Breathing Through Smog

I’ve been feeling out of sorts.  Ten years ago – a whole decade ago – I packed up my then eight-year-old son and a few suitcases and we shipped ourselves off to Wuhan, China. I wasn’t only the only single mother there – I was the only high school teacher parenting a child while livingContinueContinue reading “Breathing Through Smog”

4 Lessons from Motherhood

I still remember that beautiful day. The day I got to hold the sweetest being in my arms, having my first picture with her and being all smiley even after a long labour, which ended unexpectedly in an emergency caesarean section. Stepping into the identity of a mum and going on this motherhood journey hasContinueContinue reading “4 Lessons from Motherhood”

Responsive Parenting

Repeating yourself to a young child is rarely going to help them do as you say. Let’s imagine you’ve asked your toddler to stop hitting her brother and she doesn’t… you demand one more time with increased volume and annoyance in your tone, “I said stop hitting!”  Photo by Liza Summer on Pexels.com This childContinueContinue reading “Responsive Parenting”

Repairing Ruptures in Parent-Child Relationships

By Melissa Xuereb, Parent Coach at Parenting Takes Courage At the invitation of Sherry Yuan Hunter here at Sandwich Parenting, I will be writing a semi-regular blog about Empowered Parenting. Olivia (left) and Charlie (right). Daughter and son of Melissa and Thomas Xuereb. Photo credit: Elizabeth Anne Photography This morning as the rain poured, Charlie,ContinueContinue reading “Repairing Ruptures in Parent-Child Relationships”

Managing Triggers

One of the most frustrating things in the world is that explosion of rage when our kids (or partners, or friends, or colleagues) exhibit ‘undesirable’ behaviour. We THINK it’s because they are ‘behaving badly’ and that means that we need to work harder to CONTROL the situation. Then comes the shame and, for some, theContinueContinue reading “Managing Triggers”

If I Were a Remote…

Our remote control had been missing for over a week. Yup. It’s not an easy thing to live without I must admit and it was gone.