Three families who have featured in 'Parenting' over the year tell Sheila Waymanabout how they hope the new year will unfold
THE TANNAM FAMILY
Christine works full-time with Zurich Insurance and talked to Parenting in May about how an au pair is the childcare that works best for their three school-going children at home in Knocklyon, Dublin.
"Life changes were triggered this year and there were health issues in the family, myself included. It came out of the blue - I went through medical investigations and I had surgery. It was a real eye-opener for me, as I have never had to worry about my health. I also turned 40. It puts an awful lot of things into perspective.
"I don't know whether it's a generational thing, but I am more aware of health issues and their consequences. I feel like 2008 was a very challenging and trying year and then, with the recession kicking in, what's next?
"It was like one of those years that has to happen, where you get one smack after the other. Everybody is on the mend, looking forward to the end of this year and turning the page.
"The election of Barack Obama puts a kind of energy and hope in everybody and I like the way Sarkozy is conducting business in my home country of France. Charismatic figures like Obama and Sarkozy inspire people to look at how they conduct themselves in politics and we might see the "old school" politics go away.
"Ireland has been taking a huge knock, as a rip-off country, with the food scare and the Lisbon Treaty. Although I am French, I live here and my children are being raised here and I don't like the image of Ireland that is being projected abroad. I hope in the new year to see an inspiring new brand of politicians here.
"My daughter Lara is turning 12 in 2009 and I was very disappointed by the decision not to introduce the cervical cancer vaccine. In France it was rolled out a year ago. I had never signed a petition before but I did on this issue.
"I am lucky that I can travel to France with Lara and get the vaccine for her there free and I will do that in 2009. My own medical treatment has been here and I feel I don't quite trust the results so I will also go to France for a second opinion.
"The recession has taken second place to what my own family is going through. I am feeling safe in my job in human resources with Zurich Insurance. There is a very good management team that has been riding the storm and we are still recruiting."
Gerard is self-employed as a consultant in brand development:
"As a small business-owner we are looking for a bit more leadership from our politicians in the new year. They keep saying small business is the backbone of the economy, but we are seeing very little done. Everybody in small business is ready to get their heads down and make things happen, but the politicians are just wringing their hands.
"I am hopeful that what has happened in the US, and the optimism Obama brings will lift America and give a boost to the world economy.
"The children are growing up and I hope they will get encouragement and support. They are in good schools. Some teenagers are getting a bad rap, yet when you see your own kids and their friends, you hope they will grow up with plenty of encouragement and that they will bring some of the spirit they have at eight, nine and 10 into their teenage years.
"My own growing up was done in the 1970s and early 1980s when things were grim, but it didn't have an impact on us. I don't feel I took on my parents' concerns in the same way as kids do today."
Aidan (13) is in first year at St Colmcille Secondary School:
"I am looking forward to a new year and new sport. They are starting soccer teams in school in the new year. I also play rugby for St Mary's."
Lara (11) is in fifth class at St Colmcille's National School:
"I am looking forward to gymnastic competitions in 2009. I am a member of Old Bawn gymnastics club and I train twice a week. I have represented South Dublin and I hope to represent Ireland some day.
"I hope we get more money to go on holiday at Easter. I want to go to Paris - I have only been there as a baby and I don't remember it.
"I also hope the recession will stop."
Louis (10) is in fourth class at St Colmcille's National School:
"I am looking forward to my soccer trials with Knocklyon United. I am trying to get on a better team. I am on the Cs now. I also hope Manchester United will win the Premiership again."
THE MAYS FAMILY
Anthea Howbert runs a garden design business with her husband Tig Mays from their home in Ashford, Co Wicklow and talked to Parenting in August about their "green" family life with two young children.
"Having thought about building a new house for the last three years, it's finally become a reality. It's down the road from the one we are renting in Ashford and we plan to move in early in the new year.
"The house is based on the concept of being as eco-friendly as possible. It is heated only by one wood stove, and our hot water will be coming from solar panels. It's only a shell at the moment - but a very livable-in shell. It has no kitchen yet and we have to paint the walls. Although I can't really imagine how I'm going to find time to paint!
"I am equally excited about creating our new garden. We plan on lining the drive with fruit trees and blueberry bushes, putting up a polytunnel and getting really serious about growing our own vegetables. We've always grown some easy things, but now we plan on extending our range. We also might try our hands at raising hens, and maybe even ducks.
