Is there a cost to always being the strong parent? There is a version of parenting many of us try to be. The calm parent. The patient one. The one who keeps it together, no matter what. The strong parent. And honestly,…
Parenting asks for a kind of sacrifice that no other relationship requires. Not only the obvious ones like the financial strain, the physical exhaustion, the logistical reshuffling of life but also the quieter, deeper sacrifices too. The giving up of…
When we think about raising children, many of us look inward—at their personalities, emotions, behaviours, strengths, and challenges. But child development isn’t only shaped from the inside out. It is also shaped just as powerfully by the environment, from the…
Few things test a parent’s emotional strength like co-parenting after separation. It’s rarely what anyone envisioned when they started a family, and it often comes with layers of grief, frustration, and adjustment. Yet I’ve witnessed countless parents who continue to…
Parenting is one of the most meaningful journeys in life. It is filled with love, growth, and joy — but it also comes with very real challenges. Life doesn’t pause for us to have everything “in order” before raising children.…
In our previous blog, we explored the impact of parental divorce on children’s emotional and relational wellbeing. The findings, grounded in Social Constructionism, revealed a common thread among participants: a change in family structure often led to more conflict, emotional distance…
In South Africa, around 40% of children will experience their parents’ divorce before they reach adulthood. While divorce is often seen as a solution to family conflict, it can also be one of the most stressful events in a child’s…
Do you ever feel pressured to be the perfect parent? Is perfectionism really what your child needs to thrive? The answer is no—and here’s why Perfection is Not What Your Child Needs. British paediatrician Dr Donald Winnicott introduced the term “the…
As a parent, you may be doing your best to understand and meet your child’s emotional needs. But have you ever paused to ask: Were my own emotional needs met when I was a child? Do I have unmet childhood needs?…
Children often don’t have the words to describe their emotions, thoughts, or experiences. Instead, they communicate through play—their natural language. Through play, children process emotions, make sense of their world, and navigate internal conflicts. For this process to be truly healing,…
