Life Family Features

Family Features

#HaveYourSay: 54.6 per cent of Independent.ie readers feel they do not get value for money at their child's creche 

Some 54 per cent of Independent.ie readers think they do not get value for money from their child's creche.

'I'm worried for my daughter coming home later' - Independent.ie readers name heroes at work during Hurricane Ophelia 

Hurricane Ophelia - the most extreme weather event in Ireland since 1961 - is hitting Ireland.

How to make a loved one's move into a retirement home easier 

When Ireland's nursing home support scheme, known as the 'Fair Deal', was being designed it was anticipated that those taking advantage of it would only need it for up to two years, according to...

Irish nurses celebrate reunion 50 years after they began their training 

It’s a profession which often sees those newly qualified leave our shores.

'Jesus O'Toole and his cousin Elvis Byrne' - The new Irish baby names parents are hearing 

What's in a name? More than you might imagine, according to a UK survey which has revealed grandparents are often appalled at the...

'They're the only pictures we have' - Couple appeal for thieves to return phone with priceless photos of late daughter 

A couple have appealed to thieves who stole a mobile phone containing the only photos of their...

'I refuse to say my grandson's name out loud' - why one in five grandparents hate what you've called your kids 

"You know, I still have trouble with the name," confides Mia Norris to her daughter-in-law Sharon...

The Irish schools discouraging children to have one best friend - just like Prince George's school 

'Best friend' relationships have been immortalised down the years through books exploring the childhood exploits of Tom Sawyer and...

Dad blogger admits feeling 'jealous' of his two-year-old son in Facebook post 

A dad blogger has been met with praise online after admitting to feeling "jealous" of the bond between his wife and their two-year-old son in an honest...

'I was 33 when I was told I had two and a half years to live' - Mum on preparing her young children for her death 

An Offaly mum has spoken about the unimaginable task of preparing her young family for life...

Talk is cheap for teens without tech 

Teenagers love to talk - sometimes for hours and often, according to their parents, about nothing. But while many of the past generation will remember being told off for hogging the landline, with the advent of smartphones, today's youngsters have the freedom to communicate with their...

This little girl's response to someone calling her fat is the best 

Many parents dread the day their daughter comes home sobbing that she’s been called something mean in the playground.

Viewers left emotional after interview with 13-year-old boy with condition that means he's the same size as a toddler 

A teenage boy has been diagnosed with a condition which means he's the same size as an average...

You're more likely to be a love rat if you're a cat lover 

So-called 'love rats' are overwhelmingly cat people, while owners of rodents are typically faithful to their partners, a survey of cheating spouses reveals

'They call us the Brady Bunch' - Dublin's supermum on her hectic life with six children 

He famously snapped up a 10-bedroom, three-kitchen home in leafy Hampstead a couple of years ago… and Jamie Oliver's wife appears hell-bent...

Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage urges people to stop buying huskies as number abandoned soars 

Game of Thrones fans have been warned to stop buying huskies after the number of abandoned animals in the UK soared eight-fold since the...

High-school teenager's photo goes viral after she brings baby into classroom 

A 17-year-old girl’s Snapchat post went viral after she shared a photograph from her high school classroom with her three-year-old brother...

'I was carrying both life and death and that was very hard' - Mum who sadly lost one of her precious twins at 32 weeks 

To be pregnant with twins was so wonderful and very special. Alice, our four-year-old daughter,...

'It was horrific' - GAA All-Star Christine O'Brien on the tragic death of her husband and raising their children without him 

WHEN the Royals were queens of Leinster football in the late 1990s, three-time All-Star Christine...

Meet the sharents: 'I share photos because I want to show my son off' 

In the beginning I was determined I wasn't going to be one of those parents, rolling my eyes as my Facebook timeline turned into a saturated swamp of baby snaps. But of course that all changed...

Ditch city life for fields of dreams? Not so fast 

The idea of country living is one that resonates with us all. Deep down, we all have the suspicion that urban spaces and their associated lifestyles are somehow eroding our soul. So the announcement...

'Mothers who have a doula have a better outcome' - Why Irish women are embracing the 'birth companion' trend 

After just giving birth to her first child with partner Damian O'Farrell, broadcaster Síle Seoige has...

'I don't want him to be alone' - Irish dad diagnosed with stage 4 cancer while working abroad 

A brave Dublin dad stricken by cancer is facing a life-saving operation in Germany - more than 1,000 kilometres away from his treasured daughter.

'If a boy dresses in a girl's outfit, all hell breaks loose - it's gender inequality' 

One of my proudest moments as a father was taking my three-year old daughter trick-or-treating last Halloween. She was dressed as Spider-Man...

'At least we could hold his hand' - Snapchat star Rosie Connolly on tragically losing her dad at 18 

Some might say that the beautiful Rosie Connolly has had a run of bad luck when it comes to family.

