PARENT AND BABY/TODDLER GROUPS
Parent and Baby/Toddler Groups are great outlets for parents and children to interact with each other. They are very useful for finding out information regarding things to do in the area, reputations of créches, playschools and schools. Meeting with other parents helps build a new parent’s confidence that what they’re doing or going through is normal. They are particularly helpful for people who are new to an area and perhaps don’t have family around.

At these groups, parents take it in turns to organise the room, tea and coffee. The children will then play with some of the toys there and with any luck they will eventually learn some social skills to enable them to play with one another! There is usually some nursery rhyme singing so both young and old can learn some songs and the accompanying actions.

The Sandymount Parent and Toddler group meets behind Star of the Sea Church on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings between 10.30am and noon. On Thursdays they also meet at the same time for parents and babies. There is a waiting list for these so if you are interested contact one of the following local public health nurses who are best contacted before 11 am: Patricia Dolan in Ringsend (6683897), Ann Larkin in Baggot Street (6606997) and Margaret Donovan in Donnybrook (2698997). The €1.50 that is collected each morning goes towards insurance, tea, coffee and biscuits. The use of the room on these mornings is given by the local parish council.

There is another Parent and Toddler group that meets in the Pembroke Library on Thursdays from 10.30–11.30am. There are jigsaws and books to be played with, and again, this provides valuable interaction time. This morning is free, but there is no tea, coffee or biscuits and no nappy changing facilities.

BABY AND ME
Doing the most boring things have become interesting of late as Little Sunshine adds her special twist to everything we do. Sometimes it’s just a funny walk or dance as we’re going down the street. Other times she makes up a song about things that are going on around her, tells me it’s my song and asks “You like that one Mammy?” Of course I love my song, so then she sings me other ones.

The latest one has been about her using her potty and its contents– “Poo-poo, wee-wee in my potty,” she sings before giggling. Wonderful, until whoever is beside us at the supermarket figures out what she’s singing and in turn they laugh which is just the extra attention she needs to continue in a louder fashion! Then in further acts of utter freedom of spirit (or award winning acting) she twirls and spins around and jumps and skips. All this entertainment, it’s fantastic!

I have to admit these are the good days. There are other days with scenes taken exactly from ‘The terrible twos– a toddlers guide’ that all children must secretly be given lessons in. Frequently this irrationality is as we near the end of the shopping and are queuing. I suppose there are more people watching then so it’s better for her, but I’m sure those people are counting their blessings that she’s with me!

I know the election was a while ago now but I have to say I was so very thankful when the election posters were gone as throughout the campaign I was getting an earful of “There’s the picture of the lady” or “There’s the picture of the man”. If it had gone on much longer I may have had to tell sunshine their names and party just for some variety, but she really is too young for politics just yet, so thankfully we’ve avoided that scene for this year!

Of course I was tempted to say to her that, yes I know what the picture is, thank you very much. I refrained and focused instead on her wonderful command of language and how she managed to put all those words together in a way that actually made sense. Not bad for a two year old. I studied French for five years in school and still my sentences didn’t always make as much sense!

We went to the seaside recently in the southwest. We spent one sunny afternoon building sandcastles on the beach, well, by build I mean I built one and she stood on it. I built another; she stood on that, so eventually I decided we’d bury each other’s feet instead. The sound of the waves was very enticing so I thought we’d take a stroll down to the water’s edge and go for a paddle. That’s where it ended though!

I’m not sure which scared her more; it could have been the freezing cold water, the sound of the waves or the strange feeling underfoot when the sand is being dragged back into the sea so that you begin to sink. I had expected my little sunshine to take to the water like a mermaid. She is so brave with so many things; she’s great with heights and going fast and upside down and so on, so I just expected this to go smoothly too.

I think her imagination may have got the better of her though, she probably thought the ground was swallowing her! The result of this was that she not only had to come up into my arms, she wouldn’t even allow me to wade along the water’s edge with her clinging to me like glue. There was no way I could pry her from my neck until we were at a very safe distance up in the dunes and I had promised the waves wouldn’t come up where we were.

