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(From Irish Independent)
* Helena Close, mum to Tara (24), Emmet (16), Niamh (10) and Sadhbh (7), says she started off as a pretty perfect mum. But the more kids she had, the more she relaxed.
"When Tara was small I would do anything she asked. We did the round of ballet, horse riding - whatever she wanted.
"Sadhbh would have to be the next Margot Fonteyn before I would take her to ballet lessons.
"With Tara, I read all the parenting books; I breastfed and was consciously hands on. Everything was organic and all her toys were educational. She was this precious little hothouse flower."
That had changed by the time Sadhbh came along.
"She was this good, quiet baby but that was dangerous because you could forget she was around. Once, in France, I packed the car and started leaving without her. And another time I did forget one of the children. We had driven for 10 minutes before we realised and went back to find this poor abandoned child in the car park."