Inexorable as ever the plod of old father time’s feet have shuffled past another milestone in Casa McDonagh. Val and I are no longer the parents of a teenager! Niall , aka Scrote or theSprog , has managed to reach 20 without either his mother or I strangling him which is a momentous feat in itself  of which he should be justifiably proud

When you start off down this parenthood thing there are loads of milestones all very close together, first smile, first proper poo (quickly followed by first nappy change). Then first words, first Farley’s Rusk, first steps and first day at school. Then the gaps get longer and eventually you end up with this one. As a parent you kinda hope that butterfly like your offspring will appear from the chrysalis of the duvet on the morning they leave their teens as a  responsible,  suit wearing, fully formed adult and most importantly capable of using more than ten words in a sentence.

The stark reality is that 20 is just one day more than 19 and the duvet will remain heaped about a morass of yesterdays socks, half eaten kebabs and bottles of “Shock” “Volt” or “Red Bull” that seemed like a good idea at the time they were purchased. Thinking back to my 20th I have a dim recollection that I was worse .. much much worse than the present incarnation of the McDonagh Y chromosome so thank heaven for Enormous Mercies!

Happy 20th Birthday Niall! 🙂

It has been an interesting and fun 20 years. There were times we got annoyed with you,  there were times we were oh so proud of you, and all of  the time we loved you 🙂

Your Mum and I raise a glass to the end of your teen years and to the many years of  exciting adulthood ahead. 🙂