*This article was originally published on the Daily Mom website

When I think of Christmas as a child in Australia, I recall playing on the grass on a summer’s night, fresh from an evening bath and dressed in cotton pyjamas. I hear the crickets chirping and the neighbourhood children playing, squealing in delight. Santa was on...

What would you give to know your children would live a life they loved?

What would you pay to provide happiness and resilience to those you care about?

If only it were as easy as picking a product off a shelf, but raising empowered children isn't as simple as that. Nor is supporting loved ones through tragedy and trauma.

...

"If you don't have 5 minutes to pray, pray for 2 hours.

I'm not sure if this quote uses the word 'meditate' instead of pray, but I'm taking it's point now.

I've noticed feelings of chasing my tail, there 'not being enough time', feeling fatigued, wanting to zone out and wanting to hop off this ride for a minute!

I love my...

Dear 3am Mumma

The night is dark and the winds are blowing.

Your eyes feel heavy, enlarged and irritated and you long to sleep. And I don’t just mean sleep. You wish your whole body and your racing mind would be still, calm and rested enough that you feel renewed. Hmmm, if only you had a spare 3 weeks to yourself…..

It’s hard...

Kindness, cheer, smiles, and loved-up feels. Imagine if that’s what everyone felt every day.

If that was reality, I imagine the energy bubbling between us would feel buoyant! Luscious, safe and supportive, thick almost, so when we swayed from our path, it was there to nudge us back to alignment. We couldn’t fall, or if we did,...

Your calendar is full.

There’s family to love up on, friends to connect with, children’s invitations – seriously, how does a four year old have that many options?! – photo opportunities, pressie buying, drinks to be had and BBQ’s to attend.

Plus, it’s the end of the year. A pretty big year,...

It’s time to talk holiday prep.

What's your stance on Christmas displays in shops before December?

Whether the October prep irks you or you don’t give it a second thought, now’s the time for a different holiday prep:

SEASONAL SANITY

Yep, busy-ness, get-togethers, functions, present buying, financial...

Your child starting a new school.

A loved one going through a break-up.

HSC exams.

There are a ga-zillion reasons you worry about the people you care about. There are hundreds of reasons you worry about people you don't even know! Worry and concern are normal human feelings, and feelings that mean we care. With all that life...

There are times reflections are bought to the forefront of your mind. 

Times like:

• New Year Celebrations
• A shock or loss
• Another trip around the sun

That's me. Today I turn 49.

There's a few more lines, a bit more weight, less limber joints and lots of lessons learned. 

I've lived in 13 different homes,...

Have you ever been excited about an event and heard yourself say 'I hope everything goes well!' or you're struggling to stay motivated and pray the children will 'just be good today'? 

I know I sure have.  Sometimes feeling like you can't cope with one more challenge, or simply wanting a 'break from life' is normal.  I mean...