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Birthdays are a big thing in our family

It’s a time to make each person feel special and we’ve developed some rituals over the years. 

The thing that really strikes me is that whatever age they kids are, they STILL like things to be done in the same way.

Every year

I think the...

As a mum of 4 (now grown up kids) I am totally aware of the stresses around Christmas. 

We try to do too much, we constantly feel guilty that we might disappoint our kids,

We get frustrated with them and wind up losing our temper and then regretting it.

I've made all these mistakes so I want...

Parents will have probably noticed that forcing a child to share, doesn’t get very far.

They will often kick up a huge fuss and hold onto the toy so hard that you  have to yank it out of their hand if you really want to take it away, which leaves you and everyone concerned...

This time of year can be pretty torturous for parents. The feeling of guilt is swirling through most mums.

Not only do we feel pressure to make Christmas special, but there are also so many other things we have to do.

Outfits for the school shows, taking time off work to attend the shows,...

I don’t know about you but when I hear a child whine – and my youngest daughter who is 17 is still occasionally capable of it – it TOTALLY presses my buttons.

My initial response is to want to say - ‘You’re spoilt, ungrateful and immature’

If I continue along...

I was talking to my husband the other day about my emails – he’s a loyal supporter of my work and is on my mailing list.

He said "That one you wrote about whether you should discipline your child was great" 

 "Do you mean the one with the title:

‘Should you ever...

I was horrified one morning many years ago, shortly after my son had started school, he suddenly refused to wear his expensive new school shoes.

“I’m not wearing those shoes, I’m wearing my trainers”

“But you’ve got to. They’re your school shoes”

...

One of the biggest worries I always had  when my kids were little, was how to balance having rules and boundaries (I also call this positive discipline’) with allowing them to be free spirited.

I didn’t want to take a big boot and squash their spontaneity and ability to...

Worrying about whether your child will make friends at school is every parents nightmare. 

The agonising thought that they might have no one to play with at breaktime or sit with at lunch. 

Whether your child is starting a new school (or nursery) or returning after a break can...

Would you say you’re a ‘wrap them in cotton wool’ parent or a ‘let them run wild’? or maybe you’re somewhere in-between?

Is your child more naturally nervous and cautious or are they a fearless little dare-devil?

Children’s characters vary enormously

Some...

I always encourage parents I work with to share the good and the bad.

Never to feel ashamed of not being on top form.

Be honest about how hard parenting and life can be at times.

I see myself as a positive person but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t times when I just feel down.

...

Here in the UK we just had a long Jubilee holiday weekend (Thursday and Friday were public holidays)

My eldest daughter (no 3 in the family) came back from 3 months in Thailand and Vietnam.

It’s so good to have her home.

She had taken the trouble to buy everyone in the family a...