boundaries
The Real Weight of Parenting
I’ve been trying to describe the real weight of parenting. Is it the exhaustion that comes from keeping the school
michelle's library
Blog
risky behaviour
Chroming is more prevalent than parents may realise: What to watch out for these school holidays
Woolworths and other outlets have recently taken steps to lock up aerosol deodorants due to chroming concerns. The fact that
friendships
Why Are Our Kids Feeling So Lonely?
Very sadly, loneliness is close to the top of challenges facing todays constantly plugged in, super connected kids. Headspaces’ 2002
communication
Five Things Tweens Want You to Know
567 tweens participated in my 2020 anonymous survey, and chose to answer the question: What is one thing you wished
communication
We Weren’t Prepared: Year 6 Group Chats
Yesterday, I spent time with a group of three mums whose tweens are in their first term of Year 6
featured
10 Things Kids Need Now, Before the Teenage Years
93.5% of parents I surveyed while writing TWEENS answered a big “YES” to being concerned about the upcoming teenage years. That’s
communication
The Rising Cost of Christmas: How to Help Kids Embrace Less as More
If you are reducing the number of gifts under the tree this Christmas, you are not alone. Many families, either out
education
Consent: Six Things I Wish All Teens and Tweens Knew
My two sons are 24 and 21. They would both be disgusted if anyone were to suggest that sex was
education
Helping Tweens Deal with Feeling ‘Not Enough’
https://vimeo.com/724774005 Hi Michelle I hope you don’t mind me asking but my 10 year old has been feeling a bit
education
Dear Teacher: You are doing more than enough
Over my 25-year career, I have never witnessed the level of pressure that I am seeing in schools right now.
featured
When You’re on the Wait List: 18 practical ways to support a struggling teen
Earlier this year Shannon noticed that the mental health of her 14-year-old son was deteriorating. He was no longer interested
communication
Tricky Friendship Days: Let’s Not Dial Down The Drama
If your tween is experiencing powerful tears or shattering disappointments after tricky friendship days, know that you are not alone.
education
The Impossibilities of Year 11 and 12: When Failure Feels Inevitable
As a teacher, seeing students love learning, and their learning environment is very important to me. I spent years working
education
The Night Before School Camp: Five Tips for Worried Tweens
About 25 year ago I was an upper primary classroom teacher. I can remember being entrusted with the hearts and
puberty
Hey Dads: We Want You To Embrace It All, Including Periods
A 10-year-old girl approached me after a puberty presentation at her school. “Does my dad know about periods?” she whispered.
boundaries
What to do with a Defiant Teenager: Seven reminders that will get you through
Young people typically cross my path when they are between 13 and 15 years old. They are quite often taking
communication
Conversations About Puberty: Six Research Based Motivators for Parents
We all want our children to experience healthy and happy intimate relationships, but few parents see the correlation between this
mental health
Practical Resources for Those Affected by Youth Suicide
This week has been brutal for Brisbane. We have lost 3 tweens/teens to suicide and 1 mother. In response, this
mental health
A Tribe Mentality: The Only Answer to Youth Suicide
Warning: This blog post discusses youth suicide. This week has been brutal for Brisbane. We have lost 3 tweens/teens to
communication
How to Talk to Kids About Puberty: How-to Strategies to Get Things Started
Most parents tell me that puberty wasn’t a subject freely spoken about when they were young. It just arrived, and
body image
Supporting a Body Conscious Tween: Practical tips for worried parents
A mum came to my last night with questions about how to respond to her 11 year old daughter. Her
communication
Questions Tweens Ask about Puberty and Sex: Channelling Curiosity to Safe People and Places
I regularly teach sexual health in primary schools. Today, a 10 year old boy approached me after a lesson about
boundaries
Helping Girls Set and Respect Healthy Boundaries
Throughout history, girl’s relationship with boundaries has been fascinating. For centuries, women lived with harsh, unreasonable enforced boundaries that neither
communication
How to Help a Disappointed Teen or Tween: Six Helpful Conversations
An unexpected shift in friendships. A sudden end to a romance. Poor results in an exam that was meant to be easy. A family breakdown
communication
How and When to Talk to Tweens About Puberty
If you are a parent of a tween you may have grabble with WHEN to talk to your child about
education
Starting High School: Twelve Tips to Help Nervous Tweens
If you have a young one starting high school, you might relate to the term “nerve-cited”. It’s a word that
About Michelle
Why I Wrote Books for Tweens about Puberty
Everything we do in life has a WHY. WHY’s don’t just happen over night. They percolate like a good coffee!
