3 Simple Steps To Avoid Mother’s Day Misery
... there are very few days in the year that can bring as much misery, resentment, and pain to women as Mother’s Day. It’s such a hyped up occasio…
4 Simple Questions To Help Kids Change Their Behaviour
...If we notice positive behaviour and comment on it, the positive behaviour will be repeated as long as we keep commenting on it and rewarding the ch…
Why Kids Should Not Be in Charge of the Visitation Schedule
Children who are subjected to pathogenic parenting are also often subjected to permissive parenting. The children are told their feelings, wants, and …
Beware The Expert – Finding Help That Fits
...There I said it. Sometimes coaches and therapists are wrong too. Or at least wrong for your family, or rather not a good fit for the dynamic you ar…
What About Me? Step/mums and Family Holiday Traditions
It’s amping up to ‘that’ time of year. Holiday stress is a thing. It’s more often a thing for women. It’s often a very different…
Why Step-moms Get Jealous & Insecure In The Most Stable Relationships
You’re not weak or silly for feeling unsettled in your relationship when your partner’s past is so present in your situation. It’s not weird to …
Stepkids…Half Cat, Half Alien
...A friend who’s a teacher once made a passing comment, saying that kids just need patience and kindness. It’s stuck with me and I try to remembe…
No Shortcuts in Step-Family Dynamics
Is it time for you to reframe your expectations about how your step-family is evolving? Is it time to reach out for some professional help?
Making Time Matters
For too many years to comfortably count or acknowledge, my mantra was ‘I don’t have time’. I didn’t have time to stick on a load of dishes or …
What Is (And Isn’t) Parental Alienation Syndrome?
It’s important to realise that a single moment of expressing exasperation about the other house, or your ex, is not going to cause PAS. PAS is cause…
Kids’ Rooms in the Step-Dynamic
One thing I have learned in 20 odd years of parenting is that telling kids to clean their room is rarely effective. If we get overwhelmed looking at a…
The Chores of Self-Care
It’s not always pretty this self-care gig though. Sometimes it’s dragging ourselves to yoga or the gym, when we really, really don’t want to go.…
Stepparents & Chores
...Some people advise stepparents stay completely clear of any chore assigning and enforcement. While on the surface this seems like good advice, it 
All is not Fair in Step-Family Chores
Expecting kids to land in your home and jump straight into chores can be setting our family up for conflict and failure. Take a moment to think how yo…
Giving Space – Relationship Tip
When we change plans suddenly or switch up what we expect, it’s important we give our partners space to process and adjust. If we make a request tha…