At some point, every parent faces this resistance. We had it this week with one of our boys. He’s having a tough time because his normal group of friends have stopped playing with him. He’s in the playground reading by himself. The first feeling this created for me was sadness…

My kids are now 9 & 12. A few days ago my eldest told me I was ‘less naggy’ than I used to be. Is it true? I don’t know and it doesn’t matter because it’s true to my son, and he matters. Did it hurt? Yes. I never wanted…

I did another podcast interview this week. With Matt. In it we discussed how we set our expectations for our children. We agreed we didn’t want to set the bar too low, doing things for them they can do themselves and robbing them of the ability to look after themselves…

Rising COVID in Europe, UK lockdown that looks set to last and the US attempted coup. Stressful times that will sap your patience, suck you into social media, make you stay up later than is good, sleep worse, and take your attention away from your children. That’s what’s happened to…

I’m writing this at 6:20am on a Friday in January 2021, before anyone else is up. I realised on my way downstairs, as I passed his room, how proud I am of my eldest son. Last night when I was putting him to bed, he asked me what thing made…

What with Biden in and Trump out, and various vaccines making their way into the veins of many millions, it feels like maybe, just maybe, it’s time to start looking forward a bit further ahead in life. It feels like when you’re out in nature, on a long walk, and…

Rising COVID in Europe, UK lockdown that looks set to last and the US attempted coup. Stressful times that will sap your patience, suck you into social media, make you stay up later than is good, sleep worse, and take your attention away from your children. That’s what’s happened to…

I don’t know about you, but for me, everything feels so bloody hard at the moment. Lockdown, governmental madness (unless you’re in NZ, lucky you), WFH, shorter days, longer nights and no end in sight. But, but, but, but. BUT. Like my old rugby coach used to say, if you…

Bar breathing, very few things come naturally, without effort. Our children teach us that. We get to see up close that everything needs to be learned — to roll over, eat, walk, talk — everything. It’s a steady structural construction. We learn how to pull ourselves up before we can…