On Mother’s Day, I like to enjoy something fresh and flavoursome. At the super market today, I picked up a Salmon Steak, smoked – ready for use! I…
April is World Autism Awareness Month. In New Zealand, autism affects one person in 100; that’s around 40,000 New Zealanders. You might not be aware that there are a…
Every year when winter hits, we wonder how can we keep our children from getting sick. It’s a good question but there are no easy answers. Cold and…
Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and things don’t end up as you think they will. However, blended families can also be great. Here’s a bit about…
Growth can be either outwards or upwards, and that applies to families as much as anything else. A growing family may be one that is adding to its…
During menopause there are lots of changes that happen within the body. Many body systems are affected as one hormonal surge create deficiencies in another. The body constantly…
The Napier Grandparents raising Grandchildren group invited me to attend the Christmas lunch with members of this support group. A flight from Auckland down to Napier was upon one…
Food has become such a hot topic. Everywhere we turn there are messages bombarding us about what we should eat and how we should feel while we’re eating…
It’s not that there’s a greater number of us – still just the three – but at least one of us is growing. Of course, we remember the…
Our home grows frequently with over energetic teenagers! They blaze into our house brimming with smiles, flailing hair, bags of clothes, giant oversized art folders, the crinkly sound of…
“No matter what you’ve done for yourself or for humanity, if you can’t look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you…
We thought our family had stopped growing at two kids. It seemed like the financially responsible thing to do, and my ever practical partner pointed out that we’d…
With all three of my children, we received stern letters from Births, Deaths and Marriages telling us that we needed to hurry up and register their births. And with…
It’s a well known principle that including 5+ vegetable and fruit servings a day is a great foundation for your daily eating habits. 5 would be an absolute…
For many, creativity in the kitchen is a far off concept that doesn’t get much thought.
Often grandparents find themselves unexpectedly placed in a position where they are needed to raise their grandchildren. This is a life changing situation for all involved and can…
Over the last few months I have been fortunate to try out some new exercise equipment all with different fitness benefits.
Back in the spring when the garden was still mostly an idea and good intentions, seeds, pots and a good quality seed raising mix were gathered together. Some…
“Creativity” – what comes to mind? Inner dialogue such as “I don’t have time for creativity,” or “my kids have time for creativity but I don’t, I have…
These raw cake pops are seriously impressive and are a treat that is guilt-free and surprisingly good for you! Containing no processed sugar, gluten and dairy, they are…
New Year is usually a mix of celebrations, well wishes and New Year’s resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are typically something like: “I want to lose weight”,” I want…
Food is a big part of our culture and traditions in New Zealand. It can be as simple as meeting up with a friend for coffee to the…
We’re heading into the Christmas / Chanukah Holiday “Silly” Season. It’s also the time of the summer solstice, when the southern hemisphere has turned its belly up towards…
I don’t know whether it’s cliché or a snippet out of a self-help seminar welcome packet, but lately every day feels like a celebration.
I remember a tale I heard years ago that has really stuck with me. It was about a two friends clearing away the possessions of an elderly mother…
Moving to a new school is hard for any kid, but it’s especially tough for students with learning and behaviour needs and we, as parents, need to be…
Yay! Advent is my favourite season in the church calendar, and it’s here! I love to celebrate Advent and so I’ve put together 11 great ways to celebrate…
Over the next couple of months, we’ll be looking at how some great kiwi families celebrate and the first family is the McAllister family. I find large families…
As a child growing up we just simply could not wait for the day when we got home from school to find our Mother had put up the…
I’ve just returned from a three-day fitness conference in Auckland. It’s always good to find out new information and have your own thoughts challenged. One particular speaker struck…
I’m very excited to write about this topic this month because I actually have a couple of recent events that I can share with you which I believe…
I can still remember the anticipation and excitement as the weather warmed, the days got longer and Christmas decorations and music started to appear in the shops at…
We love celebrating in our house, by saying woohoo to the big things and finding reasons to celebrate the little and weird things too. Being a single parent family,…
I have a huge awareness at the moment that loads of people are struggling with having a positive spirit. I recently lost someone very close to me due…
It’s that time of year again, come around before we even had time to say “Ho, ho, ho.” (Or “humbug,” depending on our attitude…).
