Hey @jackfruithouse3, in my experience it could be a good opportunity to help your son build positive relationship skills. If they are allowed to hang out - at your house while your around like you say - you can help him build a respectful and healthy relationship which is an important skill he needs to learn during his teenage years. If you say yes, he'll be more likely to talk to you about it and you have more of an opportunity to influence... Love to know what you decided! ... View more

I found that it's harder and harder to get them to talk to me. Once they were chatty now it's like pulling teeth....just one syllable is all I get! But it does worry me, I want them to feel comfortable talking to me, or I guess, if not me that they are talking to someone. I will try some of the questions in the link ... View more

I think the party analogy is also a good one.   I always try to remember that this is how communicatiopn and socialising happens now and it's an important part of how they learn to interact....   These young people seem a bit older but I'm sure it's similar for our under 18s too... ... View more

I love this story - such a simple thing and maybe something that you might even think would be the opposite of the time to connect! Thanks for sharing this Mitzi it means a lot to hear how things are for you and your son... ... View more

Coffee, sushi and reading are definitely great for me too - but I also do really like to cook! I try to get creative and not just do the same old-same old.. ... View more

Not watching the Oylmpics myself, I just can't get into it! ... View more

I don't have girls myself, but would be keen to hear from others.... I remember it from my teen years though! ... View more

Thanks @melindas, that was so helpful for me to read your posts here... You've given me hope that help is out there. And yes, got to make the most of those great moments and remember them (and encourage the kids to remember them too).... ... View more

So sorry your daughter had such a terrible experience at the GP @Mbfwt! Some GPs really do miss the mark when it comes to mental health and I definitely think it's worth getting a second opinion. Your counsellor knows your daughters mental health in much more detail than the GP... If you are worried, I'd really suggest you try a GP or psychiartrist at your local Headspace Centre. They are specialists in young people's mental health and can talk you through all the pros and cons to help you make a decision. They way I like to think of it is if they had a broken arm, I wouldn't hesitate to give them all the medication they need to get better, and so I shouldn't think of mental health any differently.. Here's a link to find a Headspace in your area: ... View more

The connection is so important but does grow and evolve along with us.... Keep on talking, but don't hover... Work out how to maintain it as relationships change ... View more

Let us know how you get on @Stephs_Mum ... View more

Thanks @vallyval for the update... This can give us all hope... One step at a time (and there might be bumps on the road) but change is possible ... View more

Hey @Redmond, how are things? Let us know how things are going.... ... View more

Thanks so much for your open honest and brave post @Stephs_Mum... I totally hear you, and can relate.. There are times when I find myself responding with frustration instead of empathy - I know it's not good for me and it's not good for them - mostly I can catch myself feeling it inside and TRY not to show it on the outside, but I'm sure I don't hide my frustration 100% - and sometimes not at all - and I wodner about the impact that has. One thing I find is that when I'm tired, stressed and run down myself, my capacity for empathy and patience is also diminished.. One thing I know I can do to help the situation is practice self-care vigilantly. Make sure I have my own support and people to talk to (including even a counsellor just for me sometimes), take time out, get proper sleep, eat well, move my body and make time for the things that I love to do. If I'm looking after my emotional health, the more capacity I have for empathy and patience. The other thing I try to do is really put myself in their shoes. To do that I try to remember that sometimes it's not even about masquerading in physical symptoms but instead that mental health difficulties do cause physical symptoms. Someone once explained it to me like this: think about the last time you were doing something that stressed you out - maybe it's public speaking, heights, and exam/test etc. You have a physical reaction to that stress - for me it's a knot in my stomach and clenched teeth and furrowed brow. And that's normal stress, and a normal physical reaction. Imagine now that for you it's a mental illness, that stress is amplified and so is the physical response - they are experiencing these symptoms that are not in their control... And further to that, even if the symptoms were not physical, and the symptoms were all experienced as emotional/mental, then we need patience and empathy for that. I try to catch myself buying into the stigma and misunderstandings of mental health. If my child had a broken leg, or god forbid cancer, I'm sure I would have endless patience & empathy for whatever they needed to get get through the day and to get through this illness. So why is my thinking changed just because it's a different type of illness that I can't see. Anyway, these are just some of the thoughts I've gone through myself, maybe something might strike a chord with you - my best advice really is self-care which builds up your capacity for patience... Let me know what you think ... View more

Wow @AmyJay - teenage song... Very funny but also very catchy! ... View more

Hey @JenniferS, what a great habit to get in to! It reminds me of this video I watched, and the young man was reflecting on when he was a teenager and every day it was just "how was school?" and he wasn't really sure if his family really meant it, could he open up to a question like that or do you end up saying "it was good", when maybe it wasn't? This was the video:   ... View more

Let know how it goes @Kiwiinoz ... View more

So true maggiemay- sometimes I wonder what's happening with others my kids ages, is this normal for a teen or is something else going on? ... View more

Only natural to be worried in that case! But glad you guys had such a good chat about it in the end ... View more

Such pride the parents and community had in the students - wonderful storytelling! ... View more

Hi @taokat, sorry to hear about the suicide at your daughters school. It can have a ripple effect but it sounds like the school is doing the right thing by talking about it and making sure people know where to go for help. Awesome how proud you are of her and that she's been working on her wellbeing. Does she use the ReachOut site for young people? I like their app Breathe, its aimed at young people but good for any age really. Hope to keep seeing you around... Would love to hear your thoughts on any of these discussions... ... View more

@readthemanual wrote: second thought: if the children are to drink anyway, why don't we let them drink and test their boundaries at home? Will it help? I think so, to minimise the harm that might occur and also to make it not such a mysterious and appealing thing to do behind your back! ... View more

We're grateful for 1 heaters & hot water bottles in winter 2 that we all don't like green beans so we don't have them! ... View more

Love your honesty - thanks @olliefinches ... View more

How have things been this weekend @CareBear? ... View more

Ha! Imagine all those disappearing Milo tins across the country! ... View more