Yes- it’s possible to have a beautiful Christmas tree with minimal effort! Late November wouldn’t be late November if someone wasn’t trying to get you into the festive mood……
I have been thinking about traditions, and family, and how to make the effort lately. It’s easier not to make the effort. You feel the desire not to…
My heart died a little bit when my daughter got ill and my arms could not comfort her. When she looked at the light, and turned towards the…
Join Snowplanet in kick starting the ho-ho-ho holiday season by welcoming Santa to Snowplanet on November 21st! They have created a fantastic and magical winter wonderland where Santa…
Miss L is 7 and continually soils her undies (heavy skid marks) and once at the local pools, pooed her togs. We thought this was because she was…
Power bills. They’re something that we parents don’t get overly excited about, especially when we’re digesting the huge figure in that dreaded white envelope that appears in the…
One of the things we love about our series on Great Kiwi Families is the way that we get to meet so many people who are following their…
Hi Jen, I have a nine-year-old boy who is very pessimistic and has developed a real talent for spotting problems. Even though we are very fortunate in our…
I have a dream. And it really is that – a dream. Because this will never be a reality. I would love to give up sugar. But ALL…
To most people this might mean travel, career, money, success, so what does it mean to me? In my previous life, pre-children that is, I would have said,…
It’s taken as read in modern ‘first-world’ existence that everyone should follow their dreams – after all, how else can you expect to be happy? Failing to…
Sticks and stones may break my bones and make my carrots wonky!
Blended families are complicated. They always include drama from somewhere, whether it’s an adjusting child, a bitter ex, family court battles or child support, it’s all stressful and…
I didn’t dream this.
I read an inspiring interview with Australian Kim Graham Nye, co- founder of GDiapers, in Conscious Company, a magazine promoting business with a mission. Kim and her husband,…
After 30 years of marriage raising three of our own children and taking in two foster children with all its ups and downs, our nest was finally empty.
As part of our ongoing Side Hustle Series, we meet Grace Xue – founder of Lighthouse At-Home Childcare. Partly in response to the needs of her own child,…
Is it ever too late to follow your dreams? What was your first dream for yourself? I’ve been surprising my middle-aged mummy self with a whole new way…
The Spirit of Adventure Trust provides one of the best and most unique youth development programmes in New Zealand.
Just over 2 years ago, I became a single dad with shared care of my then 1-year-old daughter. My journey to parenting in ‘1 Player mode’, as I call…
When you think about how passionate you are about your family, ask yourself this question: “What are the three most important investments you could make for your family?” …
I am passionate about food and health but I don’t expect my kids to be. I know I wasn’t when I was a kid.
As a mum I want the best for my kids and one of the most basic ways to ensure they get the best out of life is to…
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the ability to be mindful – to be still and be in the moment. Learn about mindfulness…
Passion is an interesting word, and somewhat over-used these days, as you might realise when faced with the dictionary definition: passion, aside from its sexual meaning, is defined…
How does your family move together? Is family time also TV/couch time? Did you know that there is an epidemic in our society that is causing sickness and…
Holidays can be great times for reconnecting with our families and reinvigorating our passion for spending time together; whether we’re heading out of town, spending time with others…
My eight year old daughter has been having a really tough time handling her emotions lately, particularly anger. She has always been a sensitive girl and somewhat reactive…
So surely I can’t be the only mum out there who has wondered “Can I make a themed cake myself or do I really have to pay $150 – $200 for something…
Becoming a mum was the ultimate experience for me. It was something I always knew I would love. I have a medical condition that made it difficult for…
Did you ever hear “wait until you are a parent?” It took becoming a parent for me to grasp the scope of commitment and sacrifice, expense and rewards…
When our teens are going through a rough time it really is hard to think about anything else. Sometimes nothing is actually said but their misery or silence tells you…
Te Reo Māori is one of New Zealand’s three official languages (the other is New Zealand Sign Language) and Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is a great opportunity to…
Giving up alcohol for a month to be part of the Dry July fundraiser, doesn’t mean you are admitting to having a problem. On the contrary, it usually…
I suspect I’m not the only one who takes hundreds of photos of my kids, only for so many of them to languish somewhere on my computer files.…
Good news, kiwi families! Visits to your family doctor will soon be free for children under 13. From 1 July 1 2015, all children under 13 are eligible for…
Kids content on our television is in a precarious position. We just have to look at the demise of John Campbell’s programme on TV3 to see how stories…
Did you know what an incredible biological feat it is to conceive a child? I knew for some people it was a challenge, but it wasn’t until I…
Is bowel cancer on your radar? If not, you’ll likely find the following statistics as sobering as I do:
Four years ago, I discovered a pile of unopened utility bills on my husband’s desk. They were buried under a pile of sweet wrappers, junk mail and cat…
Did you spot a lot of posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter over the Mother’s Day weekend from mums all around the world?
