First, let me just say that being a family after separation is in no way easy or even achievable for many. Splitting up a marriage is basically pants, any way you look at it. I’m writing these ways to still be a family after separation assuming that your situation is...
Are you like me - a discarded parent looking for ideas on how to bond with your teen? Sometimes we can go a full week without so much as a good morning from our self-absorbed teenagers. When I asked Mumlyfe readers what they most needed advice on when raising older...
We recently did a survey of our Mumlyfers and one thing was immediately clear: we are all looking for ways to build our relationship with teens and tweens. Adolescents are not the easiest creatures to feel close to. Actually, they are sensitive, prickly,...
We love parties. Love them. Love them, love them, love them. Over the years we've held many fun parties that make birthdays speical, but the kids are older now. Most of the kids we know are celebrating their birthday with a few friends, pizza, some video games (boys)...
Like many people in their 40s I love returning to the era of my teenage years, enjoying 80s movies, music and TV shows. I grew up in NYC and live in Australia, but nothing can take me back in time and place like returning to my favourite 80s movies. My...
A couple of years ago, you caved in and got The Elf. The kids loved it, you kinda loved it, that cheeky, funny, lovable elf brought the Christmas joy in sleigh-loads. You called him Noel (geddit?), and he was the most fun you've ever had in December while sober for a...
![Advent kindness calendar for older kids [free printable]](https://mumlyfe.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Free-printable-advent-kindness-calendar-spread-the-love.jpg)
Deck the halls! Or at least the living room! Christmas officially kicks off on 1 December with the advent calendar. This year, instead of the usual advent chocolate box, I'm urging you to try a kindness calendar. I first made a Christmas kindness calendar when my kids...
Despite many parenting books existing, the ultimate parenting manual is yet to hit the shelves. Instead, to find out what things parents do that really matter to kids, I hit the Google research library. Then I read what the parenting experts and bloggers and forum...
Gwyneth regrets not having a third child. "All I’m saying is it’s not nothing,” she told the New York Times about not trying for a third child with Chris Martin. “I really wanted another one.” We've all been there, Gwyneth, and chances are you might be there right...
It's like kids put on roller skates the minute they turn seven. One minute they're calling us Mummy and telling us long-winded stories while we snuggle; next we blink and they're calling us Life Wrecker and grunting at us through walls. The more they grow, the more...
Here’s a treat – the Mars Bar slice. Take a Mars Bar and add butter to it then stir in some puffed rice and then coat the lot in chocolate. Oh lordy, it’s like taking a murmur and turning it into a heart attack, but in a totally fine way. This is quite simply the...
used to be the kind of school swimming carnival mum who says, "go and support others, even if you don't participate", but not anymore. I don't make my kids go to the school swimming carnival anymore. I did for years, but I'm done with it. Even though I'm really...
It's no doubt the #1 response parents make when they ask what they want for their kids in life: "I just want my child to be happy." “I just want my child to be happy.” We mean it wholeheartedly when we say it. Then we leave that happiness to chance. We talk to our...
From time to time Mumlyfe uses affiliate links. It means that Mumlyfe may recieve a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchse using the link. YOu can find out more about how it works here.