“… for those who’ve found themselves out of work, house bound or trying to home school kids, the lack of structure can really influence your mood.” mariska, bipolar mums founder I don’t think there’s many of us who haven’t been affected in some way by the Covid-19 pandemic.  With many people are struggling with stress and anxiety, it’s more important than ever that we take care of ourselves and each other. Here’s six things you might find helpful in ensuring your mood doesn’t plummet during this time: 1. Remain in contact with your mental health providers If you’re struggling, please rea ..read more

Working for an international aid organisation, I often travel to developing countries twice a year. Thankfully, with Skype and Whats App I can see and talk to my kids, even from a rural village in Nepal. Being away from them for so long, people ask me how they’re coping. I’ve got an incredibly supportive and capable husband and so the answer is usually just fine. Truth be told, without me there my children continue to live their lives. They’re busy with school, soccer, church… and the days fly bye. But even though they’re physically ok – they still miss me and look forward to me coming home. A ..read more

I live in the coffee capital of Australia… maybe even of the world.  We have more coffee shops in Melbourne than in any other state – and our Baristas are  known for their world class coffee. I still find it amazing that up until the age of 32, I’d never tasted coffee.  By that I mean real coffee. I had tried a sip of Mum’s cheap instant coffee when I was 17 – and promptly spit it out into the sink. Since my first taste of real coffee, I’ve slowly become hooked on my “morning cuppa”. I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a morning person.  It’s not helped by the ..read more