We love our little bundles of joy. As they slowly empty their wardrobe of the neatly folded clothes and throw them across the bedroom, it’s hard not to smile at their determination. Then you’ll find all the books removed from the bookshelf or the sticky handprints. I’ve even found play-doh stuck to the carpet! The …

This morning the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian announced that schools will reopen (including Lake Macquarie schools). All children will attend one day a week from the beginning of Term 2 Week 3 on Monday 11th May. This came as a shock for many parents who had been expecting to homeschool their children 5 days a …

As I sit here thinking about the challenges of homeschooling my kids are cleaning up at the end of their home school day. They’re moaning, arguing and asking questions. I find myself getting annoyed with them because I need to work. Now more than ever, I remember why homeschooling has never been an option I …

I think every parent can appreciate finding activities for the whole family to enjoy can certainly be challenging. I’ve had my fair share of lego towers and racing car tracks to last a lifetime and let’s face it, they’re more for the kids than us. Gardening is an activity your entire family can enjoy. Have …

Did you know that a $100 Creative Kids Voucher is available to all eligible children in NSW to help to pay for registration, participation and tuition costs? The voucher covers creative arts, speech, drama, dance, digital design, coding and music lessons and activities. To use your Creative Kids voucher, Lake Macquarie has more than enough …

Have you applied for your NSW Active Kids voucher yet?  The NSW Active Kids Vouchers are for children aged between 4 1/2 years and 18 years who are enrolled in school (from Kindergarten through to Year 12, children who are home-schooled or attending secondary education at TAFE NSW).  Each child must be a NSW resident …

Imagine you are standing in a beautiful garden, surrounded by flowers, trees and bees buzzing busily. There is a tiny sapling in amongst the beauty, just waiting to be nurtured and ready to grow and bloom. Your child is just like that sapling. They too need special care, attention and support to grow into the …

Here’s some fantastic news for some of our Lake Macquarie residents!  The Regional Seniors Card is available to eligible seniors allowing you $250 towards the cost of your travel. This card is available to eligible seniors who live in rural, regional and remote areas and Lake Macquarie is included in this list. You can use …

In the last few years, we’ve been blessed to have conversations with, guide and support our youth right here in Lake Macquarie. There’s a question we ask every single one of them: “Would you love more confidence?” Surprise or not, every single one says yes! We’ve asked them all to describe what confidence is, and so …

I don’t know about your kids, but going back to school can be a love-hate relationship at our house. First, it’s the rushing around getting all the things you left until the last minute, then once that’s all done it’s the waiting game. Now that we have a tween in our house, the nervous energy …

Would you believe, here in the Hunter Region alone during 2018, around 13.5% of pregnant women developed gestational diabetes? That’s one in 7.4 women, which is a huge number.1 I’ve been asked many times for my opinion on why this number is so high and I think a big factor is simply that people aren’t …

Not many days left now before public school goes back! We all know that whilst the days might feel long (Mum joke!!), those weeks will fly by in a blur. Then, like clockwork, the Monday before will be a mad panic of checking school uniforms, shoes and bags. That’s when you start to remember the …

The transition from primary to high school can be an exciting but daunting time for both children and parents. These foundational years are so important, and the balance of parenting and independence can be difficult to navigate. Throw in hormones and erratic emotions, changing friendship groups, testing the waters of relationships and social media and …

It’s that time of year where our social media is inundated with proud parents. Posts celebrating the big achievements of their offspring flood our feed. Photos filled with smiling kids holding trophies and certificates. I share in the happiness of my friends, congratulating those children who have worked hard to achieve their well-deserved public acclaim. …

Research tells us that when babies and children get what they need, it has a lasting effect on their future. This is one of the many reasons parents start to look at childcare for their children. However, it’s a bit like opening Pandora’s Box and it can easily leave a parent very anxious about making a …

We all know that children develop at different rates, but they all need support and nurturing to find their first smile, to take their first steps, and to utter their first words. And as they grow and develop, their needs grow too, some more than others. As parents, we want our children to be able to …

Part 1 – Where it starts So many mums expect themselves to parent as if they don’t have a paid job. Then they expect to work in their paid job like they don’t have a parenting role. We’ve fought so hard to ‘have it all’ there’s a drive to constantly ‘prove’ yourself in both areas. …

That blissful time being locked in the baby bubble is coming to an end. It’s time to get your head around returning to work after maternity leave but first, you need to brush up on your workplace rights. These rights are important because times have definitely changed for working women.   I’ve put together a …

So, you’ve had a new baby. Everything’s changed. You no longer hang out with work colleagues throughout the day. Your friends offer to go out to dinner and drinks frequently fall in the too hard basket. Your partner is at work. Whilst cooing at your baby is a wonderful pastime you crave adult conversation. Well, …

So, you’ve survived the first few months. Your baby has put on weight, smiles when you look at her and doesn’t seem too traumatised after a bath. You’ve worked out which nappies work for you, how to manipulate her into her clothing and sleep…well, that’s a work in progress! You’re improving at this baby looking …