How different would you feel about motherhood if you understood that it is a learned skill, not something you’re meant to be good at straight away after giving birth? This is the gift that the study of Matrescence is offering mothers around the world. More women need to know about it, and preferably way before they step into motherhood. Matrescence is the process of transformation that takes place when a woman becomes a mother and as she evolves through her mothering years. It is the study of the enormous changes (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, cultural to name a few) that a woman mus ..read more

Burns and scalds are among the most traumatising injuries that children can receive—they cause intense pain, with children often needing long-term treatment. This is a fact that Mat and his daughter Milla know all too well. Milla was just eight years old when she suffered severe burns to her lower body. On this particular day, she came home from a party feeling hungry, so she did what she’s done many times before and prepared herself one of her favourite snacks—some instant noodles. Usually, Milla would sit up at a table while she eats, but on this occasion she didn’t. Instead, she sat down on ..read more

Now the cooler months have kicked in, breakfast habits across Australia have changed to suit, and a warm bowl of porridge is now a popular morning meal for many families. This was exactly the scenario for 6-year old Kieran, who one September morning in 2017 was helping his mum cook porridge on the gas stove. It happened in an instant, as he leaned over to help stir the pot, Kieran’s pyjamas caught fire. In the panic, Kieran began running through the house, screaming in fear and pain; this began the long journey of healing that required a major skin graft, and months of trips from country Victo ..read more

While there is a lot of stigma around screen time for children having a negative impact on their learning, it is absolutely undeniable that technology is an integral part of our society and vastly embedded into our culture. Similarly to anything else in life, screen time for children can actually be part of a healthy lifestyle if set in moderation and with the encouragement of purposeful, educational and quality content. There is now a multitude of quality educational apps, programs and tools that can promote learning in a positive and interactive way that you can feel comfortable and confiden ..read more

Did you know that 1 in 10 expecting and new fathers will experience anxiety and depression? [1] Did you also know that perinatal depression and anxiety is treatable? And the earlier a person seeks treatment the better the outcome is for him and for his family. It takes a lot of courage to take this first step but it is a necessary one on the road to recovery. So how do you know if you, or someone you know, is experiencing perinatal depression or anxiety? What are the symptoms of PNDA in men? Are the symptoms different from PNDA in women? Where can you go for help and support? And what are the ..read more

You must feel sad. Human emotion is not capable of being monochromatic; one must accept the full spectrum of brain chemical combos. You cannot feel happy without allowing yourself to feel sadness as well. Something I found terrifying about motherhood was the unexpected anxiety and despair. Everyone promised the oxytocin highs, the love, the desire to cuddle and hold, the blind admiration of this human I created. I was not braced for fear of loss, the wild anti-fantasies of freak accidents which might harm my daughter, the sheer exhaust of caring for a person more than myself, the neglect of my ..read more

Have you ever thought about the importance of demonstrating positive relationships to your child? We know how a regular bank account works: we make regular deposits (and withdrawals), and hopefully put enough aside for a rainy day. But, what is an emotional bank account? Dr Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, using the metaphor of an emotional bank account to describe how parents can build—and break down—relationships with their children. He suggests that deposits are made when parents proactively do things that build trust, while withdrawals are made by reac ..read more

I remember having the most blissful flight with my daughter who was on her first long-haul flight from Europe to Australia at seven months of age, only to return four weeks later with a completely different infant who was awake and ready to party! Need I say it was a very long flight! Flying with babies or toddlers is never really easy. At the end of the day getting organised for a short or long haul flights will vary as well as the age of the children you are travelling with. What works on one flight may not work on the next so remember to stay calm and collected and be willing to try differe ..read more

For the first time in seven years Australia has a new most popular girls’ name. While Oliver remains at number one for boys (a position it has held since knocking Jack off the top spot in 2013), Isla has raced up to overtake Charlotte in the number one spot for girls. Charlotte has been the number one baby name for girls since overtaking Olivia in 2015—the same year Princess Charlotte was born. But her reign is over according to the latest Top 100 Baby Names list, released this week. The list, compiled by social researchers McCrindle, brings together data from the Australian states and territo ..read more

In our modern lives, numeracy is critical for understanding so much of what surrounds us. Being able to manage your finances, tally up a bill or understand a mortgage document is something many of us take for granted. But it certainly isn’t easy for everyone. In fact, the 2013 OECD Survey of Adult Skills found one in five Australian adults have poor numeracy skills. Recent studies have also found Australian students are slipping behind other countries in maths and science, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds most at risk of not having the basic numeracy skills we all need. Commonly when ..read more