1. How old are your kids and what is one thing they've done recently that made you laugh? 13 and 16. My 13 year old is quick witted and often make me giggle usually by pretending to be me. My 16 year and I joke together a lot. Usually in high stress situations making light of the situation. 2. Parenting can be really stressful - how do you try to keep those stress levels down? My husband and I talk a lot. We take turns to be sad, mad and angry. 3. What led you to ReachOut Parents today? I need an outlet. I cant/don't want talk about it in person. 4. Whats your top tip for parents whose kids are about to enter teenage years? Try and remember how you felt at the same age on the bad days. Be approachable without judgement or they wont talk to you. 5. Whats the best thing about weekends? I work 7 days a week so don't really get "weekends". Probably that my kids are looming around and we sneak out for takeaway lunches/dinners. ... View more

I love that @Bnee28 , it can be so easy to take those things for granted sometimes, but they really are some of the most important things in life.  How old are your kids @Bnee28 ?    Today I'm grateful for being able to hug my kids every morning - even if the 3 year old has kicked me awake at 5am ... View more

I made them install an app(Kruzr) which would block their mobile notifications, so that they can't use it while driving. It also notified the driver about speeding. Give it a try ... View more

@Toddjames thank you for these insights and ideas! Very true that there are so many different things we can try other than antidepressants. There are certainly enough studies out there that show that regular exercise is just as beneficial, if not more, than antidepressants!    I think it's important to remember that antidepressants can help some people, and that it's always good to speak to a doctor , or even a few doctors, about whether antidepressants could be useful.    ... View more

i wonder how this turned out too, i feel for the mom wanting her daughter home but her partner feeling differently. i was in a relationship once where we disagreed so much about parenting and it felt like a really bad situation to raise a child in ... View more

Hi @Mitzi  My just 18 year old is in his first relationship and it has been a bit of a roller- coaster for me! I felt quite distanced from him for a while as he finished school, literally fled the nest(so to speak) and grew up over night. however i have kept the communication with him as strong as I can and we talk and text and he is sharing more and more (five months on).  I think the main thing I have learnt is to keep letting him know how much we love him and enjoy seeing him having fun and how much I loathe the social media side of these modern relationships! They seem so intense and there is no detachment time. (and they see things that distress them re their partner) We also keep encouraging him to spend time at home with his family even if its just for a meal or a chat. ... 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

Oh @jdbza I'm so sorry for you and your neice. That poor girl, having to deal with this must be so overwhelming for her. All I can think is how lucky she is to have a stable, loving, supportive influence like you in her life.   And I really hope you're accessing your support networks. This is a huge blow, don't weather it alone.   Do you think that there might be some benefit in it all being out now? In the sense that you're no longer dealing with the feelings of is she / isn't she, while watching your niece cope with her mum being sick. I know it's incredibly painful but much like lancing an infection, at least now it can heal.   Are you guys able to have a bit of a break now? Not a holiday, just a break from communication with your sister. So you and your neice can process it. ... View more

Hey @LovingThruBlue please don't ever apologise for things not resolving in a nice, manageable timeframe! Sometimes I think the biggest lie sold to us by television is the idea that issues can be sorted by the end of the episode. Life just is not that simple. Please feel free to start a new thread whenever you want to.    How did the meeting on Tuesday go?   And to help you more with the self care, head over here!   ... View more

Hi @taziness   That is amazing news!! You have really managed to turn this situation into an opportunity for learning and connection for you all. That's a huge win. I believe it's what all parents are working really hard for in crisis, to find a solution and support everyone in getting there. And when it happens without taking years, it's an amazing feeling. Make sure you take a moment to pat yourself on the back.     It sounds like you've got lots of great things planned for your daugters to attend. The Mindfullness camp sounds incredible. Don't forget to let us know how it goes for them.   It also sounds like you have some coaching lined up. I wasn't sure if that was for you or your girls.  If you're open to something for you, then the ReachOut Parents' Coaching could be perfect.   Thanks so much for coming back and updating everyone. Looking forward to seeing you again in the forums. :)  ... View more

My middle child is the one most like me of my kids. It makes her equally easy and hard to parent. Easy because I know exactly what she's thinking. Hard, because I know EXACTLY what she's thinking.  ... 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

