Hi @missymoo13 , welcome to the ReachOut community! It takes strength to reach out for support, and your willingness to connect here shows just how resilient you are as a parent. It's clear that you care deeply about your children and their well-being.  I’m really sorry to hear about the challenges you and your family have faced and are currently facing. Dealing with family violence and the subsequent impacts on your children sounds incredibly painful and overwhelming, and I wanted to acknowledge your courage in facing such difficult circumstances. It's understandable to feel let down by systems that were meant to protect your family. Your commitment to self-care amidst these circumstances is admirable. Taking care of yourself, no matter how small the gesture, is crucial during tough times. Your tip for parents navigating the teenage years is insightful and reflective of your understanding of the importance of giving teens the space to grow and discover themselves. It can be really important to strike that balance between offering support and granting independence.  I encourage you to create your own thread here to share more about your journey and to connect with other parents who may be going through similar challenges. And I wish you all the luck in finding connection and support within the ReachOut community ... View more

My lovely, healthy children. My well-being. The ability to go my own way. ... View more

I’m so glad things have improved. Sounds like you and ur wife are a good team 🙂 ... View more

Loved reading these posts about what people are reading! That Claire Bowditch book looks great @ceskia22, I might have to check it out.   One of the best parent - related books I've ever read was "Confessions of a Domestic Failure" by Bunmi Laditan. I am in a book club with some family members and when it was my month to pick I chose that one and I really loved it. It also led to some beautiful discussions about motherhood and its identity, and the expectations on women to parent in specific ways that are unrealistic - the book is also HILARIOUS!    We're currently reading "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong. Its written quite beautifully and is about family, written from the perspective of a son to his mother about relationships and Vietnamese culture. I am not too far in yet, but so far so good!  ... View more

Hi @ mirvat   It sounds like you guys have a great set up! Managing to entertain that age range is no easy feat, and I speak from experience. I know in my house there's a tendency to let the youngest have his way and just let the elder ones off attending but then we're not doing something as a family. I'd love to hear what sort of things you guys do. And how you went about introducing that as a tradition in the family. Have you always done it that way or did it evolve over time?   Also, if you're new to forums in general and would like a bit of a walk-through. Click here for our new 'how to' video. ... View more

Hi @Aussiemom   Thanks so much for the update. It's wonderful to hear that he's doing so well. It sounds like he might be feeling happy. Is that how it feels to you? How is he and the family managing his distance education? I know you had some concerns. Did it turn out better than you thought or is it difficult? ... View more

How has everything been since this coversation @Crossfitmum?  ... View more