chevron_left
-
play_arrow
Listen Live More of the music you love
| Saturday | 11:30 am | 12:00 pm |
|---|
About
Dr. Mary O’Kane, a leading voice in early childhood education, brings her expertise to your airwaves on Perfectly Imperfect Parenting . As a lecturer in Psychology and Early Childhood Education at the Open University, Dr. O’Kane has dedicated her career to understanding child development and supporting parents and educators.
Author of several best-selling books on parenting and early childhood education, including Perfectly Imperfect Parenting: Connection not Perfection and Anxious Children in an Anxious World, Dr. O’Kane offers insightful discussions on a wide range of topics, from fostering emotional intelligence in young children to navigating the challenges of modern parenting.
Dr. O’Kane’s warm and approachable style makes complex topics easy to understand, offering practical advice and support for listeners seeking to nurture happy and thriving children.
If your child could have any superpower, what would you choose for them?
Resilience! We can’t protect our children from all the stressors in the world, but to give them the superpower of self-belief, feeling capable enough to cope with the challenges they face, and to recover from setbacks would be wonderful.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to new parents?
There is no such thing as a perfect parent, good enough is good enough. You are going to make mistakes. We all do! It’s OK to ask for help and to accept support from others. Also, listen to the advice of others but listen even more so to your own instincts. Try not to compare your family to others, do what feels right for you and your baby.
What’s your favourite parenting trick?
For children, love is spelled T-I-M-E. Particularly when you feel your chid is being ‘difficult’ that is the moment that they are calling out for attention from you. Even on those challenging days, spending a little time really connecting with them will make all the difference.
How do you balance letting children discover the world while keeping them safe?
Oh, I still haven’t figured out that fine line yet! I really struggle with this one. But I do know that to build confidence in the world, children must take chances, make choices and take responsibility for them. I suppose for most of us this means finding our own inner bravery, to give our children enough freedom to find theirs.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned from your studies?
The most important things I have learned in life were not from my studies, they were from my children. I would never claim to have this parenting thing fully sorted, but they have taught me so much over the years. As they have grown, I have grown along with them. They have challenged my thinking, my perspective on life, and my patience! They have changed my priorities, and taught me so much about life, love, and about myself. I am still very much a work in progress, but each one of them has most definitely made me a better person.
Discover, Follow, Grow
This week on #PerfectlyImperfectParenting Mary was joined by Deirdre Holland-Hannan.
Dee is a registered nurse with a MSc. In Urotherapy and In Behaviour Analysis. She joined Mary to tell us a little about the role of a Urotherapist, and to talk about bed wetting, constipation and any poo problems that children may have.
Tune in this Saturday from 11:30am
#bedwetting #urotherapist #children
Dec 5
The Christmas Children’s Reading Bookshow is back 🎄📚♥️
Tune into #PerfectlyImperfectParenting with @drmaryokane this Saturday from 12:30pm
And #AllAboutBooks on Tuesday from 12:30pm with @whatkatythoughtnext
From magical picture books to imaginative adventures and heartfelt stories, Mary and Katy take you through a treasure trove of Irish talent to help you find the perfect books for the children in your life.
#childrenbook #irishbook #christmasbooks
Nov 28
TOMORROW Saturday 21 Nov at 11:30am, tune in to DublinCityFM as I discuss Matrescence, Maternal mental load and how to navigate feeling like we’re SLIGHTLY loosing your marbles as mothers with the wonderful Dr Mary O`Kane! 103.2FM #thesanemama #matrescence #insanemamamoments #perfectlyimperfectparenting drmaryokane dublincityfm
Nov 21
This week on #PerfectlyImperfectParenting Mary is joined by Elaine Polek, known online as the Sane Mama, a #Matrescence and Motherhood Coach.
Eliane is working on a project collecting mothers ‘Insane Mama Moments’. She is asking mothers to share these with her anonymously, for an exhibition in Dublin.
You can send stories to: info@thesanemama.ie
And tune in to hear more this Saturday from 11:30am
#motherhood #insanemamamoments
Nov 21
This week on #perfectlyimperfectparenting Mary was delighted to be joined by Australia’s ‘Queen of Common Sense’ Maggie Dent. Maggie is the #author of 10 parenting books, is the proud #mother of four sons, and is such a strong advocate for a common-sense approach to raising children.
Not to be missed ! Tune in from 11:30am
#boymum #commonsenseparenting #children
Nov 14
On #GoodMorningDublin, this week on #PerfectlyImperfectParenting, @drmaryokane was joined by @aisling_childpsychologist from Connections Child Psychology to discuss the growing impact of smartphones on children and young people.
They explored how early exposure to screens can affect a baby’s development, attention span, and social skills and what parents can do to help create healthier habits in a digital world.
If you want to hear this show in full, check out Perfectly Imperfect Parenting on Mixcloud and Spotify!
@celebrantlovejoy speaks with Brendan Owens from @researchireland about Science Week 2025, celebrating 30 years of inspiring curiosity and discovery! With the theme “Then. Today. Tomorrow.”, Science Week runs from 9–16 November, featuring 14 festivals, hundreds of events nationwide, and showcase celebrations in Dublin and Cork. Tune in from 10am!
