A Mother's Day gift you won't find in the shops... Read full article
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
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
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
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 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
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
I’m sitting at the dining table with a cool breeze blowing on to my face from the lake and ocean. It’s the new year, 2011, and I’m feeling like I always feel on 1 January: expectant, inexplicably and irrationally optimistic about anything that’s been troubling me and suddenly more grateful than usual for the good things in my life. New Year’s Eve does not hold much attraction for me unless it happens to be a great meal with friends but I do look forward to New Year with a magical belief that all things good can happen in the following year. No idea why. Read full article
Anyone in Australia who is exposed to any media at the moment will know - Oprah has arrived. I heard there was an "O" on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and fireworks were being let off. More than 350 000 requests were made to receive tickets to the Oprah Show taping in the Sydney Opera House. I was one of them - but alas I was not successful ... So why am I writing about Oprah on my blog? For three reasons ... Read full article
This is part of our Christmas Tree. I took the photo this morning.Until about 5 years ago we (I mean my husband) used to always make the pilgrimage out to the live Christmas tree farm (somewhere west of Sydney) and choose the perfectly-shaped tree, cut it down and with some difficulty, wedge it into the car next to one or two over-excited children. Read full article
