Moving from fairytales to reality, Dolla S. Merrillees reflects on her role as a stepmother. When asked what I would like to be when I grew up, I can’t say I actually aspired to being a divorcee, however glamorous it sounded, or, for that matter, a...
Linda J. Graham writes about the displacement of parents, and particularly mothers, by ‘experts’ in modern life. It goes almost without saying that the latter half of the 20th Century witnessed fundamental change to the institution of the family. While the emergence of feminism has received...
The Heart Beat Club will offer free access this month (May 2024) to its online training course and will cover a range of topics including CPR skills, along with first aid essentials like how to treat common injuries, choking, burns, scalds, control of bleeding, dealing...
Denise Yearian believes that charity birthday parties can encourage children to think and act altruistically. At a time when many parents are pulling out all the stops for their children’s birthday parties, some families are hosting parties where the aim is to give gifts away. Children’s...
Denise Yearian believes that charity birthday parties can encourage children to think and act altruistically. “[Jake] wondered if he could have a party, but ask the guests to bring clothes and toys for children from a needy family and donate the gifts to them… We had...
When Elizabeth Kenyon is pregnant with her third child, things do not go according to plan. My husband and I were very smug when we conceived our third child, as it happened exactly when we’d hoped. The ideal timing made up for the fact that in...
Why we need to focus more on the needs of children in domestic and family violence responses, writes Silke Meyer In 2015, domestic and family violence (DFV) was declared a "national emergency" in Australia, with its impact on women and children costing the country an estimated A$22...
A new sibling can start as a threat but end as a friend, writes Sarah Cameron. Imagine your husband comes home from work one day with another woman. He introduces her to you and explains that she will be joining the family from this day forward....
Karleen Gribble, Naomi Hull and Nina Jane Chad report that it’s sooner than you think! Parents are often faced with well-meaning opinions and conflicting advice about what to feed their babies. The latest guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends formula-fed babies can switch to cow’s...
Some women’s breasts can’t make enough milk, and the effects can be devastating. Researchers Renee Kam and Lisa Amir explain why. Many new mothers worry about their milk supply. For some, support from a breastfeeding counsellor or lactation consultant helps. Others cannot make enough milk no matter how...
