At a recent Children Services Leadership Forum, one of our heads of service shared a couple of poignant stories that really resonated with my message to all parents. She recounted two powerful encounters that beautifully demonstrated the importance of engagement. In one instance, she interacted with an 18-month-old child who, upon feeling her genuine interest, responded with bursts of excitement…
A Poem about conflict and communication: I am unapologetic in saying this truth about communication and conflict. Communication rules the world; the better you are at it, The bigger the doors of opportunity will be swung wide open for you. You need not be an orator to be a good communicator, Neither do you need to be an impressive motivational…
(A Poem from me to you. A message from your child’s world). Listen to me, Mum; listen to me, Dad. I know you are older and wiser, but you do not feel my pain. You may have walked the path I am discovering, but time has changed Please lend me your ears to gain a better understanding of my world.…
As I patiently waited in a hospital waiting room, I watched a TV programme that featured a female artist painting a piece of a landscape with bright colours and, most importantly, with a sense of joy and calmness. The look on her face spelt out happiness with a capital H. She felt fulfilled, with a smile of contentment. Happiness stands…
When it comes to effective co-parenting, a child-centred approach is key Imagine it as a recipe: Start with a bowl that is adaptable to changes in temperature. Then, add a full tablespoon of emotional intelligence, two full tablespoons of listening skills, a cube of empathy, a pinch of gentleness, a handful of patience and tolerance, and a cup full…
Words: weapon from the mouth and balm to the ears Part I The dual nature of words: In the beginning was the Word, The sound that all of the creation heard, The sequence of sounds that gave life to all God made, The combination of sounds that communicate understanding. And in its message, we find hope. These sounds carry deep…
To have the opportunity to Mess up is your fundamental human right. To learn from your Mess-ups is your fundamental contribution to your personal development. To turn your Mess-ups into advantages for you and opportunities for others to benefit from, is your fundamental contribution to humanity. To use your Mess-ups to judge others is tantamount to a fundamental attribution error.…
Have you heard the story of a woman who had difficulty sleeping for several years because she feared that her house would be burgled? One night, her husband heard a noise downstairs in their home, so he went to investigate. He found a burglar and with a sigh of relief, he said, “Good evening” to the burglar. “I’m glad to…
I woke up this morning feeling a bit sore from a strained neck muscle. Despite the fact that nobody was pursuing me, I was still determined to go for a run. I chose to run, then I motivated myself, put on my running clothes, and stepped outside, only to be faced with our unpredictable weather. It was wet—very wet. Now,…