Back in Dublin the sea really is very different without the crash-bang-boom of the waves but for the moment we’re going to keep practising for next time at the beach down in Clare. We may yet have a paddle before the summer ends!

MOTHER AND CHILD PROFILE - MARGARITA GRUBER
By Nicola McMahon

For the last few issues I have profiled mothers and their children who are now living locally to see just how they have integrated into the area, eventually becoming ‘locals’ themselves. Although, unless you are born and bred in an area you will always be a ‘blow-in’ to those who need to have known your great grandmother!

Name: Margarita Gruber
Daughter’s Name: Kate Gruber Walsh
Daughter’s Age: 22 months
Where are you from?
I’m from Madrid.
How long have you lived here?
I have lived in Ireland seven years, but I’m only in Ringsend two months.
Why did you move here?
Ringsend suited for getting to work. I work in Accounts, although I studied fashion in Madrid.
Do you like living here and why?
Yes, I really like living here. It’s like a little village or close community which is different to some other places in Dublin.
What differences do you find between home and here for bringing up your daughter?
Well, I tried to move back to Madrid last September but I only managed one month. This is because it is very difficult to find a job there, and if you do it doesn’t always pay enough to cover both childcare and an apartment. Also, over there you have to organise your life around where you get a job which isn’t always possible. Here there are more jobs and you can usually get a place to live and childcare relatively close to your job. However, Madrid has nicer weather for children to play outside a lot. Then you can make better use of the parks.
What things do you like to do here with Kate?
I like to go swimming. We used to go more when I lived in Blanchardstown because we went to the National Aquatic Centre. I also like going to the parks and travelling around Ireland when we can.

OUTINGS FOR THE CHILDREN
By Nicola McMahon

Summer time and the living is easy– well, it could be easier if there was something to do with our lively and energetic children.There are a number of outings that are suitable for toddlers, and many of them are practically at your doorstep.

If the weather is dry at all, pack a picnic and try any of these places as an alternative to Sandymount Strand. At least being outdoors means plenty of fresh air and space for burning up energy. To commemorate the outing and to have something to do later, encourage your child to collect a few flowers, leaves, seaweed and other small items of interest that can be stuck into a scrap book.

If you regularly go the park you might consider pointing out how things change throughout the year, how the leaves change colour in the autumn and how buds appear in the spring and so on.

Ringsend Park is great to walk around with a stroller as it is quite large. It is also useful for children to ride safely on their bikes and, of course, older children can go on roller blades under supervision.
Herbert Park has an excellent enclosed playground, which is great for safety and keeping dogs out. Another bonus for this playground is the fact that there are picnic tables, the area is clean and there are quite a few things to play on. Across the road in the other part of the park there are ducks to be fed.

Sean Moore Park is nice for a short stroll, and then if you feel like going further you can carry on to the nature trail. However, going with a stroller can get difficult the further you go unless you have one of those three-wheeled joggers with suspension that can cope with rougher terrain! The surroundings are really special, and you could always point out the wildlife and different wildflowers.

Booterstown Park is good for a nice long walk by the sea and has a lovely playground area.
The National Botanic Gardens cover a total area of 19.5 hectares and contain a large plant collection outside and in the glasshouses. This place is great for a picnic, although only the keenest of mini-gardeners will be interested in the plants. Most kids like the pond with the goldfish, though. The Gardens are in Glasnevin, Dublin 9 and further details can be obtained from 8377596/8374388.

Airfield Trust, Dundrum, is a great place to visit as there are cows and calves, a mare and a foal, sheep, goats, ducks, hens and beautiful flowers and gardens. There is also a picnic area, shop, outdoor cafe and indoor tearooms (probably not the best idea for very young children unless it starts raining!) Opening times are 11am–5pm through Tuesday–Sunday, from April 2–September 29. Admission charges are now €4 for adults, €2 for children, and €3 for concessions. Season tickets are €40.