Articles
RSS FeedSchools Role in Restoring Calm
A grade seven student arrives home looking sad. Her mother asks what’s wrong, but is told “nothing’s the matter”. Later, the child refuses supper, saying that she has a stomach ache. After her daughter has gone to bed, the mom receives a phone call from her daughter’s friend’s mom. She learns that both of their… Read more
“Make your bed!”
You wonder why something that requires as little physical effort as lifting, shaking and smoothing out a duvet cover would warrant as much nagging effort on your part every morning. Yet each day you play out the same tired old scenario. You walk past your child’s bedroom while he or she is downstairs eating breakfast… Read more
“You’re Not the Boss of Me!”
A five year old stands, arms folded across her chest, in the centre of the living room. Its 8:30pm and she’s been told that it’s time to turn the television off and get ready for bed. “You’re not the boss of me,” she responds indignantly. Fast forward eight years and she is now twelve. One… Read more
Confessions from a bubble wrapping mother
Ok. I admit to bubble wrapping my kids. But in my defense, I also work really hard at considering how much of me saying “no” is fuelled by separation anxiety versus what makes logical sense. When I was conducting research for my first book, “Am I a normal parent?” I asked parents whether they worried… Read more
A fresh start for 2012 – letting go of some mothering responsibilities
A new year is a great excuse for starting fresh. My fresh start for 2012 is to begin the process of letting go of some of my mothering responsibilities. Now that my children are older (12 and twenty) and fully capable of making their own beds, for example, or bringing their laundry hampers into the… Read more
Helping your child develop healthy self esteem
When Chloe, my twelve year old daughter was about four, she stood in front of her full length mirror admiring her reflection. When she saw me standing in the doorway, she smiled and said, “I love myself.” My heart was filled to overflowing as I heard her expression of self love and I thought about… Read more
Modelling appreciation for things we have
If “The best things in life aren’t things” as the plaque (ironically, another “thing”) on my desk reminds me, then why do I have so many things? Why do my children have so many things and why do I continue to buy things? I’m sure If’m not alone in asking these questions. Especially at this… Read more
Frazzled to Festive
