Areas I can help you with
Are you overwhelmed with all the different parenting books, guides, momfluencers and well-meaning family members? Do the phrases “Why don’t you just….” and “Have you tried….?” drive you mad? Are you finding it difficult to hear your own voice as you adjust to life with a new baby? Did you have a lovely baby/toddler stage but the juggle of school, work, sports and homework is testing your household to its limits? No matter what age your child is there are so many areas that can challenge and frustrate us as parents. We all know the ideal of how we would like to be but that is rarely the reality on an on-going basis. From adjusting to life with a small baby to adapting with your children as they grow and push for greater independence, here is a list of some of the areas I can help you with. This list is by no means exhaustive - book a 15 minute session to see if I can help you with your personal concern.
New Baby/New Mom
With a new baby the amount of information and ‘support’ given to new moms can be overwhelming. I can help you figure out how you want to approach life with your baby - not what your mom or mother-in-law did, not how your friend who had a completely different birth experience to you does it, not how the lady with the idealised life and the ring light for flawless skin suggests you do it! Does co-sleeping work for you? Fine. What about independent sleeping? Also fine. Feeding to a schedule vs on demand? Either choice is perfect if it works for you in your world. Let me help you trust your instinct, drown out the noise and figure out what you want to do.
Once that tiny newborn stage has passed I can help you choose and embed routines that work for you and your baby. Sleeping, feeding, socialising and even unwinding are all areas that can require thought and planning for a new mom.
How can you ask for the right kind of support from loved ones while still setting boundaries with them? This is a minefield for many. I can help you figure out the best way for you to approach these conversations.
Life with a toddler
Not every child goes through “The Terrible Twos” but regardless of whether they do or not there are still new changes and challenges to be faced
Do you have a toddler who wants to choose their own clothes or put on their own socks even when they can’t? Or when you need to get out of the house on time? There are strategies that can both support your toddler’s new desire for independence while still allowing you to actually leave the house some time that morning!!!
What is the best response when faced with a toddler meltdown? How do you keep your own cool while restoring calm? What strategies will actively reduce this behaviour in the short to medium term? Set up a call with me and find out.
Life with school age children and teens
Homework arguments? Household chores causing a row? Sibling rivalry? Do tensions boil over resulting in everyone becoming frustrated but with no idea how to stop it happening? Let me shine a light on systems and structures that actually work, from organising better to communicating differently.
Do you struggle to communicate effectively with your tween or teen? I can help you develop strategies that reduce confrontation and increase communication.
Are you concerned about guiding your child as they grow and develop greater independence? Learn to embed behaviours and habits that will help your child become the young adult you know they can be.
How do you talk to your child about sex? At what age should you start? How much information should you give them? What about when your teen has their first boyfriend/girlfriend, what do you say then? These topics can be really uncomfortable for parents. I can provide clear, actionable advice on how to bring up and maintain conversations around sex, puberty, relationships and sexuality.
Moving to a New Place?
I have quite a bit of personal experience at moving a family. When we had 3 children under 6 we moved within our home country - which might sound simple, but it was anything but! Leaving family, friends, support structures, childcare etc was a stressful experience. Later we moved 2 teens and a tween to the other side of Europe - a whole new world, literally, for all of us.
If you are facing this, let me help you make it easier. Is your/your spouse’s company requesting the move? I can guide you on how to interact with the relocation team to ensure the smoothest possible move. Choosing new schools? Finding a place to live? Figuring out how to socially integrate once you’re actually there, especially as the trailing spouse? I can provide specific steps and guidance that will make the move and the transition as stress-free as possible.