Day for happily married mums is completely different than Mother’s Day for single mums. I always dreamt of being spoilt by my hus- band, breakfast in bed, not having to do much on the day, but it didn’t turn out like that for me.” As so often happens with these ‘Hallmark’ days, while many have reason to celebrate them, others face a day being reminded of what they don’t have. “My first Moth- er’s Day was horrendous,” says Colette. “I think I cried the whole day, but I’d only been sin- gle a few months. This year, I’m planning to enjoy the day.” Margot Doherty from Treoir notes that, “extended families can also be very supportive of single mothers.” Colette’s own mother has been a huge help. “My mum has bought me a card for the last two years and signed it from my daughter, which was really sweet. She has been my rock through the tough times.” Single mum Hazel Larkin, who has two daughters aged eight and six, also sees Mother’s Day as very different for mums who are on their own “Generally it’s the fa- ther who instigates events; the breakfast in bed, cards and flow- ers. Since my children have started school, their teachers have led them in the construction of Mother’s Day cards.” “I guess if Mother’s Day is im- portant to you, then you should focus on what you have — your children — rather than on what you don’t — a partner. Celebrate your mothering and allow your children to make a fuss of you.” Hazel certainly isn’t looking to be showered with gifts this Sun- day. “For me, the biggest gift on Mother’s Day — and, indeed, ev- ery day — is motherhood itself. It took me 13 years to have my kids and I know how lucky I am.” So maybe this Mothering Sun- day, all mothers — whether alone or with a partner — should use the occasion as a simple reminder of three very important things: how lucky we are to have our children in our lives, that we are doing the best we can and that we need to take better care of our- selves. As Shelia O’Malley says, “A happy parent equals a happy child.” Happy Mother’s Day. For further information and details of par- enting courses visit www.practicalparent- ing.ie and www.treoir.ie You can also follow Colette Concannon and Hazel Larkin at their respective blogs www.funkymammy.blogspot.com and www.ladyscribbles.wordpress.com Hazel Gaynor blogs at www.hotcross- mum.blogspot.com 1. Read that book you’ve had sitting on your bed- side table for months. Reading is great for relax- ing and a welcome distrac- tion from the everyday is- sues which clutter our minds. 2. Buy yourself a bunch of your favourite flowers. 3. Go for a walk alone while listening to your favourite music. 4. If you are in a gym or local sports centre, spend time not working out but relaxing in the steam room, jacuzzi or sauna. 5. Do something you love with the kids — e.g. paint- ing, cooking, swimming, some spring gardening or watch your favourite kids’ movie with them.

description

A newspaper article regarding Single Mothers on Mother's Day and how to spoil themselves.

Transcript of Mother's Day

Page 1: Mother's Day

TERAPROOF:User:jaycarcioneDate:11/03/2010Time:15:11:21Edition:12/03/2010ExaminerLiveXX1203Page: 19Zone:XX1

19FEATUREIrish ExaminerFriday 12.03.2010

XX1 - V1

And it isn’t just our physical well-beingwe neglect as we scoff a jaffa cake forlunch. Many mothers also neglect theirmental and emotional well-being, rarelyfinding time to relax, unwind or indulgein some much needed mental TLC.

Hazel Larkin with her daughters, Kashmira (5½) and8-year-old Ishthara Picture: Maura Hickey

“”

5 WAYS TOPAMPERYOURSELF

Ten ways to treat her on Sunday

Clockwise from above: enjoying a dip at Monart Spa, Co Wexford; hiking onone of Ireland’s many accessible trails; shopping at Kildare Village Outlet.

Is the mum inyour life sick

of slippers andflowers?Pól Ó

Conghailehas ideas for

a day outshe’ll reallyappreciate

DIGGING THE GARDEN TRAIL

Does your mother have green fin-gers? If so, you’re spoiled for choice.Ireland’s gardens start to come intotheir own in spring — from the daf-fodils at Carlow’s Delta SensoryGardens to the rhododendrons andcamellias in bloom at Mount Usherin Wicklow. In Clonakilty, theRobinsonian gardens laid out alongthe Argideen River at Lisselan estateare pure fairytale.

Details: Entry to Mount Usher(0404-40205, mountushergardens.ie)costs 7.50; Delta Sensory Gardens(0599143527, deltacentre.org) 5;and Lisselan (023-33249;lisselan.com) 6.

LET’S DO LUNCH

Lunch is the new dinner. So whynot take mum for a buffet banquetat Aghadoe Heights? The Kerryfive-star has a Mother’s Day lunchspecial including a glass of bubblesand a surprise gift and, if you fancygoing the extra mile, you can up-grade to an overnight stay.

Details: Aghadoe Heights(064-6631766; aghadoeheights.com)has this lunch for 45. Upgrade tothe overnight package, including atoken gift and spa treatment for195pps.

