When a child’s emotions escalate, it’s natural to want to step in and fix things immediately. However, understanding the underlying mechanisms of overwhelm can provide clarity and guide you in supporting your child through these challenging moments.

As a parent, one needs to be ready to face all kinds of challenges. Like receiving a serious or sudden news regarding your child’s health, which can be destabilising in many ways. So, here’s a quick checklist of how you can responsibly handle your child’s health crisis and care for them without compromising your own emotional and mental well-being.

Trying to convince a child that they should not be afraid does not ease anxiety, but rather continues to fuel it. So, if you shouldn’t ease your child’s anxiety in this way, what can you do to support your child with their worries and fears through this season?

Being a working parent can seem like an uphill battle at times, with very little scope of truly attaining a work-life balance essential for your mental health. Here are some simple yet effective ways to minimize your mental load and optimize your role both as a parent and a professional

The isolation and limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic were an adjustment for us all, but it truly transformed the experience of motherhood for expecting and new mothers. Here are a few suggestions to ease your maternal journey during similar troublesome periods.

As we move towards a more inclusive world, parents need to equip themselves with the appropriate information and knowledge about LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. This National Coming Out Day, learn about what you can do to foster a conducive and safe environment for your child who identifies as LGBTQIA+ and discloses about the same to you.

The true potential of play materializes when parents actively participate in these activities with their children. Parental engagement in play not only fortifies the parent-child connection but also equips parents with a deeper understanding of their child's unique needs and interests. It enables parents to serve as role models for fundamental values and behaviours, including cooperation and effective communication, laying the foundation for a child's future relationships and overall well-being.

Grandparenting and parenting in tandem requires a certain skill set that no one ever talks about directly. There is a dance between being a support to your children while advocating for your grandchildren’s best.

If you do grandparenting well, you can become a safe and loving environment where these kids who are related to you by blood know that they are accepted and safe within your house and your presence.

There’s part of you that doesn’t want summer to end – because you know full well the mundane lunch making will soon be upon you. And (!) there’s a part of you that could really do with a little (maybe a lot of) structure. You have also noticed some days you feel a little guilty or maybe disengaged. You’re not feeling as present as you’d like.

Maintaining consistent and healthy communication between the adults of the family can be difficult with constantly changing internal and external factors. Read on to know about strengthening your familial ties by communicating better.

When you think about your parent-self, being curious about your child’s attachment style can be really helpful. Understanding your child’s attachment style can provide some insight – a bit of a window – into how you connect, why you might feel closer to one child than the other(s), or why clashes seem to come out of nowhere.

Summertime represents all things bright and warm, allowing us unique opportunities to spend time with family in meaningful ways. Here are a few tips that can aid you in navigating summer breaks with ease as a mom, while ensuring you stay stress-free and have some fun too.

You can probably imagine that since my grandfather’s passing, Father’s Day hasn’t really felt the same for me. Even though I have found ways to honour him including taking a nature walk and lighting my grief candle, this day can feel more difficult than others without him. However, in this post, I wanted to extend a massive thank you to my Dad.

Taking some time to reflect on the fathers in my life

Father’s Day has always been a day I’ve anticipated without much emotion – you could say I was (and am!) neutral towards it. My memories and experiences are neither overwhelmingly amazing, nor terrible. Growing up, I recall this day to be full of gifting my dad with his favourites…like Pringles or Licorice Allsorts. Those snacks, to this day, remind me of my dad. (I notice a smile, even as I write those words.)

Your child is no longer a child. Your child is a full-grown human. They have a long way to go in the world of development and growth. But you are now the parent to a graduate. An adult. Today you are more of a consultant. Your child will come to you for insight, wisdom, a shoulder to cry on and sometimes even because you are a safe place to blow up in – they know you can hold space for them in this. Wow. What a privilege.

Moving into this year’s celebration of Mother’s Day I find myself surprised at how at my age I still need the affection and nurture that my mom offers. You may feel the same way when you are faced with life’s inevitable twists and turns. Or maybe when you think of a mother’s love all you feel is a pang in your heart from not ever experiencing this in your own life.

Mother’s Day brings with it such a mixture of emotions, thoughts, expectations and perhaps even triggering memories. You might notice you feel light and tingly excitement – maybe you’re even anticipating your first Mother’s Day. (If so – congratulations!!) There may be a part of you that cringes a little. You’d like the day to pass without a word, without a social media reminder, without interaction with others.

I find Mother’s Day to be a bit of an enigma to me.

As a woman, I wear many different hats when it comes to Mother’s Day. I am a daughter, mother to adult children, step-mother, mother to a teenager and a grandmother. Mother’s Day brings up a whole bunch of things for me!