#parenting #theinfernaldevices #scienceweek
Nov 9
Is your child asking for a phone this Christmas ? Well, this episode of #PerfectlyImperfectParenting is a worth a listen !
Mary was joined by Aisling O’Connor a Parenting and Child Psychologist based in Sligo. She is passionate about highlighting the dangers of the #online world and joined Mary to chat about what we should know before giving our children #phones, and some of the challenges our children can face online.
Tune in this Saturday from 11:30am
#childpsychologist #parentingpsychologist
Nov 7
📚Tune into #AllAboutBooks on tuesday with Katy Conneely from 12:30pm and don’t forget to send in your books for The Christmas Children’s Bookshow with @drmaryokane from #PerfectlyImperfectParenting 🩷Deadline is November 10th and you can send your books into…
Christmas Book Show,
Dublin City Fm,
Arran St W,
Smithfield,
Dublin,
D07K271
#christmaschildrensbookshow #irishbooks #authors #childrensbook
Nov 4
This week on #perfectlyimperfectparenting Mary was joined by Edana Barrett, a psychotherapist working with Hope House Treatment Centre in Foxford.
Edana joined Mary to talk about the impact that loss had on her life, her decision to continue her studies while grieving, and her message for others who are struggling with re-finding their place in life after loss. Her story is an inspiration to us all.
Tune in this Saturday from 11:30am
#psychotherapist #grief #education
Oct 31
This week on #PerfectlyImperfectParenting Mary was joined by Cathy O’Byrne, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist.
They chat about positive attachments with your children and the Circle of Security, but it turned into a lovely chat about good enough parenting, rupture and repair, and being less harsh on ourselves.
Tune in this Saturday from 11:30am
#goodenoughparenting #childpsychotherapist #adolescentpsychiatrist #circleofsecurityparenting
Oct 24
This week on #PerfectlyImperfectParenting Mary was joined in studio by Debbie Cullinane, Child & Adolescent #Psychotherapist, play #therapist and former primary school teacher.
Debbie joined Mary to talk about how to support children and teens with sensory processing difficulties.
Tune in this Saturday from 11:30am
#primaryschoolteacher #playtherapy
Oct 17
This week on #PerfectlyImperfectParenting Mary was joined in studio by Aoife Lee. Aoife is a parent coach, and has worked in the field of parenting for the last 20 years. She joined Mary to chat about balancing our home and our working lives.
If you have experiences #burnout, overwhelm, or struggle to manage your workload and personal life, this is the show for you!
11:30 am this Saturday, don’t miss it.
#parentcoach #worklife
Oct 10
You May Also Like
The Green Room
Presented by Eibhlin, Ken, Megan & Shannen
Society faces an increasingly uncertain future - climate change, biodiversity loss, extreme pollution, rising poverty and inequality - these are the challenges we collectively face. In response to our challenges we need new thinking and vision. The Green Room will be a space for creative conversation in a time of disruption, transition and transformation.
close
The Astronomy Show
Presented by Ben Emmett & John Dickson
Join Ben Emmett and John Dickson live every Tuesday at 8pm for The Astronomy Show, Ireland's only dedicated astronomy programme. Ben and John present the latest news stories about current and future manned and unmanned space missions, launches, astronauts, events on the ground and the latest discoveries and cosmology theories from around the Universe. The weekly "What to see in the Sky" slot is also very popular. They also welcome any questions and comments you may have. Watch out for special guests and competitions too.
close
Talk Travel
Presented by Melanie May
Join award-winning travel journalist Melanie May every Friday at 1.30pm for Talk Travel. We cover anything and everything to do with travel. Listen to interviews about holidays to unusual destinations, city breaks, and more. You'll also get great advice about airlines, travel insurance, etc. and advice from tourist offices around the world, telling us about their country!
close
Demystified
Presented by Dr. Waseem Akhtar
Embark on a journey of discovery with Dr. Waseem Akhtar as he unravels the mysteries of science, technology, and a wide range of other fascinating fields. Demystified will break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand pieces, making even the most intricate topics accessible to everyone.
close
Conscious Living
Presented by Liz Dillon
Conscious Living is a deliberate and thought-out life. It entails observing your reactions to people and situations. Are your reactions a result of the downloads from your childhood? Are you living your life through someone else’s lens? Liz chats to people about their life path and the experiences that were the catalyst for change. She explores how we parent. Are we repeating old patterns of parenting? Awareness is the key. Liz is the author of Taking Flight- The Caged Bird, and she has co-authored We Summit Together.
close
All About Books
Presented by Katy Conneely
"All About Books" with Katy Conneely is your literary guide to the latest must-read titles and timeless classics. Each week, Katy brings you insightful conversations with renowned authors, booksellers, publishers, and reviewers. From emerging voices to beloved storytellers, this show covers the full spectrum of the literary world. Whether you're looking for your next page-turner or curious about the craft of writing, tune in to explore the stories that are shaping our world of literature.
close