Co-Parenting Over Christmas – Ideas to Help
Here are some ideas and strategies to help navigate co-parenting during the holiday season: 1. Create a Clear Plan Early Discuss in Advance: Collaboratively plan how Christmas and surrounding holidays will be shared to avoid last-minute conflicts. Alternate Holidays: Consider alternating Christmas Day each year or splitting the holiday break. Share the Day: If […]
The Dos and Don’ts of Dealing With Your In-Laws at Christmas
From Christmas to Christenings we have to learn to get along with our in-laws. I was very blessed as I got on really well with mine before my mother -in -law developed Dementia. When she first washed my kitchen floor I had to pause to ponder whether she was suggesting that I was a hopeless […]
Christmas Is Often A Catalyst For Change – How To Prepare for a Successful Separation
Christmas is a catalyst. I often find that I get many clients coming to see me after Christmas about how to separate after spending more time together at Christmas. Christmas acts as a catalyst for change and the New Year offers a new beginning for many. My article Handling Divorce Positively taken from my “Raising […]
When did expectations change around potty training and fall into the role of the Primary School Teacher & why do today’s parents find potty training so tough?
70% of British primary schoolteachers have noticed a rise in the number of 3-7-year olds wetting themselves during the school day. As a former Deputy Head and Class Teacher for 22 years I also taught 35 five-year olds in Reception but I certainly didn’t think it was my job to toilet train the children in […]
Guiding Teens in the Political Spotlight: When Dad’s the Prime Minister
Since reading the really interesting interview with Keir Starmer by Josh Glancy in the Sunday Times The Times I began to think about how I would coach Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria to help, support, nurture & navigate his children’s teenage years – as they will now very probably experience some very unusual circumstances. […]
Navigating Tech with Grandparents
Grandparents are wonderful aren’t they? But what do you do when they over indulge your kids with technology & allow them to spend too long on their devices? Here’s a few ideas to help. When approaching the issue of excessive screen time with grandparents, it’s essential to foster open communication in a non-confrontational manner. […]
The Lost Art Of Eating Together
I’ve just been interviewed by BBC Radio Sheffield about a new report suggesting that children who sit down and eat and TALK WITH their Mums and Dads have better social skills, do better at school and have better self esteem. IS THAT A SURPRISE ? Yet I heard many parents on the radio show […]
The Dance of Intimacy – Keeping The Glow With Your Partner
This week will be all about Valentine’s Day and can be a time of great romance or great pain. Many people put their children first and of course while this is necessary and honourable is it at the expense of your own relationship? I remember a great friend of my Mum and Dad’s Nuala […]
Are You Missing One of These for A Successful Relationship?
Keeping the Glow with your Partner. Although most of us desire a healthy relationship it’s surprising how many of us don’t really understand what makes love survive long term. Most of us are bombarded with images of love and sex in magazines, TV adverts, and on the radio but often they idealise, romanticise or trivialise […]
Keeping the Glow with your Partner – Permission to Criticise – Don’t hold back !
Keeping the Glow with your Partner This article gives you complete permission to let it all out – all the frustrations, resentments, anger, disappointments, annoyances and pain you feel for your partner at times. Don’t hold back – give it 110% of your energy – this is a no holds barred worksheet! This may feel […]
Keeping The Glow With Your Partner – Try Something New !
One reason why relationships get stale, go off the boil and become boring is that couples get stuck in a rut of routine and having children often takes away from the spontaneity that keeps love alive, fresh and expanding and growing. Doing the same things over and over again becomes uninteresting, tedious and sometimes depressing […]
Keeping the Glow With Your Partner – Take a Snap Shot.
No matter where you are in your relationship, it’s important and healthy to regularly check in on it from time to time to keep it fresh, keep it growing and keep it alive. By asking some simple but thought provoking questions like: Where are you? Where are they? Where is the relationship as a whole? […]
If you really loved me I wouldn’t have to ask !
Keeping the Glow with your Partner. Do you want more attention, more respect, more help with the kids, more hugs, more romance, more surprises, more time together, more intimacy, and more fun? Someone to babysit, iron the shirts, help make the dinner sometimes or hang up the towels in the bathroom? Then ask. “But I […]
Why it’s important for kids to do ‘jobs’ or ‘chores’ around the house.
I’ve just been interviewed on BBC Woman’s Hour with Anita Rani about chores, pocket money and teaching kids about working & earning. If it feels like you are the one bearing the brunt of domestic chores in your home it may be time to share the load – with your children. Giving kids […]
What to do when they say “I’m BORED!” – let the BORED JAR do the talking!
I get asked a great deal about what to do or say when the kids moan ‘I’m bored’ & I always suggest making a ‘I’m Bored Jar’ With busy weekends, summer holidays, working from home & hybrid working – it’s is the perfect time to put together yours and they are simple, quick […]