The sun is still out. We took a week off last week to take the kids up the coast, 5 hours north of Sydney. We stopped to visit family on the way up and had some boating fun on Easter …
Tag: Family
Family Dysfunction
New eyes see old patterns.When someone new joins a family—like a daughter- or son-in-law—they often spot the dysfunction that others have learned to ignore, minimise, or normalise. It doesn’t mean they’re causing it. It means they’re not afraid to name …
Ask Yourself, Does This *Anger / Pain / Grief* Belong To Me?
For me, it was anxiety. I always felt a low level of anxiety in the background and wondered where it had come from. As an adult, I could see that same anxiety in my parents. It was their anxiety, and …
Apology in the Family
“As a therapist, I’ve noticed that people who grew up in families where no one apologized after disagreements and just let time pass often carry that experience into adulthood in unexpected ways. When conflict is ignored instead of addressed, it …
You Are The Gift
A little gift to share on Christmas Day. As Christmas day can come with many expectations and disappointments, you might like to take time to take care of your younger parts before, during and after the festivities. I hope your …
Family Secrets
Family secrets and discussing each other in secret can weigh heavily on individuals and a family.Many people will find some support helpful in gaining perspective and navigating these intense families. If this is you, reach out to a good therapist.Our …
The Most Effective Parenting Strategy
The key here is to be with your child without asking them to do anything or respond to anything. You are offering them the most precious thing you have—your presence and your attention.
Ariel’s Birthday
She came four weeks early on her grandmother’s 60th birthday. I remember watching her sleep in the special care nursery. She looked like a porcelain doll with no eyebrows or eyelashes. She was so beautiful and perfect in every way.That …