Are you able to graciously accept a “no”, or would you be cross and upset about it? I find it hard to say no to a lot of the opportunities in my life. The big opportunities that are life-changing, I pray about and give some thought to before saying yes. But the little decisions here and there of being asked to do this and whether I’d like to do that, I ...

I consider myself an expert in road tripping with small kids — having survived numerous flights and 2 car trips to Broken Hill of 18 hours each way. Yes, that’s right, 18 hours! First time with a 10-month-old; the second time with a 2-year-old and 7-month-old. It wasn’t pretty. So, here’s what I now know… Lesson 1. Be prepared Lesson 2. Be prepared Lesson 3. Be prepared Since Lessons 1, 2 ...

There is only one of you in the whole world. Take the opportunity to hone your talents and grow where you are planted. I have always believed God places the right people at the right time in your life to counsel you and offer guidance and encouragement when you need it. Lately, I’ve been having a few chance encounters and friendships that have been placed in my life at the right ...

If we don’t let our children know they are beautiful, handsome and attractive, they will look for affirmation elsewhere. Build up your child’s positive body image and self-confidence. “Don’t tell your daughter she is beautiful,” says Jo Swinson, a female Minister in the UK. She would prefer children be praised for “completing tasks or their ability to be inquisitive” rather than “for wearing a nice outfit” as she believes this is ...

As parents, friendship and community support are essential for getting through the ups and downs of parenting. My personal Facebook newsfeed has been filled with pictures of mums giving Tough Mudder a go. I look at the pictures of mud and shudder because I know that it’s not something I want to do. But I have learned never to say never, because whenever I say never, I find myself a year ...

With the tumult of boisterous offspring, sometimes the quiet moments of recuperation are found nearer to home. Who needs a holiday? In my life BC (Before Children), my idea of complete relaxation was luxuriating beside a pool on a tropical island, reading a book, or ordering room service and getting up only to go to the bathroom. Sigh… good times. Nowadays, the idea of going away is exhausting! Packing for four ...

Celebrating your birthday as a parent is not quite the same as in pre-parent life, but it sure is a barrel of fun with your munchkins! I had a great birthday. I didn’t have any expectations, but I did make hints about possible things I’d like to do on the day, and those hints were heard. Morning Sunshine The morning started with two eager faces, wanting to wake me up so ...

How do you react when your child spews all over your outfit for the day? What is beauty, really? Does it go beyond appearances? I know you’ve been there: all dressed up, ready to walk out the door, when bub throws up all down your front. Do I: A. Drop everything, change my outfit and risk being characteristically late? Or B. Wipe myself off and keep walking? I chose B. And ...

Basic pointers on how to juggle working from home while parenting your children. Flexibility is key. Most people started working from home with kids during the pandemic and set up a home office of some sort. I’ve worked from home for many years, and most of the time it’s been with kids at home. If you’re in self-isolation, here are my tips on how to navigate working from home. 1. Create ...

I finally got it all together. Then I forgot where I put it. In my life BC (before children), I had a career based around my impeccable attention to detail. Writing, proofing, editing. Nothing gave me greater pleasure than spotting a typo at 50 paces. I don’t know whether it’s the sleep deprivation, the perpetual noise or the multitude of extra tasks demanding my attention these days but lately… and I’m ...

Parenting is a wonderful but also very difficult enterprise. Make sure to take time out for yourself to rest and recuperate from the constant demands. Also, don’t be afraid to seek professional support. Ask for help when you need it — this will help you and your family flourish. Being a mum is the best job in the world! Nurturing and growing our precious offspring, watching with pride and humility as ...

When you are juggling family and work responsibilities at full capacity, is there still room for giving back to your community? Once a month, on a Sunday afternoon, we head out to our ‘connect group’ as part of our church. Connect Group is a group of families that meet together to hang out, talk about life, pray for each other and be a support to each other during a busy season ...

Even when you are overwhelmed by unforeseen messes, it is possible to choose to laugh at the situation and carry on. It always happens when you’re at your most tired and looking after the kids by yourself. One or multiple children engage in a maddening act that would be enough to make a grown man cry. This happened to me yesterday. It was the end of a very busy patch with ...

On the weekend I headed to see the movie Bad Moms with a group of school mums whom I just love hanging out with and getting to know. Let’s be honest, there was bad language and themes that were definitely for adult eyes only. But the movie pointed out something that all of us mums need to know — we don’t really have it all together, no matter what type of ...

If you’re struggling to cope with the graphic details and images you’re exposed to in the media (cyclones, acts of terrorism and violence), imagine what must be going through the minds of your children. Children contend with these images according to their age and development. Little ones will often mix what is real with make-believe, so they aren’t really aware of the “disaster”, but they can see that people are upset ...

Be prepared for the absolute mess which your children can make while growing up. At the same time, they will fill your home with joy. Kids. They are amazing creatures whom you love to the moon and back, but they can frustrate the heck out of you. And none of this frustration is EVER put as a warning in the parenting books. What To Expect When You’re Expecting and Knocked Up ...

Taking the kids anywhere is always an adventure — a swim in the pool can give rise to a whole other level of memorable moments! Heading to the pool with three kids in tow is no relaxing feat. Gone are the days of taking a book to the pool and lazing back on the lounge for some uninterrupted reading time. It’s a lot different these days. In fact, at times it’s ...

To prevent sunburn now and skin cancer later in life, make sure your children abide by the easy steps to be SunSmart. Sandwich? Check. Water bottle? Check. A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses — to help your kids stay SunSmart? They should definitely be instant ‘checks’ when packing the schoolbag daily! Here in Queensland, we have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. High levels of sun exposure in childhood increase ...

There are moments when one can feel totally overwhelmed by the stresses of parenting, but take a deep breath — these moments pass. When I feel overwhelmed by my family and life in general, I like to watch a movie that reminds me I much prefer my crazy than someone else’s. I love watching Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day. I even like watching Cheaper by the ...

With the young becoming quickly addicted to digital technology and social media, parents need to be aware and prepared for disciplining and guiding their children in the use of the internet. Whether we like it or not, you and I are pioneers in this brave new world of parenting in cyberspace. Answering questions our parents never had to deal with, like: is my child too young to have a Twitter account? ...