Spaghetti bolognaise is a go-to staple in most households. And it’s not hard to see why. Full of protein and carbs, with the sweetness of tomatoes, and lots…
What kid doesn’t love chicken nuggets right? And there are some good brands out now with organic chicken, and healthier batter. But, still, some chicken nuggets leave a…
There’s nothing quite like a winter vegetable soup to make you feel warm on the inside, when it’s cold on the outside! This tummy-warming recipe comes from Mandy Sacher.…
Going on a holiday or weekend getaway with the family is a great way to escape from your day to day routine, create long lasting memories and spend quality…
The title sounds like the starting point for an article on how to explore the Amazon while avoiding piranha, or maybe eating puffer fish in Japan without suffering terminal…
When I think about keeping my children safe the first thing that comes to mind is keeping them safe from other people. But how? I can’t wrap them up…
I was ready to be a mother at the age of four, it was 1978.
In this busy modern world, cities are expanding and backyards are shrinking. Yet the desire to grow food is more pressing in the face of rising food costs and…
It may have taken a while to show up this year, but winter is here and making its presence felt across the country with chilly weather and, in some…
It’s well known that getting children immunised helps protect them from some serious diseases. What is less well known is that women can get immunised during pregnancy for…
How would you like an extra $200 for the family budget? By switching your power to the smaller, smarter power company Electric Kiwi, that’s exactly what we’ll guarantee…
When most people hear the word “gamer”, they usually add the prefix “video” subconsciously. But, while digital games have slowly become accepted as part of mainstream entertainment, the…
I am happy when my children are happy. Sounds pretty simple right? Well, I would be fooling both myself and you to say this state of utopia…
As a parent, happiness tends to be measured by your child’s happiness. All we want is for our kids to be happy and heathy, which makes us happy…
I don’t know about you, but breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day. But it is one so many of us have so little time…
Happiness cannot be measured by one simple, single moment. It comes in many forms. A look, smile, smell, feeling, thought, word or just simply, life.
Hi Jen, I was wondering if you had some advice that could help us. We have been looking for a good way to help our son release his…
That never-ending hunt for happiness. Do a Google search and there are countless blogs and websites on finding your true happiness and inner meaning. It’s the meaning behind…
I have always been taught to tell the truth so here it is… I have kids. Three of them actually – so that makes me a ‘Dad’ -…
Our feature at the moment is New Beginnings and over the last couple of months, we’ve heard HEAPS of amazing stories about people who have had all kinds…
When a child is born, her brain has been given a starter set of instructions as to how to lay its basic structure out and begin the important…
The cupboard of dreams. High on the top shelf in the linen cupboard are new beginnings for the three children and the two grandchildren we raised – school…
Around the world, caring for mothers after childbirth has traditionally been a matter of great importance. In many societies the practical knowledge of how to help mothers after…
After separating one of the last things you think about is how you will manage the job of parenting with your ex partner!
In the life of a garden it always feels like you are in the middle of something, the middle of a season, weeding, watering or harvesting. But rarely…
We get it – parenting is hard at the best of times. School is back and you’re busy packing lunches and managing an ever-changing schedule of sports training,…
What a cruel end to a lazy, warm summer! Kids’ feet cramped by shoes; t-shirts and togs replaced with stiff uniforms, and parents girding themselves to become disciplinarians again.…
We’re flying head first into the new school year and, if you’re like us, we’re cracking into the start of another crazy year as best prepared as we can…
In our series on Great Kiwi Families we get to meet kiwis (new and old!) who are doing cool things. Jackie Kulak is a new-to-New Zealand mum with…
After 9 years of me being the “primary caregiver”, hubby and I are now swapping roles! It’s definitely a new beginning and a new chapter for us.
