I am a Mum to two children who have made their first communion. I have to say I was very naive when it came to my first daughter’s big day but had learned the ropes by the time my 2nd daughter was making hers.

So whether you are hosting your 1st First Holy Communion or your 5th I am hoping you will find some new tips and wisdom below!

We hope your child has a wonderful day as it really is one of life’s truly memorable family occasions.

#1. You feel ridiculous calling bouncy castle companies in October as soon as you have the date and then realise that you can’t actually get the one you want.

#2. It’s back to Mass time. When did the “I Believe” change?

#3. Or you can no longer get your usual seat at Mass as the ‘In Memory’ program kicks in and the numbers in the congregation swell every 4 weeks.

#4. Your youngest child spends all day on your knee researching First Communion information with you. Everything from budgeting to communion pinatas!

#5. Your stress levels hit the roof mid January once you realise that all the nice outfits/dresses are sold out, and that the super organised parents bought theirs in October!

#6. You realise the whole family needs new outfits too which means the dreaded shopping trip with all the kids in tow.

#7. You wonder whether to buy the First Communion dress / suit / shoes early or will your child grow out of it before May, or if you buy it too big, will they grow into by May?

#8. Panic because you haven’t booked a bouncy castle yet and it’s the end of January. Why didn’t anyone tell you that you have to get in early?

#9. You envy the parents of children who wear their school uniform for First Communion and wonder why you ever argued against that at the last PTA meeting.

#10. You start repeating the line ‘It’s not about the presents/money you are going to get, it’s about you and God’

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#11. First Confession looms and your child won’t share their sins, so you begin to panic about what the priest will hear about you and your family.

#12. You become an avid weather watcher to see what the big day will be like. It may be time to break out the Child of Prague!

#13. You pay way over the odds to get a First Communion cake made, because “everyone else will be having one.” (Don’t worry if you forgot, you could also make your own with these easy Communion cake ideas)

#14. You feel under pressure to book your daughter into the hairdresser for an upstyle, which if you’re lucky, will last just about the length of the ceremony! Need some inspiration? Check out these stunning Communion hairstyles.

#15. You feel under pressure to buy yourself a “nice dress” for the day – what is wrong with all the other lovely dresses you have in your wardrobe?!

#16. All the extended family assume they’re invited to your house for a mega nosh-up and party after the ceremony, without you ever having actually asked them.

#17. You end up painting, getting the garden done and doing house renovations unnecessarily, because everyone will be descending on your house for the aforementioned party! On the plus side the house will look great for the Summer!

#18. At the 11th hour you decide you no longer want a party at home but can’t get a booking anywhere local, even by name dropping or bribery.

#19. You have booked early and got the venue of your choice but now none of the extended family can tell you whether they will be attending or not and the venue are looking for final numbers.

#20. You actually fork out real money to buy your daughter a pair of white gloves to wear for 30 minutes (if you’re lucky) in April and May when she will barely put on gloves when it’s -5C outside!

#21. You have to try and explain to everyone why they need to get to the church an hour earlier than the stated time so you all get a seat. Or try and explain to them why they can’t come to the church as there simply won’t be room for them. And you get really annoyed when other parents ‘hold seats’ for family members!

#22. When you have to resort to bribery to get your football mad child into a suit or dress.

#23. …..And promise they can have another outfit that can be worn as soon as they come home from the church.

#24. You have smugly booked the bouncy castle a year in advance and the kids WILL use the darn thing, no matter what the weather on the day.

#25. You wonder how your Mum got through 4+ of these days!

#26. You find the whole thing more stressful than your wedding day.

#27. Your Mum is no longer talking to you as you have not invited half the extended family. Whose special day is this anyway?

#28. You get the date for Confirmation and realise that you have two children in two different churches at the same time on the same day! Why can’t schools talk to each other? (this is a true story)

#29. Your child’s bank balance is healthier than yours.

#30. You wake up the morning after the First Communion and realise it was worth all the stress and your child had a lovely day. And you have a new found respect for their class teacher, who managed to get every child involved and singing in tune (well most of the time anyway!)