A Special Treat

A Special Treat I have great memories of buying hot chips after swimming lessons as a child. Hot chips were a rare treat in our family. But after swimming we’d get a whole bag each. They were 10 cents a bag and we couldn’t even finish them. Do you have memories of...

Routines that connect us

Routines that connect us I have a wonderful memory from my childhood that still makes me smile. We called it “Friday night”. Every Friday when Dad came home from work he would have a treat for us. It was usually one of four or five different things – maybe a bag...

Family Dinner Time

Family Dinner Time It seems that although we have made great advances in many areas of life, we have also had some losses. One of these is the loss in many of our homes of the family dinnertime. I remember as a little girl, my family of nine squeezing around our...

Being the Grown Up

Being the Grown Up Bette Davis once said, “If you have never been hated by your child you have never been a parent.” I’m afraid there are moments for most of us, when our children are going to be angry about our decisions and let us know loud and strong! I love the...

A Favourite Teacher

A Favourite Teacher Have you ever seen the show, “World’s Strictest Parents?” I usually change the channel, and dismiss it as being “a bit over the top”. But today I watched the whole thing. Two teenagers from England who were causing their parents some grief, were...

Praise

Praise Can you praise your kids too much? It’s a good question. I think the answer could be yes, if it’s the wrong kind of praise. But if we keep a few simple rules in mind I think the answer might just be no. Our children need all the positive input we can give them....