By Siobhan O’Neill White

Springtime has arrived! Daffodils are popping up; we’ve got an extra bank holiday for St Patricks’ Day and Mother’s day is fast approaching. Life is good. There is so much to enjoy this month and finally, after 2 years of being cocooned away, we can now get out and about again. For Mother’s day this month, make sure to let all the wonderful Mother’s know how much they mean to us. Whether you are lucky to be a Mammy yourself, want to spoil your own Mammy or Granny or treat a special someone in your life who is a mother figure, there are loads of ways to thank them. You can splash out and take her out for a nice meal, Gourmet Food Parlour is a favourite spot of our in Skerries. If you are staying in, why not cook your Mammy a special dinner! Heaven knows, she has cooked enough family dinners over the years! As a Mammy myself, I love to get a card and have my children do something nice for me. It’s not about the gifts, its more about the gestures of kindness. Having someone else cook dinner while I get a half an hour to myself in the bath is the kind of treat I love. My number one request for the day is no squabbling…..though my 4 children rarely make to through the full day on that one! Last year we lost my Mother-in-law and this Mother’s day we will be taking some time to reflect and remember her. We will go visit her grave and bring flowers. It won’t be the same without her and she will be a part of our day – even though it will be sad and difficult, it’s so important to honour her memory as the wonderful Mam and Nanna she was. We are planning to plant a tree in our garden in her memory and whenever it flowers, we will be reminded of her. Our children will help plant it too, so hopefully they will feel a connection to it as well. Whatever you get up to this Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day, enjoy the friends and family you share it with and be happy that we are finally out of the many lockdowns we have had to endure!