My Son Doesn't Want Surprise Gifts This Christmas
This year, there will be no surprises at Christmas time for my six year old son. No, he hasn’t been a ‘naughty boy’ and therefore undeserving of Santa’s generosity. The reason my son will have no surprises is that he will choose all of his presents and be with us when we buy them, in November. They will then be wrapped and put under the Christmas tree. Read full article
Benefits of Teaching Positivity to Children
Follow the advice of "fake it 'til you make it" or just "be positive", and you may end up oozing a kind of "toxic insincerity" says Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, Professor of Psychology and specialist investigator of positive emotions and psychophysiology at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Fredrickson was speaking at a workshop that was part of the Young Minds conference held last week at Darling Harbour in Sydney. Teaching the benefits of positivity, Dr. Fredrickson says instead of ‘thinking positive’, we should aim to identify the experiences and contexts that give us a positive emotion, and then repeat them. Research indicates that experiencing positive and negative emotions in about a 3-to-1 ratio, has the potential to enhance your relationships, improve your health, relieve depression, and broaden your mind. Read full article
Building Empathy in Medicine Using My Big Mouth
I talk for a living. I often get asked to MC events. Over the last few years, I’ve been increasingly asked to speak at conferences pertaining to neonatal surgery issues and research. Not because I know anything about neonatal surgery, but because I’m a parent of a child who has undergone major heart surgery and spent time in a neonatal intensive care unit. What I tell them, is how to do their jobs better. This story is about why I love my big mouth. Read full article
A Letter from A Mum to Her Children on Mother's Day
A Mother's Day gift you won't find in the shops... Read full article
My Boy Henry Hotdog and an Irrational, Perfect Love
Yesterday when I picked up the little travelers from school, Henry Hotdog's kindergarten teacher had something to tell me. "You have to tell your Mummy about the poem you wrote today Henry - can you tell her?" The hotdog considered the proposal for a moment and then proceeded to pull my head down towards his. In my ear he whispered ... Read full article
Who are Your Children's Everyday Heroes?
This week we will commemorate Anzac Day and remember those thousands of young soldiers whose bravery defined a nation. Young boys who left their shores, many never to return, forever remembered as heroes. I asked my children (9 and 7 years) about their heroes. I cringed at the anticipation of hearing names more notorious than heroic, more infamous than illustrious, more TV show than book cover. Pleasantly, I heard back – “Mum and Dad,” “my family,” “my teacher “, “zoo keeper,” and “J.K. Rowling”. Not a mention of One Direction! Happy with that! Read full article
I Stopped and Really saw My Daughter - Moments of Mindfulness
There are some moments with my kids that are so precious I just want the moment to be permanently recorded forever and stored somewhere safe. I want this so I can re-live the moment and tap into the wonderful feelings that swam over me at the time. For five minutes today I had one of these moments. I was simply sitting on the floor brushing my five year old daughter’s hair while we both listened to Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack (of all things!). And I haven’t felt so peaceful and content in a very long time. Read full article
Emmanuel Kelly on the X Factor - Must See Inspiration for all Children
If there is only one video you take the time to watch with your children this week, please let it be this one. Arun Abey who occasionally blogs for this site, shared this video with me today. it features the moving and gorgeous singing performance of Emmanuel Kelly on the Australian X Factor - rescued from an Iraqi orphanage with his brother, Emmanuel and his family demonstrate love, compassion, determination and everything that is good about humanity. I promise you will want to show this video to your children. Read full article
I Have Nana Envy
I have a bad case of Nana envy this week. It’s all my friends’ fault. Friend number one – let’s call her Snow White – is heading off for a week’s skiing in Falls Creek. She tells me that they have friends living down that way, who will pick them up from the airport. I’m wondering what sort of people mover these friends have, to be able to accommodate two adults, three children and a week’s worth of luggage. "Oh no," says Snow White. : "Our kids aren’t coming – their nana is going to look after them for the week." Read full article
Time Affluence for Children - a Cure for Affluenza
Preparing for this segment on The Morning Show, I looked up one of my favourite researchers and writers on happiness, Tal Ben Shahar. Ben Shahar has many strings to his bow including teaching Positive Psychology at Harvard and author of best seller books "Happier" and "Being Happy"....Tal Ben Shahar and his colleagues frequently cite the single biggest predictor of happiness as 'Time Affluence' - this is really having time to do things that are important to you and meaningful for you ... Read full article
