Should we do couples counselling? Are we happy? Are we both pulling in the same direction? How can we get our spark back? Will the therapist take sides? Priscilla Dunk-West explains. These kinds of questions are normal in a society that places such importance on coupledom, despite...
Joseph Kelly’s boyhood dream hits a speedhump when he and his daughter go shopping for a car. Back then I would have thought a guy trying to force his wife, two children and Woody the dog into a black, two-door V8 was a pretty tragic sight....
No diagnoses and no gap fees for physios and speechies. What else do we know about Thriving Kids? Asks Helen Dickinson and Molly Saunders. Thriving Kids is back in the spotlight, after the states and territories agreed last week to match the federal government’s A$2 billion...
If you think your child might have developmental delays, having them assessed early can make a lasting difference. In this personal story, Helen D* reflects on the moment her family stopped wondering — and started seeking support. “Thousands of young children have developmental delays, but it is...
Children’s songs are meant to be comforting, imaginative and timeless. But during one ordinary bedtime singalong, John Hershey realises that some of our most beloved classics might be quietly preparing kids for a world of sealing wax, string… and very low expectations from dragons. A Bedtime...
Coffee first entered human lives and veins over 600 years ago, writes Clare Collins. Here’s how much it’s OK to drink. Now we consume an average of almost two kilos per person each year – sometimes with very specific preferences about blends and preparation methods. How...
Sandy Leen finds that her idea of what constitutes a good babysitter is quite different from those of her children. When You Don’t Have “A Regular” The downside of living far from family and moving every couple of years or so is that we have never had...
How parents shape a child’s pain response matters, writes Joshua Pate It happens in slow motion. Your six-year-old daughter is sprinting across the playground at school drop-off time when her toe catches on uneven ground. She goes down hard. The playground goes silent. She freezes and looks...
A mother’s story of love, loss and the child who never leaves her heart, by Rosemary McKnight Content note: This article contains themes of pregnancy loss and grief that may be distressing for some readers. The Day That Never Ends The date was written at the top of...
Strategic thinking is essential today as we navigate social challenges, writes Nelly Liyanagamage If you’re tired of the same old Monopoly, perhaps it’s time to try Settlers of Catan. It’s a strategy board game for three to four players fighting to be the dominant force on Catan...