Well done @seaglecc sounds like you all handled this beautifully. And well done on raising a daughter who not only understands the importance of asking for advice when she's unsure of things but talks to you about what's happening even when she knows she may not get exactly what she thinks she wants. There's a lot of young people who would have done ALL of this 'off radar' and a lot of parents who are the last to know. Congrats!   I'm also getting from your posts the importance of communicating with the bf or gf's parents. Did that come about from this situation or did you know each other already?   And I can't wait for the "Sex ed for Grandparents" thread. :)    ... View more

  Great suggestion @Kalis.   I also learnt about the approach of asking questions that make them think and recollect their day, like your friend does. Asking things like:  "what made you laugh today?" "what scared you?" "what inspired you?" and a really good one is "if you could go back, what would you do differently?" This can really open up the conversation.   Would this be an approach you could use to check in with your son to see how he's going each day @hippychick ?     ... View more

Hot. ... View more

That is very challenging @Tootsjac, and I'm sure must seem hurtful. Would your husband consider raising these concerns with your son?   @Mumofthree @ziggystarmum @Rehab @mum_of_four @mumlittlehelper Do you have any communication tips you could share from your experience? ... View more

Hi @Tulips, just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. I understand you see a counsellor regularly, but how are you coping between sessions?   I'm so sorry to hear about the birthday blowout. I always feel anxious about organising parties for this reason. Do you have friends that you think could be a source of support? It's so easy to get wrapped up in your own world and miss the signs that someone is struggling, but good mates will be there for a cuppa and a chat when you tell them you need them. ... View more

Hi @bstar,   Thanks for joining us here to talk about the concerns you have for your brother. I'd like to preface this post by saying that we can't provide any medical answers or advice here as that would contradict the community guidelines, but it does sounds as if some expert medical advice could be helpful in some of the situations you've described. And as tempting as consulting 'Dr Google' can be, it doesn't deal with the specifics of your family and how your brother feels.   What was clear from your post was the level of concern you have for your brother. Particularly, you are concerned about the health of your brother, given that he is often up late and frequently spends his afternoons and evenings indoors. You also mentioned that he plays touch (football?) and has recently begun working. Do you think your brother finds his gaming habits get in the way of his life and relationships, or vice versa?   You also mentioned that your brother is often arguing with your mum about going to play sport. Sometimes conflict can arise for a number of reasons but could your brother have other reasons for not wanting to participate? Did he used to enjoy playing sport but doesn't any longer?   It sounds like these concerns are causing a lot of frustration, and you are also concerned your mother doesn't have quite the same level of concern to help your brother. Although I do think some level of professional assistance would help, you may also find this article about effective communication with teens to be useful.   Please keep us updated with how your brother is doing, and let us know if those resources have been helpful. ... View more

How are you doing @Sadie? How is your daughter? ... View more

Oh, I like these points @Mitzi. Thank you for sharing. And I appreciate your recognition of not being the parent you wanted to be due to fatigue. It takes a lot to recognise our mistakes and we should give ourselves permission to be less than perfect in order to make better decisions next time. ... View more

Hi @scooty-dog_, how is your teen managing? It is a safe place to talk here but if you don't feel up to sharing yet, maybe some of the outcomes in this story might help you in yours? If we're off track with our support, please let us know how we can best help you. Hope you're doing well. ... View more

'we need to be aware of their dress code' – that captures the sentiment perfectly @readthemanual! Thanks for sharing. ... View more

@StHubbins So did you get a swimming pool? I'd be interested to know how you dealt with that, and even how you began the probing that made that discovery! It sounds challenging. ... View more

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

Hi @tenacious_dad, how is your son going? Did your discussion on warning signs help with his new relationship? ... View more

Hey @Redmond, thanks for sharing. Positive body image and self-esteem can be hard to encourage when teens are going through so much change already, but it sounds like you have started a conversation with your son to explore his unhappiness. How is he feeling now? Is he still taking the medication? Acne can be really tough to cope with, and may occur right when kids want to look their best. I'm sure your support has helped him during this difficult time. ... View more

Hi @messylife, How have things been recently? You said you felt like Mr 10's only hope at normalcy but that he doesn't get along with the other kids. Are your partner's two kids around the same age as him? Does he ever have to help with care for or play with Miss 3? I could imagine them having different entertainment needs. A friend of mine is in a similar situation and the older child struggles to connect with the young children but comes out of their shell for one-on-one time with his dad or around other adults. Please let us know how you're doing. ... View more