The silly season is gearing up for another whirlwind of celebratory parties, parades, fairs, shows, and music. ‘Tis the season for overindulgence, letting your hair down, and being…
Treat your little ones to a Santa experience they will never forget at Snowplanet. This Christmas Santa and his elves will be staying in a Magic Castle amongst…
If you read our recent post from Esther Te Aotonga, you’re were probably as fascinated as we were with the way that the Te Aotonga family organises their lives…
In this series of posts, we’ve been looking at some great kiwi families and some of the things that make them fab. We’ve loved hearing from families that…
It’s one of the fastest comparisons I tend to make when I’m at a new supermarket: wander around, find familiar items, do a few calculations in my mind…
This is the last article in my essential style series, so it is entirely appropriate that it be on the ‘finishing touch’: How to ‘dress’ the part of…
Having been married for 47 years there has always been one thing that has made me go umm…
Over the next two months, Kiwi Families is featuring posts on education and technology. We are talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this…
“Good morning/afternoon! How can I help you today?” I have long since lost track of how many times I’ve said this line in the years I’ve served as…
I learned the word “Luddite” a few years back when someone remarked that I’m likely one, because I had this suspicious disdain for buzz-whirring gadgets and technology. Could…
Technology is part of our lives and it is not going away. How much you want to let it into your life and for what purpose are questions…
In today’s busy fast paced world, technology can be a godsend. If you can transact online then that’s one less thing you need to worry about right? The…
The first mention of ‘education and technology’ tends to bring people out in a rash of raising funds for computers in classrooms, and making sure every child has…
Have a quick read of this article by the Khan Academy (free internet learning) founder. While I agree with Khan’s premise that we should acknowledge our children’s/students’/own learning efforts and…
Are you too busy – spending your days rushing from one activity to another? Do you feel pressured to live up to other’s expectations – or your own…
I was at a conference recently and one of the speakers was talking about how she was doing this science experiment with her kids that involved planting a…
Kiwi Families has a focus on pregnancy and babies at the moment, and we’ve been talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post,…
When you’re juggling a busy life, the last thing you want to do is get slowed down by having to deal with light bladder leakage.
As parents, our job is to protect our children and support their development; so one day they can stand on their own two feet, and support themselves. Part…
There’s no telling some people how much parenthood will change you. My little boy is four years old now, and in this time with him – we spend…
Storylines Festival Family Days are and always have been free for children and their families. There are now six of them round the country and every year thousands…
If you watch TV at the moment, you will have seen one of the many cooking programmes, which make cooking careers look amazingly glamourous. There is a vast…
SO many embarrassing things happen when you’re a parent. As you pass through the years of parenthood, your resilience grows – or at least I’ve found I’ve learnt…
The seasons are changing again and the time is right to set in motion the birth of a multitude of wee babies. The responsibility is huge. I do…
“Mom, can I pleeeeaaase go to Regina’s* Birthday party/Sleepover on Saturday?” pleads Miss 14. “Which one is Regina again?” I reply. “Remember, she’s that new girl I met at School last…
They were first noticed swooping in and out of the garage. Checking it out to see if this would be a safe home. Very quickly Grand-daughter aged 8,…
Congratulations on becoming a mother, how exciting! It is a brand new chapter that is exciting and full of changes. It is also a time when we feel…
It’s Money Week in New Zealand, and the word on the street is that we’ll need $4,000 in retirement just to spend on eggs! Time to get some…
Sadly over the first week of the school holidays, I found myself lying in bed for 10 days with Influenza. I have gone nearly seven years without any…
Pregnancy is a major life event, and therefore a great time to reflect on your health and what you eat! Now is the time to consider incorporating the…
Not content with ‘just’ having preschoolers and deciding more children was not a happening thing, our wee family decided on a new addition. The question was-would this fifth…
6 steps to fabulous wardrobe planning, it all sounds so wonderful doesn’t it? A great personal style filling you with energy and confidence!
