By: Robert GarrettIn Braving the Wilderness, author Brené Brown says, “In philosophy, “you’re either with us or against us” is considered a false dichotomy or a false dilemma. It’s a move to force people to take sides. [However] the ability to think past...
By: Collett SmartThe relaxing and lifting of restrictions in schools makes it sound like we’re on our way back to normal, yet ‘normal’ is a long way off. And our children know it.If you chatted to a group of 6 teens and asked, “How did you find life in lockdown?”, you...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonI recently wrote about how to find joy during crisis. Much of what I included came from my Facebook community, who shared their stories of joy and happiness out of a stressful and difficult time. This included parents who have had the immense pleasure of watching their...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonPandemic parenting. It’s intense and surreal (and sometimes claustrophobic). There are so many new expectations on parents at the moment. Many of us are working from home, managing our own stresses in a new environment with more or less technical difficulties.Many of us...
By: Laura BennettSocial media is a complex beast.On the one hand it’s a comparison trap and can really diminish our mental wellbeing, but on its best days, it offers a way to connect with friends and family from whom we’d otherwise be isolated.During the COVID crisis – where...
By: Laura BennettKeeping the kids entertained is a tall order at the moment. Between the closure of their usual outdoor hangouts and the time pressure on parents, giving kids meaningful activities to do can be tough.To help at least make the routine of church on Sundays an easier one, former...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonI’ve been receiving a lot of questions from mums and dads who are divorced and separated about parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic. I understand why – even if you are on the same page as your ex-partner generally, the unsettling times we are living can throw a...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonParenting is an exercise in organisation, communication, and flexibility at the best of times. Co-parenting, particularly in blended families, is even more complicated. And in the midst of a pandemic, it’s exponentially harder.How are we supposed to co-parent with the...
By: Collett SmartThere is a staggered start to online learning all over the country this month – as school holidays officially end. Like many of you, I am picking up this next plate to add to those already spinning in the air. I am actually a teacher as well as a psychologist and let me...
By: Dr Justin CoulsonI recently received an anonymous message from a devastated mum. After reading one of my articles about why we should never threaten our child with abandonment – like “If you don’t get in the car right now I’ll leave you here at the park”, she...
By: Collett SmartMany around the world have been housebound for some time now. We’re not even sure when this way of living will come to an end. How might we navigate everyone being at home, in a confined space, for most of the day, for an unknown period of time… and still maintain...
By: Sabrina PetersThere are so many great things that we can do (and should do) for our kids, but in the midst of all the practical demands may we never forget our role as their parent is to raise spiritual giant killers (not obedient robots).Our role as their parents is to pray for them, guide...