A Child’s Insight My eldest child and I have a tumultuous relationship. We clash. Constantly. He doesn’t listen, can’t follow multiple instructions, loves mess and organisation is his least best skill. He’s a procrastinator, a ‘do as little as possible’ kinda kid, and he feels deeply. He’s me. He looks like me, thinks like his…
School Holidays School holidays can be hard. Parenting is challenging when care isn’t shared. Co-parenting also presents difficulties but for different reasons, making it tough for both. If you are sharing the school holidays with your ex-spouse, I’m going to sound like a broken record, but please focus on your children and how…
Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is a special day for Mums everywhere. It’s an opportunity to get presents, brekkie in bed and a day together doing something fun with the kids. It’s also a time to foster in children the attributes of generosity and gratefulness. It’s a time to acknowledge everything mothers do. An occasion…
Who’s problem is it anyway? Early school aged children are invited to lots of birthday parties. It’s a time when firm friendships have not yet been made and often the entire class is invited to celebrate this exciting milestone. Whether it’s an expensive play centre event, a lavish party or a low-key backyard gathering,…
How much does mediation cost? Just about every time someone contacts me for mediation, their first question is “how much will it cost?”. Well, to start, there’s the obvious – time and money. How much money and time you need to spend will depend on which mediator you choose. Time It costs you as…
What is a Contravention Application? Something I’m often asked, is “how do CONTRAVENTION Applications work?”. The families I support are often in the midst of arguments, tantrums, stand-off’s and sometimes parental alienation. Many families see this co-parenting stuff as a high stakes game. It’s all about competing, comparison, owndership, one-up-manship, tit-for-tat and pick-up-your-game. Some…
Just Separate? What Now? 1. Breathe This might seem logical, after all we need oxygen to survive, but sometimes we can get so caught up in the emotion and the stress, that just taking a moment to breathe in deeply, hold it for a couple of seconds with your eyes closed, and breathing out,…
Father’s Day Every year it rolls around – Fathers Day. It’s a day to thank our Dad for the great job he did in supporting us to be the amazing person we are. But what if you don’t think your Dad did a great job? Or what if you think the job your children’s Dad…