Charlie can whistle now. He worked it out on his own, more or less. One day, quite by mistake, out came a toot tweet, and he giggled, Hey!…
A common question parents ask cycling instructors is “how will my child become more confident on a bike?” Kiwi cycling instructor Marilyn Northcotte passes on her tips for parents…
The New Year is always a time for resolutions and the chance for change. Sometimes (if not most of the time) we go for the grand gesture, only…
To look at me, you might see a bit of a Mumsie. And you’d be right! I’m 46 years old, with two daughters, a sedate driving style and…
“Don’t stress”- haha- who even says this 4 weeks out from Christmas? Well, I’m giving the “don’t stress” idea a go – surely it seems worth a try?…
Learning is something that we humans are programmed to do. We arrive helpless and dependent but wired to acquire language, and anyone who’s ever lived with a toddler…
You hear this said all the time, “we live in a different world these days…” Well, I’ve been thinking about things that are ‘different’… but also somehow the same,…
Life Love Living Learning Without one there are none of the others. Our bodies, hearts and minds connect each of us to ourselves, others and the world through…
A lot happens in our New Zealand Summer school holidays. We have the long summer holiday itself, Christmas, New Year and then the build up to going…
Having recently celebrated (or not) my 66th birthday, I have had time to reflect on my journey. On many stages of this journey I frequently thought I knew…
One of the major challenges within your blended family will be how to bond your stepchildren with your own children. We all have that ideal fantasy, The Brady…
Make a fast rag tag Christmas garland…… and a cheat to make it even faster! Hello again……
Yes- it’s possible to have a beautiful Christmas tree with minimal effort! Late November wouldn’t be late November if someone wasn’t trying to get you into the festive mood……
I have been thinking about traditions, and family, and how to make the effort lately. It’s easier not to make the effort. You feel the desire not to…
My heart died a little bit when my daughter got ill and my arms could not comfort her. When she looked at the light, and turned towards the…
Join Snowplanet in kick starting the ho-ho-ho holiday season by welcoming Santa to Snowplanet on November 21st! They have created a fantastic and magical winter wonderland where Santa…
Miss L is 7 and continually soils her undies (heavy skid marks) and once at the local pools, pooed her togs. We thought this was because she was…
Power bills. They’re something that we parents don’t get overly excited about, especially when we’re digesting the huge figure in that dreaded white envelope that appears in the…
One of the things we love about our series on Great Kiwi Families is the way that we get to meet so many people who are following their…
Hi Jen, I have a nine-year-old boy who is very pessimistic and has developed a real talent for spotting problems. Even though we are very fortunate in our…
I have a dream. And it really is that – a dream. Because this will never be a reality. I would love to give up sugar. But ALL…
To most people this might mean travel, career, money, success, so what does it mean to me? In my previous life, pre-children that is, I would have said,…
It’s taken as read in modern ‘first-world’ existence that everyone should follow their dreams – after all, how else can you expect to be happy? Failing to…
Sticks and stones may break my bones and make my carrots wonky!
Blended families are complicated. They always include drama from somewhere, whether it’s an adjusting child, a bitter ex, family court battles or child support, it’s all stressful and…
I didn’t dream this.
I read an inspiring interview with Australian Kim Graham Nye, co- founder of GDiapers, in Conscious Company, a magazine promoting business with a mission. Kim and her husband,…
After 30 years of marriage raising three of our own children and taking in two foster children with all its ups and downs, our nest was finally empty.
As part of our ongoing Side Hustle Series, we meet Grace Xue – founder of Lighthouse At-Home Childcare. Partly in response to the needs of her own child,…
Is it ever too late to follow your dreams? What was your first dream for yourself? I’ve been surprising my middle-aged mummy self with a whole new way…
The Spirit of Adventure Trust provides one of the best and most unique youth development programmes in New Zealand.
I am passionate about food and health but I don’t expect my kids to be. I know I wasn’t when I was a kid.
