How do you choose a secondary school for your child? For my kids, I looked at the websites for schools in our area, read their Ofsted inspection reports and went along to open days. I also asked the advice of my children’s teachers and talked to other parents. I tried to think about what would […]
Travelling with a child who has anxiety: advice for parents
I have to start by saying that, luckily for me, I don’t have anxiety issues. I’m writing this from the perspective of parenting a child who does, and of seeing what works for my family and for others. What is anxiety? We all feel anxious sometimes, for example if we’re starting a new job, or […]
Is your teenager ready to stay at home alone?
If you’re a parent of a teenager, sooner or later they’re probably going to stop wanting to come on your family holidays. If they’ve already seen their 18th birthday by the time this happens, then you should be able to set off without them – they’re an adult, after all, and so hopefully they’re broadly […]
How to help your teenager cope with exam stress
When your child is taking exams, it can be a very stressful time for them. At a recent talk by a CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service) therapist I learnt that exam season is their busiest time of year, because so many young people feel overwhelmed by the pressure that they’re under. I was […]
On feeling trapped by motherhood
At the moment, I feel trapped by motherhood. This may surprise you, as my kids are both teenagers, and it’s generally accepted that the baby years are the hardest. But I really didn’t feel like this when my two were tiny. I love my kids unconditionally and would – literally – die for them. Becoming […]
What to do when your child starts university: tips from a student
Following on from the advice from me and from some other parents in what to do when your teen starts university, my student daughter Izzy has written this post with her tips for parents who are going through this: ‘It’s that time of year again – up and down the country, parents are sobbing and […]
What to do when your teen starts university
When my eldest was about to start university, my emotions were all over the place. I was delighted and proud that she had a place on the course and in the city that she’d chosen. With memories of my own time as a student in my mind, I was happy to think of the life […]
What to wear for a DofE expedition
Have you heard about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, also known as the DofE? It’s a brilliant programme which encourages 14 to 24 year-olds to practice a sport, get involved with volunteering, learn or improve a skill and go on an expedition. The programme runs at three different levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold, and is […]
What to do when your teenager doesn’t want to go on your family holiday
If your teen happily goes along with all of your family holiday plans, then move along now, there’s nothing for you here. If you have younger children, and can’t imagine them not wanting to travel with you, then make the most of it. They may laugh at your jokes and think that you’re beautiful, wise […]
Family travel with teenagers: why villa holidays work
I’ve teamed up with Villa Plus to look at why villa holidays work so well for families with teenagers. Space When they’re not on a family holiday, most teenagers probably spend more time with their peers than they do with their families. So when the whole family is together on holiday, it can be tricky, […]