SHOP TILL YOU DROP

You don’t need a credit card for aheart to enjoy Kildare Outlet Vil-lage. The shopping outpost (at junc-tion 13 on the M7) is stuffed full ofbrands like Reiss, Wolford and L.K.Bennett. If you want to stay nearby,Barberstown Castle has a Mother’sDay special that includes a trip toKildare Village with a stylist.

Details: Kildare Village (kildare-village.com); Barberstown Castle(01-6288157, barberstowncastle.ie)has its two-night Mother’s Daypackage from 295pps.

MOLLYCODDLINGMUM-TO-BE

Is there a mum-to-be in yourfamily? Monart Spa in Enniscor-thy, Co Wexford, has a wholesuite of treatments for expectantmothers. They include a full-bodymassage, a pregnancy stone mas-sage and a water lily float.The latter is a cooling body

wrap performed on a dry flotationbed, and evokes a feeling of totalweightlessness.

Details: Monart (053-9238999,monart.ie) has this full-body mas-sage for 85, the pregnancy stonemassage for 120 and the waterlily wrap for 100. All three last55 minutes.

PUT YOUR BESTFOOT FORWARD

Ireland’s network of walkingtrails has improved immeasurablyover the last decade, so if yourmum is footloose and fancy-free,what about a Mother’s Day stroll?From calf-busting circuits likeCork’s Sheep’s Head Loop to thescenic wow of Connemara’s Dia-mond Hill loop, there’s somethingfor everyone.

Details: Walking routes ondiscoverireland.ie/walking.

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

If your mum likes cooking,Mother’s Day is the ideal excuse

to unleash her inner Nigella. PaulFlynn’s Tannery Cookery Schoolin Dungarvan is a funky,state-of-the-art teaching space.This weekend, it’s ‘StunningSeafood’. Next weekend, it’s‘Paul’s Family Cooking’.

Details: The Tannery CookerySchool (058-45420, tannery.ie)Stunning Seafood course is 280.Paul’s Family Cooking is 150.

TAKE ME TO THE ISLAND

As the weather picks up, Ire-land’s coastline is starting to looktempting again. But what abouttaking mum a step further, for aspot of island-hopping? You’respoiled for choice in west Cork.

Garinish is a magical island gardencosseted away in Glengarriff Har-bour. Heir Island has a wonder-ful cottage cookery school,and Cape Clear will shortlyopen its first looped walk.

Details: Glengariff toGarinish (027-63116,garinishislandfer-ries.com); Cunnamore toHeir Island(086-8092447; camproar-ingwater.com). Baltimore toCape Clear (028-39159,086-3465110, capeclearferry.com).

DESIGNS ON KILKENNY

As days out go, they don’t comemuch finer than Kilkenny — from

the jewellery box of villages scat-tered throughout the county, to themosey-friendly medieval city itself.On Mother’s Day, if you buy lunchat the Kilkenny Design Centreyou’ll get free desserts with tea orcoffee. For a post-prandial, popacross to the craft centre or Kilken-ny Castle.

Details: Kilkenny Design(056-7722118; kilkennydesign.com)has main courses from 12.50.

TEA BREAK

After the noughties blingfest,home comforts and refined chic areback with a bang. And nothing sayshome comforts and refined chicbetter than afternoon tea. Daintysandwiches and pretty pastries arethe perfect way to wile away an af-ternoon in spaces like the RitzCarlton’s Sugar Loaf lounge or theWestbury Hotel’s sprawling Gallery(the latter even has a chocolate in-dulgence special).

Details: Afternoon Tea at TheRitz-Carlton Hotel in Co. Wicklow(01-2749377; ritzcarlton.com) costs36. The Westbury in Dublin(01-6791122; doylecollection.com)charges from 26.50.

MIDWEEK MUMS

If you want to go the wholehog and book your mum infor an overnight break, thebest value is undoubtedlyto be found midweek.At Kelly’s Hotel inRosslare, Co Wexford, a‘Thank You Mum’package offers bubbleson arrival, dinner atBeaches Restaurant and a

choice of facial, reflexology orfull body massage.

Details: Kelly’s Hotel(053-9132114, kellys.ie) has thismidweek package for 165pps. It isvalid midweek until April 30, ex-cluding Easter.

Spoil yourself —if no one else will!