Just over 2 years ago, I became a single dad with shared care of my then 1-year-old daughter. My journey to parenting in ‘1 Player mode’, as I call…
When you think about how passionate you are about your family, ask yourself this question: “What are the three most important investments you could make for your family?” …
As a mum I want the best for my kids and one of the most basic ways to ensure they get the best out of life is to…
One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the ability to be mindful – to be still and be in the moment. Learn about mindfulness…
Passion is an interesting word, and somewhat over-used these days, as you might realise when faced with the dictionary definition: passion, aside from its sexual meaning, is defined…
How does your family move together? Is family time also TV/couch time? Did you know that there is an epidemic in our society that is causing sickness and…
Holidays can be great times for reconnecting with our families and reinvigorating our passion for spending time together; whether we’re heading out of town, spending time with others…
My eight year old daughter has been having a really tough time handling her emotions lately, particularly anger. She has always been a sensitive girl and somewhat reactive…
So surely I can’t be the only mum out there who has wondered “Can I make a themed cake myself or do I really have to pay $150 – $200 for something…
Becoming a mum was the ultimate experience for me. It was something I always knew I would love. I have a medical condition that made it difficult for…
Did you ever hear “wait until you are a parent?” It took becoming a parent for me to grasp the scope of commitment and sacrifice, expense and rewards…
When our teens are going through a rough time it really is hard to think about anything else. Sometimes nothing is actually said but their misery or silence tells you…
Te Reo Māori is one of New Zealand’s three official languages (the other is New Zealand Sign Language) and Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is a great opportunity to…
Giving up alcohol for a month to be part of the Dry July fundraiser, doesn’t mean you are admitting to having a problem. On the contrary, it usually…
I suspect I’m not the only one who takes hundreds of photos of my kids, only for so many of them to languish somewhere on my computer files.…
Good news, kiwi families! Visits to your family doctor will soon be free for children under 13. From 1 July 1 2015, all children under 13 are eligible for…
Kids content on our television is in a precarious position. We just have to look at the demise of John Campbell’s programme on TV3 to see how stories…
Did you know what an incredible biological feat it is to conceive a child? I knew for some people it was a challenge, but it wasn’t until I…
Is bowel cancer on your radar? If not, you’ll likely find the following statistics as sobering as I do:
Four years ago, I discovered a pile of unopened utility bills on my husband’s desk. They were buried under a pile of sweet wrappers, junk mail and cat…
Did you spot a lot of posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter over the Mother’s Day weekend from mums all around the world?
Blended, re-partnering, stepfamilies, whatever you want to call it, life can be pretty complicated when you and your partner have children from previous relationships. And when you finally…
At the end of last year I was eating lunch when my mobile rang. The voice on the other end explained very matter of factly that I had won…
The immediate response to this title for most parents would be “but families are constantly being challenged!” That probably applies more today than it has for a long…
Picture this: You’re aged 60 and semi-retired Regular contributions to your retirement scheme over the years will soon pay off and you’re feeling quietly confident that in five…
Juggling family duties when a new born comes along, can have its challenges. Time to prepare a well balanced meal full of the right nutrition and meeting every…
Imagine having just given birth and being told by the doctor that your baby probably wouldn’t live, that you should get ready to say goodbye. But then baby…
Grandparents or kin who find themselves in a position of having to raise children at a later stage in life face many challenges:
If your family is anything like ours, life is never predictable and certainly never stands still. Challenges to our family’s way of life, our values, our routines and…
“You don’t understand!” “You never let me…” “It’s not fair!” “I hate you!”… These and other hurtful words are often heard by parents from angry, upset children, resulting…
Our family’s biggest challenge is making time. Time is a precious resource I crave. The 19th century American author, Alice Morse Earle wrote, “The clock is running. Make…
“There has been a lot of talk online about child abduction and stranger danger lately and I am starting to feel really anxious about my children’s safety. I…
When we opened La Boca Loca in April 2011, we had a clear goal: to bring the freshest flavours of Mexico to Wellington. Our mission was to recreate…
Welcome to my world of creating a blended family. My world of love, laugher, fun, stress, anxiety and chaos… This is me… A Wife, a Mother, a Step-Mother, an…
Nutritionist Claire Turnbull has recently published a new book – Feel Good for Life and we thought she might have some valuable thoughts to share with parents, because who doesn’t…
Pondering how best to grow healthy, well-nourished kids is something that occupies the mind of almost every mother. This Mother’s Day, ChildFund is giving Kiwi and Kenyan mums…
Every year, Deaf Aotearoa chooses a Deaf person to be the Face of NZSL Week. This year, it’s Dylan Louie, a young Auckland father. Dylan tells us what…
I think most parents worry a bit about having their children’s photos online, especially in something like Facebook. I know I’m pretty careful with my setting in this…