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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
How to help your kids navigate fake news and misinformation online. Some simple tips.

Being able to identify the trustworthiness of information is an important concern for everyone. Yet the sheer volume of material online and the speed at which it travels has made this an increasingly challenging task. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok provide a loudspeaker to anyone who can attract followers, no matter what their […]
Sue Atkins ‘Parental Wellbeing & Mental Health’ Webinar

Children’s wellbeing is closely bound to their parents’ wellbeing & that really important person is YOU. As parents whether you are a single parent, a mum, dad or carer we all want to do what’s best to keep our children safe, fit and well. However, it can be easy to forget about our own […]
Is it time to change the word ‘Broken’ Family ?

I was speaking on BBC radio about a new piece of research around mental health and stepfamilies. What struck me as unhelpful & laden with negativity is the word ‘BROKEN’ to describe parents who are divorced, separated or apart. Broken implies a failure, broken implies damaged, no longer able to work, something destroyed & dysfunctional but […]
Practical Tips on How to RESPOND Rather Than REACT. My Pause Button Technique

Much of our lives is spent in reaction to others and to events around us. The problem is that these reactions might not always be the best course of action, and as a result, they can make our children, ourselves and those around us unhappy, and can make things worse for everyone & often […]
Getting your kids to help around the house – made easy of course!

I’m speaking on BBC Radio Kent about the importance of giving your kids chores to do in the house. I believe it makes them feel part of the family team, it teaches them independence and gives them the feeling of competence and capability. If it feels like you are the one bearing the brunt of […]
Understanding The Stepfamily Cycle.

The Stepfamily Cycle I have been working with a lovely family who are finding it hard to adjust to the changes that blending two families together brings. I always remind my clients that bringing together 2 separate families is a process and not an event, and it takes time and flexibility on everyone’s behalf […]