Ok, so I'll just get this out of the way now - I'm awful, I'm terrible and really, I should be hanging my head in shame.
If there were still stocks around, I would put myself into them and actually provide the rotten fruit for people to chuck at me.
Really, I'm feeling pretty bad at the moment about some of my thoughts and actions recently - and certainly don't feel like I should be winning any parenting awards.
You see, when I look back to my younger days, I was pretty lucky with my childhood.
It was stable and fun and loving and involved lots of play time, family time, holidays and activities.
However, one thing really stands out - my love of reading.
I was introduced to reading early on and developed a real love for it.
I spent most of my younger years and teenage years with my head in a book, whether it was in my room, in the garden or in the car.
I adored going to Andersonstown Library with my grandfather or dad and could have spent hours and hours just browsing and reading.
My love for reading stayed with me throughout school and university and is still with me now although I don't have as much free time as I did.
So, when I became a parent I vowed I would introduce my kids to reading as early as possible in the hope that they too could get lost in all types of magical adventures and feed their imagination.
Both Abbie and James love books and we often find them sitting in the middle of the floor flicking through colourful stories about princesses, farm animals and dinosaurs.
In recent months, following Abbie's move out of the cot into a `big girl bed', we have been pursuing the concept of bedtime reading.
We bought her a range of four books - Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Snow White, Cinderella and The Three Little Pigs - and to start with, it was all fine and fun and exciting.
But now (and this is the awful part), for some reason she has become fascinated with just one story, The Three Little Pigs, and insists on me reading only that to her at night - over and over and over (do you see where I am going with this?)
Close to despair, I went out and tried to find any other books in the range and found The Princess and the Pea and introduced this to our night time reading regime.
She instantly liked it however I did not.
But this only lasted a few nights and soon we were back with the big bad wolf and the little pigs.
So there I was huffing and puffing and huffing and puffing and huffing and puffing - honestly, if I have to "huff and puff" one more time, I think I might just lose it.
Am I an awful?
I've now taken to trying to suggest other stories but nope, it has to be The Three Little Pigs.
I have even toyed with the idea of it getting `accidentally' lost - I'm a terrible mummy.
I really feel like I may be at the end of my tether with this and I feel so guilty.
I really feel rotten about how much I dread the bedtime reading now and honestly I could probably be a bit more enthusiastic when reading it but the monotony is wearing me down.
I suppose there's a reason she loves this book so much but I just can't work it out.
I'm at a loss and really I don't see the attraction.
So what am I to do?
I need a bit of variety but she just loves it so much.
I suppose I'll just have to stick with Pam, Pip and Pete (the new version of the Three Little Pigs) and just zone out and hope that one of these days, the book may accidentally fall down a pot hole, fly away on a gust of wind or just lose its attraction.
Here's hoping.
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Fancy a bite at one of Belfast’s newest eateries?
Fish City, which has opened at Ann Street in the city centre, close to Victoria Square, is both an award-winning restaurant and takeaway.
Occupying two floors, Fish City boasts a vibe which is described as both casual and contemporary, with a personal and attentive service.
The menu focuses on high quality and sustainably sourced seafood dishes, including the traditional and much loved fish & chips, but the menu is extensive with lots more than seafood to choose from - accompanied by a great wine and local craft beer selection.
Family friendly, Fish City offers children the option to order from the main menu with half portion/half price meals, a clever way to encourage children to try different foods.
Recognising the high numbers of tourists visiting Belfast, Fish City owners John and Grainne Lavery now specially cater for this market by providing their menus and website in multiple languages.
Further details about Fish City is available online at www.fish-city.com
I have three £20 vouchers for Fish City to give away to three lucky readers.
If you fancy winning a voucher, simply email your name, address and telephone number – along with the answer to the question below – to competitions@irishnews.com
Closing date for entries is Tuesday, July 4.
(Q) Where is Fish City located in Belfast?
Normal Irish News Rules Apply
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What's Hot?
Animated Fun - Gru and his Minions return to the big screen this weekend in Despicable Me 3. Once again featuring the wonderful voices of Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig, our little yellow pals return for more fun and adventure. We love these movies in our house, this should be great.
Spin-off - Friends star, Lisa Kudrow is said to be considering a spin-off show based on her wonderfully lovable character, Phoebe Buffay. Great idea.
Pop-Up - Ice cream lovers should visit Victoria Square in Belfast this week as Mullins ice-cream is opening a pop-up ice-cream parlour. Open for just four weeks, there is the chance to sample the many decadent treats on offer and to personalise their creations with an array of yummy toppings. Go on, treat yourself.
So Not!
Mixed Reviews - Chart-topper, Ed Sheeran has been criticised by fans for his performance at Glastonbury amid claims he used backing track. The 26-year-old singer however took to Twitter to state "everything I do in my live show is live".
Loss - Singer Charlotte Church has announced she has loss her unborn third child. The 31-year-old star said she and her partner Jonathan Powell are grieving in private. Sad news.
Risk - Research has found office workers are at greater risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and even cancer because they spend too much time trapped behind their desk and do not get their fair share of sunshine. Beware - it's time to get out and about.
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Competition
The winners of the Amnesia competition are Kathleen McMahon from Belfast, Rosemary Kerr from Magherafelt, Aideen Ahern from Ballycastle, Sinead Black and Geraldine Farrell from Newry
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Easy Peasy Recipe
This week’s Easy Peasy Recipe is Quick and Easy Banana Cake
You will need:
125g butter
150g caster sugar
1 tspn vanilla extract
1 beaten egg
2 mashed ripe bananas
190g self raising flour
60ml milk
To Make:
Grease a loaf tin.
In a pan, add butter, sugar and vanilla and melt over a low heat.
Remove from heat and add mashed bananas. Mix well.
Add the egg and continue to mix.
Stir in the flour and the milk.
Pour into the cake tin and sprinkle a tablespoon of sugar on top.
Bake at 170c/Gas Mark 3 for 35 minutes.
Once cooled, slice and serve.
Do you have an Easy Peasy recipe you would like to share?
Are you the queen of quiches, magnificent at muffins or can you turn out some nice scones?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
You can send your name, address, contact number and recipe (plus photo if possible) to:
Easy Peasy Recipes,
Marie Louise McConville,
Irish News
113-117 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2GE
or
m.mcconville@irishnews.com
