pain – Real Talk: Diary of a Seriously Fcked Off Parent

6. Tired of the Rejection: A Cry from the Heart

I’m overwhelmed with anger and sadness that my daughter has chosen to leave her home, our home, to go live with her father. A man who has consistently shown that he doesn’t truly care for her. A man who always puts himself first. A man who stood by while his wife verbally abused me overContinue reading “6. Tired of the Rejection: A Cry from the Heart”

37. When the Ones You Show Up For Don’t Show Up for You.

I show up every day for my children, and I always have. So why is it that our children don’t show up for us? In fact, they seem to try to tear me down. For what reason? What happened to the communication where we could sit down and explain what the problem is? Social mediaContinue reading “37. When the Ones You Show Up For Don’t Show Up for You.”

31. The Manipulative Gremlin Phase: Are Our Kids Just Testing Us?

We all know children push boundaries, but sometimes they really know how to push you to your limits. They turn into these manipulative little gremlins, and you find yourself wishing you could lock them in a cage until they revert back to the decent kids you once knew. Imagine the cunning thoughts and actions theyContinue reading “31. The Manipulative Gremlin Phase: Are Our Kids Just Testing Us?”

29. How dare you! From Hero to Villain: The Changing Role of a Parent.

From the moment you first laid eyes on your child, it was the happiest day of your life. You watched as they learned to say “mama” and “dada,” and you marveled as they discovered their hands, feet, and even their reflection. Then, they began to crawl, expand their vocabulary, stand for the first time, takeContinue reading “29. How dare you! From Hero to Villain: The Changing Role of a Parent.”

23. When the Ones You Love Cause You the Most Pain.

As a parent, your life revolves around creating a safe haven for your loved ones. But what happens when the people closest to you, your teens, who believe they’re fully grown, start influencing their siblings with their erratic behavior? The pain of rejection from those you would die for is the deepest cut. How canContinue reading “23. When the Ones You Love Cause You the Most Pain.”

20. Power Plays & Parenting: Lessons from the Garden Shed.

In an attempt to teach the simple lesson of following instructions and doing as you’re told I lost the fight. How did I lose? Simple. My child understands me better than I realised. She knows that if she puts in a half-hearted effort just enough to technically follow instructions but not enough to do itContinue reading “20. Power Plays & Parenting: Lessons from the Garden Shed.”

9. The Weight of Who I Was: Living Beyond My Mistakes

Throughout my adult life, I’ve made mistakes—some small, some colossal.Some I’ve been able to correct.Others? I just have to carry. But no matter the size or the outcome, every mistake has carried a lesson. Even if it took years, even if the realisation only hit after the dust settled—each one shaped me. Grew me. HumbledContinue reading “9. The Weight of Who I Was: Living Beyond My Mistakes”

8. Between Logic and Chaos: Meeting My Emotional Self.

My gosh, what the hell.I’ve discovered something I never expected: my fight or flight response doesn’t just kick in, it transforms. It morphs into something I now recognise as spite. For me, “fight” shows up in sharp, reactive ways, spiteful words, intense energy bursts, usually taken out on whoever triggered the feeling. These days, myContinue reading “8. Between Logic and Chaos: Meeting My Emotional Self.”

7. Finding the Balance: Parenting Without a Manual.

Teacher, nurse, coach, correctional officer, mentor, support worker, driver, cook…The roles we take on as parents are endless. And as our kids grow, the roles don’t disappear—they just shift in weight and intensity. But how do you know if you’re getting the balance right?There’s no manual. No guidebook. No helpline to call. And just whenContinue reading “7. Finding the Balance: Parenting Without a Manual.”

4. Why I Took My Daughter’s Smartphone Away- and Why I Don’t Regret It

Let me start by saying this: every parenting choice should be a personal one. What worked for me may not work for you—and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But after many conversations with a close friend, I made this tough and extremely unpopular decision. I removed my eldest daughter’s smartphone from ourContinue reading “4. Why I Took My Daughter’s Smartphone Away- and Why I Don’t Regret It”