As many mothers know, one of the most significant questions you will face as an expectant parent is: “How will having a baby change my life?”
New Zealand is known for its clean green philosophies and certainly more and more families are embracing natural products and solutions. But did you know that your fertility…
This month, it has been lovely to hear about how some Great Kiwi Families keep themselves healthy. In this post, we meet Corinne Austin. Corinne loves an adventure and…
In the next of our ‘Great Kiwi Families’ posts, we introduce the Finlay family. These intrepid kiwis spend part of the year living on a small island in…
What exactly do we mean when we say someone’s “got style”? We often think of style as a gift that some people naturally exhibit without apparent effort, some…
There was a time when I felt relatively in control of my life, in the days before kids. I wanted to waste half of Saturday in bed, so…
Facebook is a huge part of many young people’s lives and it can be mystifying and quite frightening for some parents. If you’re not on Facebook, you might not…
I don’t know about you, but the thought of my children being active online terrifies me. They’re still young, but I’m well aware of the dangers that children…
What are mealtimes like at your place? Do you have family ways of serving, eating or talking together? Would you like some fresh ideas to make the most…
As we head into winter, the usual ailments start to raise their heads and we dread the onset of the coughs, runny noses and aches and pains attached…
Mothers and daughters who run together – have fun together… Well … mostly 🙂
Do you ever feel worn out and tired and grumpy and the kids are fighting and you feel like you just have no reserve left? You don’t need…
When we had baby #2, hubby and I fell into the pattern of ‘tagging in and out’ with the kids to GTD (get things done) or have some…
My eldest daughter was just one of those kids you never had to ask to do their homework. She flew in the door from school, nearly knocking me over…
It might seem like a long way away but now is a great time to decide what you want to eat during those lazy hazy days of summer.
Modern life, for many families, can be a bit like living in the fast lane. We simultaneously pursue careers, raise children and continue our personal or professional development…
If you’re a solo parent with primary care, the “Good Time Parent” is the parent who has your child primarily on the weekends, doing fun things, while you slog…
Some couples say having a baby strengthens their relationship and brings them closer together. Yet many parents struggle with maintaining healthy relationships after having children. Here are some thoughts…
“I am no supermum”. I tell myself this each day as I try to attain a happy healthy balanced life for my family and for myself. I remind…
‘Pear’, ‘pineapple’, ‘strawberry’, and ‘banana’ might be a great recipe for a fruit salad, but it can also be a recipe for confusion about our body image. To…
What is healthy eating? Does it mean something different to you than it does to the person next to you? Chances are it does. We all know that…
I always find it so inspiring to hear about the way that different families create their lives and this is certainly the case with Siri, Gus and Liv…
It’s Allergy Awareness Week soon and we talk to a family where allergies are part of everyday life. Kiwi mum, Amanda, talks about living with allergies for 6 year old Amelia.
New Zealand Sign Language Week raises awareness about New Zealand’s Deaf community and the contribution and colour NZSL brings. New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) is the natural language…
How fortunate for all the mothers out there that The Food Show in Wellington happens to coincide with Mother’s day?
I’ve always longed to discover and ignite the spark of my creativity in some dramatic fashion. Here are eight keys to help you get out of your own way…
Making your own pizza with kids is easy! Too often we perceive making things by scratch to be difficult and end up spending way too much money to buy a…
When I was at Primary and Secondary school I knew I was dumb. I didn’t do well in my classes and I envied the brainy kids who did. It…
Colour has a kind of magic about it. Choosing particular colours can make your complexion glow with health and your eyes sparkle with vitality. Then there are the…
Here’s 5 easy Easter activities to make with kids. Spending time together on a food, or craft, activity is an awesome way to make some memories during your time…
If you’re looking for a fun, free way to keep the kids entertained these April school holidays, look no further than your local Westfield for a variety of…
A friend reminded me the other day that: “A happy mum means a happy family”. I can hear you say “What has that got to do with creativity?”…
While not being at the beck and call of the hungry and demanding summer veggies plants, the cooler months are a great time to look at the garden…