Colette Fitzpatrick: We need to be honest - breast isn't always best 

Most women I know who didn't breastfeed their babies told more or less everyone that they tried - that they gave it their best shot but weren't physically capable, or were advised by a...

Mother's honest post on parenting a child with ADHD goes viral 

A mum's Facebook post about the reality of bringing up a child with ADHD has gone viral for all the right reasons.

Irish mother on the cost of primary education: 'Unless you've a salary of over €70k, you're going to be affected' 

An Irish mother-of-one has shared how sending her son to school in September is costing over €500,...

The Irish family named the oldest in the world have revealed the secret to their long lives 

With a combined age of 1,075 years, the Donnelly family have revealed the secret behind their longevity.

Amanda Brunker: 'If you want your child to succeed in school, you need to take matters into your own hands' 

I don’t know about you, but reading, for me, is now a luxury.

Kirsty Blake Knox: The unexpected joys of holidaying with your parents as an adult 

It's unmistakable - the look of pity in people's eyes when you tell them that you, an adult woman, are going on holiday with your parents.

Irish woman (107) who emigrated to America finally gets high-school diploma 

A Kerry woman who emigrated to America in her twenties was awarded her high-school diploma at the age of 107.

How hiring a cleaner saved my marriage 

As someone who is about to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary, I have one piece of advice. The secret to a happy marriage is not date nights, endlessly sharing your feelings, or sweaty Sting-...

'Meet backpacking baby' - Woman who went on worldwide trip after being dumped by fiancé gets perfect revenge 

A 32-year-old woman dubbed the “backpacking Bridget Jones” has given birth to a baby daughter.

Widow of NYPD cop welcomes their daughter three years after his death 

The widow of a New York police officer has welcomed their child three years after his death using sperm preserved from her husband to conceive.

'Wonderful and every bit as wild as you've heard' - Chris Wasser on what it's really like to be a twin 

I'd love to know what age I was when I first realised I was a twin. Yes, I'd always known I had a twin brother - you can't ignore that. You're...

Parents of tragic Aoife (5) fundraise to bring Clown Doctors back to Crumlin Children's Hospital 

The legacy of a little girl who died five years ago from cancer continues to bring thousands of children lots of laughter.

Elderly man's travel dream comes true after 35 years without a holiday 

Strangers have helped an elderly man’s dream come true by helping pay for his first holiday in 35 years.

'Mum won't see me graduate which breaks my heart' - student on the pain of losing her mum when she was miles away from home 

'Dear Mummy... the reality is grief isn't pretty.' Those are the opening words which Danielle...

Pink fans hit out at trolls who say singer put children in 'dangerous' kitchen situation 

Singer Pink has gained the support of hundreds of mums after receiving abuse beneath a photograph in which online trolls said she had put her...

Emotional moment siblings are told they're officially being adopted by foster parents on Disney trip 

It was an emotional trip to Orlando for two siblings, who discovered they were to be adopted by their foster parents during a family holiday...

Man marries woman 20 years after promising he would in preschool 

A man who predicted he'd marry his preschool sweetheart when he was just three years old has tied the knot with her 20 years later.

Are you washing your pet's food bowl enough? Probably not, say experts 

Pet owners putting their four-legged friends at risk of illness by failing to wash their food bowls several times a week, according to experts.

'I love you too much' - Mum shares heartbreaking letter she wish she'd sent her son before he took his life 

"I love you too much to let you go."

Meet the Irish woman who donated her placenta to help the work of search and rescue dogs 

Two months before she was due to give birth, Becky Clissmann's midwife asked her a question no one had ever asked her. "She said: 'Have you...

Couple who lost two sons in car crash welcome twin boys two years later 

A couple who lost their two young sons in a car crash two years ago are now the proud parents of twin boys.

How to survive the Costa del Tantrum and reduce your stress levels on a family holiday 

When you crawl out from under a duvet at half six on a dark, foul Tuesday in February, it's the far-off prospect of the great summer getaway that gets...

Getting pregnant against the odds 

Female readers may have felt somewhat daunted last week by new research from the US that found women in their late 30s and 40s are "taking desperate measures" to preserve their fertility and attempting to "buy time" by freezing their eggs as they continue their search for a committed...

Amanda Brunker: 'That time I lost my son in Dundrum Town Centre was horrific' 

Just over a week ago, five-year-old Richard Roche (pictured below) from Wexford went missing. It was a long three hours for his parents before he...

So, what exactly is an Xennial and can you join up? 

Is your name John Paul? Were you named after the guy from Led Zeppelin, or the artist formerly known as Karol Józef Wojtyla? Because if you were named in honour of the former Pope John Paul...

Wimbledon: 'Sexist' scheduling leaves new mum Azarenka away from baby all day 

With dozens of matches to pack in during the first few days of Wimbledon the order of play is always a headache for officials, players and fans.