Do the two things go together? Sometimes. Unfortunately anxiety or stress can be contagious. A 2019 study indicated that children of parents with anxiety or depression were significantly more likely to have it. Children are wired to pick up subtle signs of safety or danger from us. If we are […]
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” Carol Dweck. I delivered a talk recently to […]
Did you know that pregnancy actually alters the structure of your brain? These changes increase your capacity for both empathy and anxiety. This means that when your child cries or moans it is almost physically painful sometimes. It might also explain why I start blubbing every time I watch children […]
Take the 5 minute challenge! Let go of the mum or dad guilt! Research has shown that it is quality rather than quantity of time with our children which matters. Try this: Take out a timer and set it for five minutes. The task is to give your child your […]
I remember stopping at a bakery with my son when he was a toddler. Looking down at his blond curly hair I had a flash of realisation about how powerless he was and how dependent on me. I understood I needed to carefully hold the responsibility I had towards him. […]
I recently said to my 13 year old son, “I’m so sorry you had to watch me go through such a difficult breakup”. I was moved by his reply, “It’s ok, you’ve shown me that when difficult things happen it’s possible to overcome them”. His response is actually backed up […]
Lonely Within The Mother I once asked a good friend and mother of two young children how she was doing. Her answer surprised me a little. I’m a bit depressed but I think that’s normal for parents in our culture. Both her and her partner worked in order to cover […]
When is it ok to set limits? The short answer is, when not doing so is likely to cause harm. Parenting can feel like a delicate balancing act, between being too loose and “anything goes” and keeping things tightly controlled like an angry general. Sometimes one style can lead to […]
I am guessing that if you are reading this at least a bit of you is concerned…. …concerned perhaps that your teen is spending their time focused on a small screen and it is getting harder to get their attention. Perhaps you are worried that much of their outside of […]
It is normal for toddlers to go through a phase where they are fussy about food. It often goes along with a healthy desire to assert their independence from us at around 18 and 24 months. If extremely selective or restricted eating carries on for an extended period of time […]