"Being an American, I am really excited about Obama becoming president, and this is the first time in years I feel proud to be an American - his comments on the environment bode well for all of us. I'm hoping that the new year, with the recession helping it along, revives an appreciation for the day-to-day experience of life - quality not quantity, substance over style."
Tig Mays:
"At a time when many are looking at a pretty bleak future, I like to think that there is a silver lining to the doom and gloom doing the rounds these days. I feel generally more positive about the future than I did a couple of years ago. The last few years brought out a pretty unattractive, selfish streak in Irish society.
"As a garden and landscape designer, I am fully aware that our profession is about as frivolous - and vulnerable - as they come, yet I have seen really encouraging signs from many of our clients: we have planted some really smart gardens with fruit trees, vegetable beds and herb areas, and many clients have taken a big interest in using native plants or "nature-friendly" planting schemes.
"I've always been troubled by gardening's reliance on oil - if food has 'food miles', plants have every bit as many 'plant miles'. Yet we have a great and valuable nursery industry here, which produces better plants already wise to our tricky weather and employing skilled workers.
"So Anthea and I are heading into the eye of the recession launching a new business called dyg - Delivering Your Garden (www.dyg.ie), which is basically a really well-organised garden centre using mainly Irish-grown plants, delivered to your door across the country. This is something that keeps me excited about the future.
"A downside of the boom years has been that loads of garden centres closed down and sold up as their value as development land increased. We're hoping that dyg will liberate people without cars or a good garden centre nearby, encourage people to make really informed decisions about what they buy and keep cars off the road. Let's see."
Ivy (6) attends a local national school:
She is excited about choosing colours for her bedroom when the family moves to the new house and sharing a bedroom with her sister.
Freya (3) goes to Montessori:
She is looking forward to getting a new kitten and a visit in the new year from her as-yet-unknown uncle Alexander from Michigan.
THE FARRELL FAMILY
Therése and Alan Farrell spoke in April about losing their first daughter, Jasmine, after a life of just four hours and 22 minutes. They live in Lucan, Co Dublin with Kerrie (12), Ryan (2½) and Hannah (16 months).
Therése became a stay-at-home mother this year when she gave up work as facility administrator at a golf club.
"It was a fairly big decision not to go back to work after my maternity leave ended, but I am thrilled I made it. It is fantastic being a stay-at-home mum and I can see the difference being at home with the kids. I will stay at home now until they are well settled into school.
"I miss the independence of having my own money, but being at home makes up for it. Kerrie can definitely see the difference as I would have been working all her life. We have a puppy now, which we could not have done before. His name is Darby, he's 12 weeks old and he's a demon!
"I think next year will be Kerrie's year. She has her Confirmation in February, she's moving into secondary school and she will be 13 in September. It's going to be hectic.
"She wants to study Italian, God help her! Alan's grandmother is from Naples. I keep saying to her just because your great-grandmother is from Italy doesn't mean you'll pick it up easily, but maybe she will.
"Sadly, I am sending out the online booklet, Devastating Loss, regularly to people who have lost a baby. I sent it three times last week. After the article I got such feedback; heartbreaking e-mails in which people spilled out their stories. It is very, very sad."
Alan is manager of the sales desk at Electrolux Ireland on the Long Mile Road, Dublin:
"I wouldn't be making any long-term financial commitments in the new year - we'll wait and see how the next six months go. At work we are linked into the building trade and that slowdown has obviously affected us. We are selling domestic appliances, and people are not rushing out to do up their kitchens at the moment. There have been a few redundancies.
"We have promised to take Kerrie back to Florida for a holiday in 2010 so we will holiday in Ireland in 2009. We will probably go down to Kerry and rent a cottage there.
"I'm big into soccer. In League of Ireland I support St Patrick's as they're an Inchicore team where I come from, and in England I support Liverpool.
"I doubt if Ireland is going to qualify for the World Cup but I'll go to all the home games. And I was thinking of going to see Ireland play Italy in Rome, and make a weekend out of it with Therése."
Kerrie (12):
She is looking forward to her Confirmation and then making the big step into secondary school at Coláiste Bríde in Clondalkin.