Blended, re-partnering, stepfamilies, whatever you want to call it, life can be pretty complicated when you and your partner have children from previous relationships. And when you finally…
At the end of last year I was eating lunch when my mobile rang. The voice on the other end explained very matter of factly that I had won…
The immediate response to this title for most parents would be “but families are constantly being challenged!” That probably applies more today than it has for a long…
Picture this: You’re aged 60 and semi-retired Regular contributions to your retirement scheme over the years will soon pay off and you’re feeling quietly confident that in five…
Juggling family duties when a new born comes along, can have its challenges. Time to prepare a well balanced meal full of the right nutrition and meeting every…
Imagine having just given birth and being told by the doctor that your baby probably wouldn’t live, that you should get ready to say goodbye. But then baby…
Grandparents or kin who find themselves in a position of having to raise children at a later stage in life face many challenges:
If your family is anything like ours, life is never predictable and certainly never stands still. Challenges to our family’s way of life, our values, our routines and…
“You don’t understand!” “You never let me…” “It’s not fair!” “I hate you!”… These and other hurtful words are often heard by parents from angry, upset children, resulting…
Our family’s biggest challenge is making time. Time is a precious resource I crave. The 19th century American author, Alice Morse Earle wrote, “The clock is running. Make…
“There has been a lot of talk online about child abduction and stranger danger lately and I am starting to feel really anxious about my children’s safety. I…
When we opened La Boca Loca in April 2011, we had a clear goal: to bring the freshest flavours of Mexico to Wellington. Our mission was to recreate…
Welcome to my world of creating a blended family. My world of love, laugher, fun, stress, anxiety and chaos… This is me… A Wife, a Mother, a Step-Mother, an…
Nutritionist Claire Turnbull has recently published a new book – Feel Good for Life and we thought she might have some valuable thoughts to share with parents, because who doesn’t…
Pondering how best to grow healthy, well-nourished kids is something that occupies the mind of almost every mother. This Mother’s Day, ChildFund is giving Kiwi and Kenyan mums…
Every year, Deaf Aotearoa chooses a Deaf person to be the Face of NZSL Week. This year, it’s Dylan Louie, a young Auckland father. Dylan tells us what…
I think most parents worry a bit about having their children’s photos online, especially in something like Facebook. I know I’m pretty careful with my setting in this…
On Mother’s Day, I like to enjoy something fresh and flavoursome. At the super market today, I picked up a Salmon Steak, smoked – ready for use! I…
April is World Autism Awareness Month. In New Zealand, autism affects one person in 100; that’s around 40,000 New Zealanders. You might not be aware that there are a…
Every year when winter hits, we wonder how can we keep our children from getting sick. It’s a good question but there are no easy answers. Cold and…
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and things don’t end up as you think they will. However, blended families can also be great. Here’s a bit about…
Growth can be either outwards or upwards, and that applies to families as much as anything else. A growing family may be one that is adding to its…
During menopause there are lots of changes that happen within the body. Many body systems are affected as one hormonal surge create deficiencies in another. The body constantly…
The Napier Grandparents raising Grandchildren group invited me to attend the Christmas lunch with members of this support group. A flight from Auckland down to Napier was upon one…
Food has become such a hot topic. Everywhere we turn there are messages bombarding us about what we should eat and how we should feel while we’re eating…
It’s not that there’s a greater number of us – still just the three – but at least one of us is growing. Of course, we remember the…
Our home grows frequently with over energetic teenagers! They blaze into our house brimming with smiles, flailing hair, bags of clothes, giant oversized art folders, the crinkly sound of…
“No matter what you’ve done for yourself or for humanity, if you can’t look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you…
We thought our family had stopped growing at two kids. It seemed like the financially responsible thing to do, and my ever practical partner pointed out that we’d…
With all three of my children, we received stern letters from Births, Deaths and Marriages telling us that we needed to hurry up and register their births. And with…
It’s a well known principle that including 5+ vegetable and fruit servings a day is a great foundation for your daily eating habits. 5 would be an absolute…
For many, creativity in the kitchen is a far off concept that doesn’t get much thought.
