Professor Gordon Tait argues that teachers are now expected to shoulder the burdens that others will not. The concern is that teachers are now to be regarded as de facto therapists and since somebody has to be responsible for children’s behaviour, it is teachers who...
“We’re not talking about a male toddler who pops on a frock occasionally or a little girl who acts like a tomboy...
Women who have suffered a pregnancy loss need to be kind to themselves, even when others aren’t, writes Michelle Hayward. I am a mother and a survivor. I am currently ‘recovering and healing’ from a pregnancy loss – a miscarriage at 10 weeks – and I...
The years prior to her child being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were lonely and confusing for Michelle Reid. I have a daughter who is turning 13 next month and we are planning a big birthday bash. She is very excited and has a big...
It takes Cathy Watson a few years before she can look upon the absence of an invitation in her son’s hand with relief rather than despair. Mothers milled around the kindergarten door, waiting to collect their children. The party invitations sat brightly in the pigeonholes like...
Zofia Pawlaczek explains the nature of child abuse (including ugly parent syndrome), particularly in relation to sport, and highlights the importance of sports clubs having child-protection strategies in place at all levels. abuse (including ugly-parent syndrome) is not the prerogative of the parent when it’s directed...
Joe Adamson* shares his own experiences, in order to reach others who feel that they have failed or haven’t lived up to the “Walt Disney” version of such blended relationships. There has been much discussion in recent times regarding the increasingly growing phenomenon of stepfamilies or...
Teachers, parents and particularly other students are responsible for helping to prevent bullying, says Sam Chadwick. "I was only joking, I didn’t mean it!” How many times have I heard that in my 10 years of teaching? These words are so often spoken by children when...
The roller-coaster ride of parenting becomes more challenging when Amanda McLeod is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I lost friends and colleagues who found it difficult to deal with my highs, lows and erratic behaviour. After 12 months of trying to conceive, I was overjoyed when the pregnancy...
A teenager’s plea for help takes Rebecca Chaney back to a place she rarely visits – her childhood. There was a knock at my front door the other night. It was late, and I was upstairs checking on our sleeping children before calling it a day....
