With the staying in a room and not helping out with household chores and keeping her room tidy sounds very much like my daughter!! Even though she is pretty helpful when she needs to be ie: an example of damage of a recent storm we had here on our farm and assisting with helping out with our farm animals. I found that things were better when I learned to compromise with her and let her choose what she chores she wanted to. Bathroom, backroom tidy and front verandah sweep out and feeding of animals on the weekends. My compromise that even though hay had to be out to the animals in the mornings, I'd be happy to let her do her chores over the weekend when the time suited her but they had to be done by the weekend finishing. And they are. I guess something you could try? Let her make a rule and choose her chores and compromise together? And my daughter's room? I learned it was her space and she was able to live in as she pleased. Hard for me to do as I am a cleaner and I like my house in order. I learned also that when her room started to smell she would clean it up in her own time. There are also a few girls at her school I would love for her to stay away from and she does anyhow as she has made her own mind up about them. I also learned never to tell my daughter she couldn't speak or see them as knowing her she would find every way possible to go against my own wishes. I am thankful she has made the choice to stay with a group of fantastic kids at school and away from the troublemakers. I have never been in a situation with my children being involved with police and troubles so unfortunately, I can't help there.  While we want our kids to talk to us sometimes it is best for them to come to us and we should be prepared to drop everything to listen and be ready with a shoulder to cry on. Teenagers really do struggle at this time and we parents are so helpless because much of what they are going through is so much different to when we were younger ourselves! We are forever learning!! Sometimes I wish there was a parenting book on the day our children were born, but we find the answer along the way somehow. It is hard. Very hard~!! with children lying...I haven't met one child who hasn't lied and lying usually has a reason behind it. How do we find it? Through communication. It takes a long time... Hang in there, Dad and Mum!! Well done for reaching out! That's the hardest part I believe! REaching out. Hopefully, you can all find the right path to take soon.  :) ... View more

Been doing house meetings fir as long as i can remember and when i was younger my family did the same. Its very beneficial. Nice to see it recommended in the group ;) everythings dried out and damage was fallen trees etc. Not the house thankfully! Kids were a huge help! Master 13 was a whiz with the chainsaw. All those lessons with step dad has helped. Daughter helped us with reattachment of a lamb who was rejected from mum and successfully got them back with each other. Kids have been absolute troopers in the last few days with both cookingv dinner last night demanding i take a bath and relax my sore body which i did  :) have a good day!  ... View more

Sorry i didnt join in. Huge week and huge clean up after a storm we had. Our back room flooded and we had ses and firies out helping us out with damage and a tv tower about to fall onto our powerlines! Waa extremely tired and kids and i ended up in bed last night by 8pm!. In answer to the topic: the most importsnt thing ive learned in life is never to sleep on sn arguement. Fortunately our family are quite in tune and there are rarely fights if ever or arguements thanks to 2 weekly house meetings but if there is we give each other space to breathe and collect our thoughts and tackle together to compromise or sort it out. Off to work with a 6.30am start. Have a good day all! ... View more

Youre in luck. I will be home friday so yes for sure. Will be there :) ... View more

Kids and i are doing good. Sorry for slow reply. Been busy today tidying up our farm and my elderly farmer friend as well for thunderstorm on its way. Much needed rain as its a drought here. Young lady in question has rebelled. She believes the family she lives with now are cool because they let her do whatever she wishes. I heard from her grandmother who.has shown absolute disappoint and worry in her but is helpless to do amything. As our wonderful police tell us sadly theresnot mucvh that can be done as she is of age to do as she pleases. I have been to see my own counsellor and have stepped back. I need to as my own children need me. But yes we are doing good. Ending is near the end for the year and ny daughter has been looking for work to do over 6 weeks of school holidays throughout christmas. My son had his last game of cricket for the year tonight and cant wait to play next year for the remaining part of summer. Thsnks for asking :) hope everyone else is well too!! ... View more

Yoga has taught me to breathe. I was so uptight and my body was in so much emotional pain from various of stresses and accidents ( a kick by a horse in my coccyx) that left me too scared to do anything as i was such a klutz at times! I am the one who ends up getting into strife! Last year i ended up with tennis elbow which has now also completely healed through physio and acupuncture. I also ended ip breaking my right foot chasing after geese and rolled my foot on a rock. I missed bootcamp for 9 weeks and was becoming restless. I need exercise in my life as i suffer from graves disease and try to keep healthy as possible. So i was introuduced to yoga and felt amazing after my first session! It was perfect throughout my recovery!! I was amazed at how alive i felt and omg! I can actually breathe again! That pain in my chest from holdinv my breath too much now gone! Yoga really does relax you and correct you. Its sad my class is only for adults as our teacher isnt licensed yet for children as i believe my children would love yoga. My daughter will join me in meditation at home some sundays and some yoga stretches. Our group is only small but we apprevlciate it so much in our small country town! Id love to see yoga in schools though as i believe it would really benefit tje students through their own problems asnd help them find a balance. It would be perfect around exam time! Couldnt recommend yoga enough really! Mefitation part of yoga is extremely important. Everyone shpuld spare 10 mins a week just to meditate. Healthy mind. Healthy soul. ... View more

Hi all. Im a 45 year old mum.to 3 children and 5 step children. I am a home cleaner twice a week and i cook 3 times a week for our fellow neighbouring elderly farmers. I also help out with shearing and wool sorting when the time comes and also babysit every school holidays. Once a fortnight i volunteer in the school run donut van and am currently undertaking study as a school support worker. My kids are my world. My daughterr who is 14 is a fantastic takented yoing lady through art and singing. My son 13 suffers with aspergers and is improving as he grows and is an aspiring sportsman through cricket and football. I myself am involved in bootcamp sessions run daily and do once a week yoga and pilates. They are my stress relief go to. Gardening on our farm helps too. I found reach out through an internet search through tears of sadness and needed somewhere to go to release and hopefullhopefully get some advice and help. I guess my top tip for parents which has worked for my own children is to be there ready and wiling when yoir cvhildren need you but allowing tjem space to learn in life and school and of themselves. Best thikng about weekends here is getting together as a family when dads home ( works away in tje mines 5 weeks with 5 days home) and just enjoying laid back fun. Bbqs in the warmer weather are brilliant too. ... View more

  My children are aware of her situation and were nothing but nice to her. She has chosen to move onto a family known to police. I am worried for her but as police have said she made her own bed. She has missed more school days thsn ever and today her first lot of exams. Of course none of us can force her to get help but hope she does realise so many of us tried to help her and she treated all of us badly. She has always pushed others away instead of dealing with her problems. We really were getting somewhere until she realised rules had to be follwed and she tested me and her teachers. I am just too kind snd will help anyone. I am hurt myself and now need to say no and concentrate on my own family. I will always worry over her but its not my problem to deal with now. Its up to her. So many advised and gave her ideas on help but it was up to her to seek it. I didnt kick her out i was nice about telling het perhaps i cpuldnt help her asnd it was best she leave. She agreed and said good cause my friends said i csm move in tyomorrow. This surtprtised me. Her accusations of me kicking her out was false. If anythinv she waited til i saud something before she dropped a bombshell onto me and then has her wonderful story of how i threw her out. This hurts. I would never do that to anyone. Or stop them should they wish to leave. This experience is not what i had hoped for. :( ... View more