7 Tips For Trauma-Free Hair Brushing
I thought I had pretty realistic expectations of dealing with a little girl’s hair. After all, I was a little girl once and I can vividly recall sitting on a kitchen stool screaming bloody murder as my mother brushed my hair. Fast forward 30 years or so and I find myself re-enacting this exact scenario […]
What Every Child Needs To Know Before High School
My son starts high school next year and, at the risk of sounding dramatic, it feels like I’m sending a lamb to the slaughter. I know “10 is the new 13” but even now at the age of 12, they still seem so young and innocent. Well, at least my son does. It’s such […]
Are You A Research-Guided Parent or A Gut-Feeling Parent?
Parents often joke about how there is no manual for parenting, that we are thrown in the deep end when our child is born. But this statement, while amusing, is only partly true. Modern parents are very lucky to have a wealth of parenting and child development research at our fingertips. There are expert opinions […]
This Is How Stressed Your Mess Is Really Making You
Decluttered and minimalist living is all the rage these days. Marie Kondo’s Netflix series is just the tip of the very messy iceberg. It’s a billion dollar industry, with books, blogs, businesses and even TV shows, all based around having less stuff. And with good reason – the touted benefits are many and there is […]
5 Tips To Remove Slime Stains From Around The House
Call me a killjoy, but I have been avoiding the slime craze at all costs in my house. The number one reason? The mess. The idea of having to remove slime makes me shudder. I’m not the world’s most houseproud mum but I hate things that add unnecessarily to the chaotic and messy existence that […]
A Creative Way To Teach Your Kids About Big Emotions
Dealing with big emotions like anger, frustration, sadness and even excitement, is hard enough for adults, let alone kids. “Mama, you are making me sad!” Miss 4 exclaimed stomping her foot. “I think you feel frustrated, not sad.” “What is frustrated?” Frustration is one of the big emotions you feel a LOT at age four. […]
Does Your Child Suffer From After-School Restraint Collapse?
Some kids are more susceptible to after-school restraint collapse than others. I sat in the classroom facing the teacher, anticipating the worst. Lately at home Mr 9’s behaviour had been a challenge, to say the very least. Even though I hadn’t heard any bad reports from the school, I wasn’t expecting what came out of […]
What To Expect From Your Twelve Year Old
As they stand on the precipice of becoming official teenagers, this can be a challenging time for the twelve year old and their parents. Physical/Health Your twelve year old child will continue to experience growth spurts and may start developing adolescent sleeping patterns. Children at this age need on average 10 hours sleep. Girls: For […]
To The Mum Who Feels Like She’s Always Dropping The Ball
It’s not easy feeling like you’re always dropping the ball. But mums do it all the time and it isn’t the end of the world. Matter of fact, it might actually be helping our kids. To the mum who missed soccer sign-on, To the mum who didn’t get the excursion permission slip returned in time, […]
5 Things I Want My Tween Sons To Know Before They Become Teenagers
My tween sons are on the brink of adolescence. They are changing. We can both see it and neither of us is overly happy about it. My eldest son is such a gentle soul, who doesn’t like change. He needs constant guidance and reassurance as the hormones rage through his body and he battles with […]