COVID-19
A Year 11’s Perspective on COVID
I recently received an email from a Louise Madden, mum of Emily, which read: Our dear Em was invited to
friendships
13-year-old Girls, Grudges and Moving On
This blog was written for a very special 13-year-old, struggling to make a fresh start after having a fight with
mental health
Unpacking Life: How Parents Leave a Legacy
I want you to imagine you have a backpack sitting in front of you. It has been in your family
boundaries
If You Have to Say No: Seven Decision Making Tips
I watched The Incredibles 2 last weekend. In a moment of honesty, Mr Incredible said to his teenage daughter Violet,
communication
Six Stay-Connected Strategies: For Teens and Parents Who Don’t Share a Common Interest
I am often asked about how parents can stay connected to teenagers, when common interests are missing. There is no
boundaries
In-Charge Energy: Staying One Step Ahead of Tweens and Teens
Self-care (keeping your sanity care) isn’t easy during demanding seasons, and parenting a tween or teen is definitely classed as
COVID-19
Re-setting Friendships: What Parents Need to Know About the Return Back to School
There is always a natural shifting of relationships during transitions. Coming back from regular school holidays, graduating to the next
boundaries
Picking Your Battles: Strategic Moves for Parents of Teens
I have never met a teenager more dedicated to the art of being thirteen than Julia, whose mum brought her
COVID-19
Glimpses of a New Rhythm: Understanding the Process of Grief for Our Tweens and Teens
I’m getting glimpses of a new rhythm pitter patting around the corridors of my home. Are you? The tempo has
communication
The Biggest Heartache for Tweens and Teens Right Now & How We Can Help Lift the Mood
Many tweens and teens are very, very sad at the moment. School term is now finished and it’s time for
COVID-19
Edition 2: TOP PICK Resources for Tweens and Teens during COVID-19
This week I have again gathered THE BEST resources for tweens and teens that I can find. I have chosen
COVID-19
Home Will Be the Hero: Creating a Safe Place for Our Tweens and Teens
The feeling of packing your bags up and heading home is always bittersweet, especially if it wasn’t in the original
COVID-19
Edition 1: TOP Pick Resources for Tweens and Teens during COVID-19
Firstly, I want to send you a big virtual hug to families within Australia and overseas. My special thoughts go
teens
Questions Boys Ask About Physical Aggression
Many years ago my two primary school aged sons and I witnessed a very public domestic violence incident at a
body image
A Non-Mushy Love Letter to Your Daughter on Valentine’s Day
You may (or may not) buy your tween or teen a Valentine’s Day gift to remind them that they are
mental health
To the Girl Who is Apprehensive About the New School Year. I Get It.
To the girl who is apprehensive about the new school year. I get it. I remember the knot in
boundaries
Something Bad Might Happen: 5 Things Parents Tell Themselves When Making Decisions About Firsts
When my own children hit their tween years, I erred on the side of caution. I said “no” a lot.
communication
The Car Accident that Rocked My World: What I Learnt About Protecting My Kids
November 2019, 12.30pm. My husband’s phone rang. It was the phone call that no parent wants to receive. My son
communication
Characteristics of High-Quality Conversations: Tips to Maintaining Influence in Your Tween or Teen’s Life
I’ve often found myself talking to my husband about our children like they were aliens from another planet, different from
technology
They Sent a Nude: Thoughts to Prevent, Understand and Respond to Sexting
According to the Cyber Bullying Research Centre 15% of 12 – 17 have been asked to send a nude, and
boundaries
Setting up Social Media Safely: A Crash Course for Parents of Tween Girls
Michelle when should I allow my daughter to have aphone and social media account? All her friends are on snap
boundaries
We Are Always With You: Conversations that Dispel Myths and Assumptions
Today was a heavy-hearted day. I was invited to speak to a few hundred year 11 and 12’s about consent.
resilience
Trusting Your Gut: The Only Path to Whole-Hearted Parenting
Today I spoke to a father who was concerned about his children, 9 and 12. They sounded like great kids
mental health
Handling Life Like a Man: The Unique Way Self-Harm Impacts Boys
Most studies suggest females participate in self-harm at higher rates than males. The Child and Adolescent Self-Harm in Europe CASE
communication
The Eldest Child: Four Ways to Give Your Tween the Time They Need
Do you struggle to give your eldest child the time they need? Do you find that the demands of younger siblings
communication
How to Talk to a Teen About Counselling: Ideas That Could Make All the Difference
Please note: For the purpose of this article I have referred to a counsellor as anyone who may be in
siblings
Tackling Sibling Rivalry: Ways to Build a Supportive Culture in Your Home
I get asked questions about sibling rivalry almost every time I speak. Why? Well, it is probably because all of
communication
Responding to Pornography Exposure: A Guide for Concerned Parents
I find that all parents have a different response to statistics about pornography exposure, depending on their current experience. Some
resilience
The Day I Met Resilience: From Tough Places Good Things Can Grow
This topic is deeply personal to me. Why? Because resilience isn’t just a word to me. It’s something that I
communication
Living With Grumpy Tweens and Teens: 10 Clever, Common Sense Ways to Lift the Mood
Grumpiness. It’s not overly harmful, just difficult to live with. That’s why every parent needs to be armed with a
mental health
Five More Squats: Creative ways to say ‘I believe you can’
You may have heard people refer to resilience as the ‘bounce back’ factor which allows children to recover from trauma
resilience
Why Didn’t I Get Picked? Discovering the Importance of both Talent and Character
I don’t think that comparisons are always a bad thing. Comparisons can give us accurate perceptions about our strengths and
resilience
Big is Always Found in Little: How Small Talents Can Produce Big Rewards
Have you ever sat at your child’s end of year graduation and hopefully waited for them to receive an award?
