Cooking up a happy blended family is like a slow burning casserole not a quick fix smoothie!

Stepfamilies have a bad image. Think of Snow White’s jealous stepmother or Cinderella’s ugly sisters or at the other end of the spectrum, picture the unrealistically positive stepfamily, such as the Brady Bunch. But real life is more complicated that either of those blended family models and children have to come to […]
How to Give Your Child the Gift of Self Esteem

The most important gift you can give your child is the gift of self esteem. Self-esteem is how you rate yourself deep down. It is a belief and a confidence in your own ability and value. It’s a gentle knowing that: you like yourself. you think you’re a good human being. you deserve love. […]
How Failing Forward Will Make You A Great Parent

One of my favourite parenting stories is about a famous research scientist who made several important medical breakthroughs. He was asked by a journalist why he was so successful and he told the story of a very early lesson he learnt from his Mum when he dropped a carton of milk in the kitchen. Instead […]
50 years from now it won’t matter….. Embracing What Truly Counts

I’m honoured to be featured as the Luminary today at http://InspireMeToday.com. Get inspired by me today at http://InspireMeToday.com & I hope you enjoy my 500 words of wisdom! “If I could share 500 words to inspire, this is the important wisdom I’d want to pass along to others… For me, there’s more to life than […]
One Starfish at a Time: Why Small Actions Matter in Parenting.

Here is one of my very favourite stories from my never ending notebook and everlasting coloured pencil. The Starfish Story One day, as I was walking along a beautiful stretch of beach, the waves gently lapping at the shore, I noticed a young boy in the distance. He was bending down, picking something […]
The Sue Atkins Wednesday Story: Failing Forward

Here’s your Wednesday story from my never ending notebook and everlasting coloured pencil. Failing Forward “You can never learn less, you can only learn more. The reason I know so much is because I have made so many mistakes” ~ Buckminster Fuller – Mathematician and Philosopher who never graduated from University but received 46 honorary […]
The Sue Atkins Wednesday Story

Here’s a story from my never ending notebook and everlasting coloured pencil The Lost Horse A horse with no identifying marks wandered into a farmyard. The farmer’s young son said he’d take the responsibility for returning the horse to its owner. The boy mounted the horse, urged it towards the road and let it […]
“GUILT – The “BIG G” and gremlin of parenting !

I’m writing out the marketing materials for some talks I’ll be giving in London to businesses called “Lunch and Learn” bite sized talks for 45 minutes on a wide range of topics as parenting is such a vast subject isn’t it, and one of the many that I cover is, “GUILT – The “BIG […]
Coping With Christmas Stress

Christmas, although a time of great joy and celebration, can also be the most stressful of times for even the best of parents, with the family home chaotic and often besieged by visitors. Throw into the mix over excited children who have weeks to sit around at home and the situation can quickly spiral out […]
Honouring the Past, Embracing the Present: Elderly Parent Appreciation
I took my Auntie Betty out on Tuesday as she had a stroke last November and doesn’t go very far these days. We went for a stroll in Dulwich Park and had lunch in the Pavilion Café. It was special. I used to play with my cousins on Sunday afternoons in Dulwich Park with my […]
The Sue Atkins Gift Guide: Parenting Made Easy!

Sue’s Alternative to the ‘Naughty Step’ The ‘Easy Peasy – Lemon Squeezy Button’ is suitable for kids of all ages & allows you to record and playback 40 seconds of yourself saying ‘That was Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy’ via the built-in microphone and speaker – to motivate & encourage your child to brush […]
Quick Ways to STOP Guilt – The Biggest Gremlin of Parenting!

I’m writing my notes for a Zoom business talk for a global business around “Lunch and Learn” bite sized talks for 45 minutes on a wide range of topics. Parenting is such a vast subject isn’t it, and one of the many topics that I cover is, “GUILT – The “BIG G” and gremlin of […]
How many Saturdays have you got left ?

I enjoy Saturday morning. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to be up and writing, or maybe it’s the fun of knowing the kids are around all day. Either way, I really enjoy the first few hours of a Saturday morning, especially in the summer when the warmth of the […]
Navigating Through Divorce Positively

“One day at a time – this is enough.” ~ Ida Scott Taylor 1820-1915, Author Click here to buy The Divorce Journal for Kids Navigating through Divorce Positively A bad marriage can make parenting and life in general stressful. The loss of the family structure can be very upsetting and distressing for everyone involved […]
Parenting Hacks | Fear of The Doctors Part 1 ?⚕️| Disney Junior UK with Sue Atkins, Simon Hooper, aka Father of Daughters & Helen Skelton

We all know that going to see the doctor or dentist can sometimes be a scary experience for little ones who don’t know what to expect. So it’s important that parents help to put them at ease, whether that’s through role play, reading books together or watching TV shows like Doc McStuffins. How do you […]