Colette Concannon with her 2-year-old daughter Eryn at home in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo. She says her own Mum has been her‘rock through tough times’ Picture: Ray Ryan

On Mother’sDay, single

mums have agreat excuseto spend the

day doing thethings theylove best,

writes HazelGaynor

B ECOMING a motherbrings about many,many changes — most

of which are well-documented inthe multitude of books available onthe subject of pregnancy and moth-erhood; changes to our bodies,changes to our social life, changes toour relationships, changes to ourhormones. But perhaps one of thebiggest changes is that we forget tolook after ourselves.Most mums spend their days and

nights worrying about their child’swell-being; whether they’ve hadtheir five-a-day, whether their teethhave been brushed properly,whether their shoes still fit. Wenotice when our child seems moretired than usual and apply the bestcreams money can buy to their deli-cate, dry skins. All this attention onthe children leaves little time tofocus on our own well-being.And it isn’t just our physical

well-being we neglect as we scoff ajaffa cake for lunch. Many mothersalso neglect their mental and emo-tional well-being; rarely findingtime to relax, unwind or indulge insome much-needed mental TLC.Blog www.mindapples.org is an

independent organisation dedicatedto promoting mentally healthyliving for everyone. They ask thequestion, if eating five portions offruit and veg a day keeps you physi-cally healthy, what’s the equivalentfor your mind? What do you doevery day — or regularly — to takecare of yourself and keep your mindhealthy? I’m sure most mums cananswer this one fairly quickly: notmuch!Parenting mentor at Practical Par-

enting, Sheila O’Malley, agrees thatparents have to learn to parentthemselves as well as their children.“How you care for yourself willheavily influence your parenting. Astrong sense and acceptance of selfare essential to a fulfilling life and toparent well.”So, with Mother’s Day this week-

end, many mums will be lookingforward to the excuse the day pro-vides for some much-needed ‘metime’. Whether a simple breakfast inbed and a lie on is what you crave,

or spending the day relaxing at aspa, or having a special familylunch, Mother’s Day can often bejust the tonic for frazzled mums.In the UK, Asda and Mumsnetare even promoting the conceptof Mother’s Day Eve to make theoccasion last longer!But whatever your personal ex-

pectations of Mothering Sunday,for some, the day can be a lessthan exciting prospect. For moth-ers parenting alone, it can be adifficult day.Single mum Colette Concan-

non looks at Mother’s Day differ-ently now that she has sole re-sponsibility for her three-year-olddaughter. “I imagine Mother’sDay for happily married mums iscompletely different than Mother’sDay for single mums. I alwaysdreamt of being spoilt by my hus-band, breakfast in bed, not havingto do much on the day, but itdidn’t turn out like that for me.”As so often happens with these

‘Hallmark’ days, while many havereason to celebrate them, othersface a day being reminded of what

they don’t have. “My first Moth-er’s Day was horrendous,” saysColette. “I think I cried thewhole day, but I’d only been sin-gle a few months. This year, I’mplanning to enjoy the day.”Margot Doherty from Treoir

notes that, “extended families canalso be very supportive of singlemothers.” Colette’s own motherhas been a huge help. “My mumhas bought me a card for the lasttwo years and signed it from mydaughter, which was really sweet.She has been my rock through thetough times.”

Single mum Hazel Larkin, whohas two daughters aged eight andsix, also sees Mother’s Day as verydifferent for mums who are ontheir own “Generally it’s the fa-ther who instigates events; thebreakfast in bed, cards and flow-ers. Since my children have startedschool, their teachers have ledthem in the construction ofMother’s Day cards.”“I guess if Mother’s Day is im-

portant to you, then you shouldfocus on what you have — yourchildren — rather than on whatyou don’t — a partner. Celebrate

your mothering and allow yourchildren to make a fuss of you.”Hazel certainly isn’t looking to

be showered with gifts this Sun-day. “For me, the biggest gift onMother’s Day — and, indeed, ev-ery day — is motherhood itself. Ittook me 13 years to have my kidsand I know how lucky I am.”So maybe this Mothering Sun-

day, all mothers — whether aloneor with a partner — should usethe occasion as a simple reminderof three very important things:how lucky we are to have ourchildren in our lives, that we aredoing the best we can and that weneed to take better care of our-selves. As Shelia O’Malley says,“A happy parent equals a happychild.”Happy Mother’s Day.

■ For further information and details of par-enting courses visit www.practicalparent-ing.ie and www.treoir.ie■ You can also follow Colette Concannonand Hazel Larkin at their respective blogswww.funkymammy.blogspot.com andwww.ladyscribbles.wordpress.comHazel Gaynor blogs at www.hotcross-mum.blogspot.com

1. Read that book you’vehad sitting on your bed-side table for months.Reading is great for relax-ing and a welcome distrac-tion from the everyday is-sues which clutter ourminds.2. Buy yourself a bunch ofyour favourite flowers.3. Go for a walk alonewhile listening to yourfavourite music.4. If you are in a gym orlocal sports centre, spendtime not working out butrelaxing in the steamroom, jacuzzi or sauna.5. Do something you lovewith the kids — e.g. paint-ing, cooking, swimming,some spring gardening orwatch your favourite kids’movie with them.