communication
What to Say If Your Child is Self-Harming: A Guide to the Initial Discussion
Self-harm is something that is very difficult for caring adults to comprehend. It is also difficult for young people to
COVID-19
Compassionately Assertive: Five ways to approach a tech overloaded teen
Though-out the last few years technology has become an even more integral part of all our lives. For our teens,
communication
Even If…and Other Conversations to Combat Anxiety
There really is an anxiety epidemic impacting today’s young ones. Anxiety is the most common mental health issue they face,
boundaries
Soft and Close: My Go-To Strategy for Explosive Moments
When parents ask me how to handle a son who is aggressively pushing back against his dad, or a daughter
boundaries
How to Deal With an Entitled Teen: Strategies You Can Use Today
Given 963 million people go to bed hungry every night and 150 million children between the ages of under 14
communication
The Truth About a Teenager’s Love: Reassurance for Tired Mums
Many years ago a mother dragged her daughter to my office. When I say dragged I mean literally dragged. Emily
tweens
Entering the Teen Years: What to Expect When Your Child Turns 13
Like many parents you have probably spent the last thirteen years deliberately investing into your child’s development. From the moment
boundaries
Try Being 5 Minutes Late: Common Sense Ideas to Promote Resilience
I caught up with a mum over coffee this afternoon. She shared with me this gem, which is a great
communication
Bringing the Calm: How to Interrupt the Anxiety Loop in Your Home
It’s true. Some things are only understood once I was a parent. Having a child changed the way I assessed
friendships
How Nice Kids Handle Meanness: The Art of Pushing Back with Truth
“Our poor little girl is being called dumb. She’s becoming really anxious about going to school. It breaks my heart
mental health
You are Not Alone: Hope for Families Whose Children are Self-Harming
When parents first find out that their child is self-harming they usually feel alone. They often come to the conclusion
communication
Staying Connected: Three Communication Strategies for Parents of Teens
Research conducted by Mission Australia in 2011 shows that 60% of teenagers still choose to talk to their parents about
friendships
For My Younger Readers: Tips for Friends Helping Friends Who Are Self-Harming
When you and I were young, it was unlikely we ever had to support a friend who was self-harming, simply
communication
Is Snooping Ok? My Answer to a Common Parenting Dilemma
I recently received this question from a mum who found herself in a dilemma after snooping: ‘I read my daughter’s
mental health
Delay, Decide, Distract: 40 Ways to Help Young People Self-Care
If you have discovered that your child is self-harming you will be feeling a range of emotions – angry, sadness,
body image
Eight Things You Can Do To Help Your Daughter Love Her Body
Here are two emails I recently received which share parents’ concerns about their daughter’s body image. Hello Michelle, Love your
mental health
Emotions Demand Movement: Helping Teens Care For Their Own Well-Being
Knowing how to manage emotions and comfort ourselves when we are unhappy or distressed is a skill that can take
mental health
One Life Lesson My Father Taught Me: How Gratitude Really Works
I learnt so much about gratitude from my father, who, to this day, is the most optimistic person I know.
friendships
Standing Alone: The Ultimate Superpower
It is normal for pre-teens and teens to experience a rollercoaster ride of friendship highs and lows as they search
risky behaviour
When to Say ‘Yes’ to a Party: Six Important Questions All Parents Should Ask
Question 1: What Expectations Should I Put in Place? Even though you can’t control what your teenager does when
mental health
What To Do When All is Not Well: Stabilising a Teen or Tween Who is Struggling
For many years I ran a successful charity that supported young people and their families for 20 years. During that
new here?
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top reads
- 1. Try Being 5 Minutes Late: Common Sense Ideas to Promote Resilience
- 2. How to Deal with an Entitled Teen: Strategies You Can Use Today
- 3. Choosing a Counsellor: Ideas That Could Make All the Difference
- 4. Even If: Conversations to Combat Anxiety
- 5. What to Say if Your Child is Self-Harming: A Guide to the Initial Discussion