Often grandparents find themselves unexpectedly placed in a position where they are needed to raise their grandchildren. This is a life changing situation for all involved and can…
Back in the spring when the garden was still mostly an idea and good intentions, seeds, pots and a good quality seed raising mix were gathered together. Some…
Over the last few months I have been fortunate to try out some new exercise equipment all with different fitness benefits.
“Creativity” – what comes to mind? Inner dialogue such as “I don’t have time for creativity,” or “my kids have time for creativity but I don’t, I have…
These raw cake pops are seriously impressive and are a treat that is guilt-free and surprisingly good for you! Containing no processed sugar, gluten and dairy, they are…
New Year is usually a mix of celebrations, well wishes and New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are typically something like: “I want to lose weight”,” I want…
Food is a big part of our culture and traditions in New Zealand. It can be as simple as meeting up with a friend for coffee to the…
We’re heading into the Christmas / Chanukah Holiday “Silly” Season. It’s also the time of the summer solstice, when the southern hemisphere has turned its belly up towards…
I don’t know whether it’s cliché or a snippet out of a self-help seminar welcome packet, but lately every day feels like a celebration.
I remember a tale I heard years ago that has really stuck with me. It was about a two friends clearing away the possessions of an elderly mother…
Moving to a new school is hard for any kid, but it’s especially tough for students with learning and behaviour needs and we, as parents, need to be…
Yay! Advent is my favourite season in the church calendar, and it’s here! I love to celebrate Advent and so I’ve put together 11 great ways to celebrate…
Over the next couple of months, we’ll be looking at how some great kiwi families celebrate and the first family is the McAllister family. I find large families…
As a child growing up we just simply could not wait for the day when we got home from school to find our Mother had put up the…
I’ve just returned from a three-day fitness conference in Auckland. It’s always good to find out new information and have your own thoughts challenged. One particular speaker struck…
I’m very excited to write about this topic this month because I actually have a couple of recent events that I can share with you which I believe…
I can still remember the anticipation and excitement as the weather warmed, the days got longer and Christmas decorations and music started to appear in the shops at…
We love celebrating in our house, by saying woohoo to the big things and finding reasons to celebrate the little and weird things too. Being a single parent family,…
I have a huge awareness at the moment that loads of people are struggling with having a positive spirit. I recently lost someone very close to me due…
It’s that time of year again, come around before we even had time to say “Ho, ho, ho.” (Or “humbug,” depending on our attitude…).
The silly season is gearing up for another whirlwind of celebratory parties, parades, fairs, shows, and music. ‘Tis the season for overindulgence, letting your hair down, and being…
Treat your little ones to a Santa experience they will never forget at Snowplanet. This Christmas Santa and his elves will be staying in a Magic Castle amongst…
If you read our recent post from Esther Te Aotonga, you’re were probably as fascinated as we were with the way that the Te Aotonga family organises their lives…
In this series of posts, we’ve been looking at some great kiwi families and some of the things that make them fab. We’ve loved hearing from families that…
It’s one of the fastest comparisons I tend to make when I’m at a new supermarket: wander around, find familiar items, do a few calculations in my mind…
This is the last article in my essential style series, so it is entirely appropriate that it be on the ‘finishing touch’: How to ‘dress’ the part of…
Having been married for 47 years there has always been one thing that has made me go umm…