What is your non-negotiable?  It is helpful to know what stresses you, being self-aware in knowing your vulnerabilities. What are the top 3 things that stress you?  kids school work  morning or bedtime routines teenagers: group of friends, sense of entitlement, technology battles, mood altering substances, school refusal/disengagement, kids poor choices, swearing, lying, disrespect, ignoring requests or not following through. finances  marriage, relationships boss, colleagues, peers work Zero...

Today, let's look at something that's often overlooked in the demands and busyness of our lives – holding space for ourselves. It's an intimate practice to be seen, heard, known, and understood.  Instead of looking or waiting to have this from someone else, we’re doing it for ourselves, Now, what does it mean to hold space for yourself? Well, it's all about creating a safe and judgment-free zone where you can fully be yourself. It's like giving your own heart a big, warm hug. Here's how you...

I've been reminded lately about something we often overlook in our fast-paced lives: our energy levels. It's interesting how they impact our daily experiences and overall well-being. Let me share my thoughts on why it's so crucial to understand and recognise our energy levels. You know, when I'm in tune with my energy levels, it's like having a personal energy gauge. I've noticed that it makes a massive difference in how I navigate my day-to-day routines. When my energy is high, I'm more...

I love the relaxed pace of School holidays, slowing down to enjoy greater connection, creativity, adventure, and exercise with my kids. This time also allows me to explore and thoughtfully reflect on tricky conversations that may be needed in their particular season. Life with children has a combination of the good, the happy, the tricky, and the messy times. Sometimes parenting can be a roller-coaster ride, and for that reason, it's vitally important that we look after ourselves, attend to...

A fortnight ago, we planned to go to the Viking exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, and after reading the reviews and chatting with 2 families we decided to alter our course. As we entered the fringes of the city, my son spotted an eagle painted on a wall, and this led him to express his interest in street art and inquired if we could go around Melbourne and explore the varied impressions and creativity of the city's  street art. As we googled street art locations, it was interesting to...

What are you needing as parents? What are you wanting or hoping to see change or develop or enhanced for you and your family. What are the challenges in the year ahead? I am navigating through a son repeating year 4 and supporting him to own and solve his problems and challenges in order to continue to grow in resilience and responsibility. My teenage girl is starting year 7, and I know the year will be filled with many challenges, in upgrading my skills to be more consultative through the...

Whose Problem, Is it? Confession As a mother, I was well entrenched in doing the thinking, (instructing/lecturing) for and on behalf of my kids, especially when there was a problem. On many occasions, I would jump in and rescue them at school, home or anywhere else. This made life tricky and drained my energy levels as I navigated through the tedious task of solving my kid’s problems. The narrative sounded like: What did they say, what did you say? I think you should……., or You shouldn't…. I’m...

A fortnight ago, we planned to go to the Viking exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, after reading the reviews and chatting with 2 families we decided to alter our course. As we entered the fringes of the city, my son spotted an eagle painted on a wall, which led him to express his interest in street art and inquired if we could go around Melbourne and explore the varied impressions and creativity of the city's  street art. As we googled street art locations, it was interesting to discover that...

Draining Energy Levels I love the relaxed pace of School holidays, slowing down to enjoy greater connection, creativity, adventure, and exercise with my kids. This time also allows me to explore and thoughtfully reflect on  tricky conversations that may be needed in their particular season. Life with children has a combination of the good, the happy, the tricky and the messy times. Sometimes parenting can be a roller-coaster ride, and for that reason it's vitally important that we look after...

The Gift of Empathy-Begins with You Empathy Opens the Heart and Mind to Learning while Frustration and Anger Builds a Wall of Defence. Love and LogicTM Self-empathy is the act of giving yourself empathy, listening to your own feelings and unmet needs with compassion and understanding, in order to embrace peace, new strength and wisdom for true connection with yourself and others. During the school holidays I had another  first hand experience of the ambivalence-  the tension and the gift, of...

Recently I wrote about the power of using choices especially with resistant and strong-willed children. What do we do when our child is resistant to our choices or doesn’t follow through. It can be really annoying when your child is continually forgetting or refusing to do what is expected or requested. Quite often we can resort to what we experienced, by either giving in and reluctantly doing it ourselves, or threats, warnings, punishment, frustration and or anger. My son and daughter became...

Over the School holidays I caught up with a friend. As we were sharing our parenting journey our teenage girls decided to join us. My friend’s daughter queried what’s strong-willed, and am I strong –willed. The reply from her mother was careful and sensitive as my daughter was listening tentatively. Much to our surprise my daughter boomed in with” It’s my way or the Highway” LOL. This week my daughter has been home sick from school, I shared that today I am creating some space for me to write...

Do you have a child that likes to dominate or take control, where other siblings feel victimised or regularly not valued? It’s tough to watch our children experience this treatment or behaviour. As a parent, we experience the tension of struggling with our emotions and keeping us under control whilst resisting the urge to jump in and solve the problem. Allowing our children to own and solve their problems builds resilience and increases their self- esteem. When your child is complaining about...

For some, holidays can be wonderful occasions to connect, relax and have some family adventures, and for others it can bring a sense of dread, or frustration with the intervals of sibling rivalry. The constant strain of conflict can easily bring us undone, and can take the fun out of parenting. This was true of me, I defaulted to the rant, rave, and rescue cycle, only to discover that I felt powerless to bring about effective, lasting change. As parents, it is so easy to give and give, even to...