The worst 20 minutes of my life
Thirty seconds was all it took to turn a shopping trip into my worst nightmare. Standing in Toys R Us, my husband spotted a work colleague and turned to say hello. I also turned to say hello. And the moment I turned back, our two-year-old son was gone. Just like that. At first I did…
Read MoreThe ‘no vax, no visit’ post: how parents are helping keep babies safe
Social media updates from new parents were once loving, smitten posts announcing the birth of baby, followed by a stream of oh-so-cute photos. Yet it seems the latest trend in parenting social media updates are quite the opposite. “A simple injection can save the life of a newborn! I know this may seem harsh but…
Read MoreThe day my son started a fire
Put yourself in the shoes of a young boy. You’re holding a large multi-packet of chips you can’t open. Mum is doing the washing and your older brother is watching TV. Do you walk out of the pantry and ask one of them to help you? Or do you grab the barbeque igniter from the…
Read MoreBest of Melbourne’s historical adventures for kids
Have you ever wanted to be a pirate sailing the seven seas? Be an early explorer like Captain James Cook venturing across oceans to new lands? Or escaping the gunmen of the law like the bushrangers of our past? While it may seem like rugging up and staying home out of the cold is the…
Read More‘He has gastro but that’s okay, right?’: sick kid etiquette
Picture this: you’re all set to host a bash for family and friends of all ages when your little one comes down with a contagious illness. Do you a) cancel the party, b) let people know about the illness and continue on, or c) keep quiet and party on? I ask because a few days out from Christmas, my family…
Read MoreThe moment I saved my son’s life
It was a moment I’ll never forget. My three-year-old son was racing his toy car along our study desk one moment, and choking the next. His ‘broom broom’ noises became silent. He grabbed my arm. His little face began to turn blue. Adrenaline rose in my throat. I grabbed him, turned him around and started…
Read MoreYou want me to do what to fix my child’s eczema?
Eczema in babies can be a hard diagnosis to face as a new mum, but that’s exactly what I faced with my first son when he was just a few months old. He suffered from an all-over, ceaseless rash that consumed his happy spirit, while I chased my tail from one medical appointment to the…
Read MoreThe 4 most common beauty questions you really should ask before your next appointment
We’ve all been there. Maybe you’re having a particularly bad day or you’re just feeling hormonal – and the next minute, you find yourself sitting in a hairdresser’s chair nodding along to the words ‘blonde’ and ‘perm’. Feel better? Maybe. But maybe not. Here are four beauty questions you’ll definitely wish you had asked before…
Read More6 ways to help your baby learn at bedtime
A squirming, unsettled baby and an exhausted parent who are both fighting through sleep time is a scenario every mum or dad has faced. Yet this witching hour could possibly become Einstein hour, as a study from the University of Sheffield has revealed that sleep helps babies develop their memory and retain new behaviours they…
Read MoreThe amazing ways technology is changing the way our kids learn
Let me start with a quick story that shows how technology had a positive influence on my children’s learning. It was Friday night, and the four of us were huddled around a wooden chess board. It was meant to be a fun games night, but instead it turned into a few rounds of exhausting arguing.…
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