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What if Mother's Day was never supposed to be about flowers and gifts at all? This special episode reveals the forgotten origins of Mother's Day in Australian hospitals, where Janet Hayden collected gifts for lonely mothers who had lost children to war—a far cry from today's commercial celebrations.

Beyond the greeting cards lies a profound truth: motherhood carries both extraordinary power and invisible weight. With over 6.5 million mothers in Australia—one in six raising children alone and one in three families navigating developmental needs—the statistics tell only part of the story. Each number represents real women making countless unseen sacrifices daily.

The biological toll of parenting is rarely discussed but critically important. Chronic stress literally changes cellular function, with parents of children with disabilities facing significantly higher risks of depression and burnout. This is why self-care isn't selfish—it's survival. Speaking kindly to yourself, resting without guilt, and asking for help before breaking aren't luxuries but necessities that allow you to show up fully for your children.

We journey across cultures to witness the beautiful diversity of mothering: Indian mothers balancing multiple roles while honoring traditions, Nepali mothers nurturing with quiet dignity, Chinese mothers sacrificing for their children's futures, African communities sharing mothering responsibilities, and First Nations mothers preserving cultural wisdom across generations. Each expression carries its own wisdom and strength.

Motherhood extends beyond birth. Some mother through adoption, like my own mother who chose me. Some mother in classrooms or therapy rooms. Some mother through grief after loss. Your presence today—how you speak to yourself, honor your needs, set boundaries—creates ripples through generations. When you break negative cycles, your child gains freedom to do the same.

Ready to transform your parenting journey? The Empowered Parent Program helps you shift from self-doubt to self-worth, creating lasting change not just for yourself but for generations to come. Because your love, though sometimes unseen, shapes your child's entire sense of safety in the world.

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Navigating the complex world of early childhood education can feel overwhelming for parents. In this illuminating conversation with Neelam Khatri, a kindergarten teacher with a Master's degree in teaching, we uncover the hidden depths of what really happens in childcare settings and kindergartens across Australia.

Neelam shares her personal journey from Nepal to Australia, where she discovered her passion for early childhood education after witnessing the pure joy of children in learning environments. What began as an exploratory career move blossomed into her true calling, eventually leading her to pursue advanced qualifications and extensive experience across various educational settings.

Perhaps most fascinating is Neelam's perspective on why children behave differently at home versus kindergarten. "The most safe space for them is where their mom and dad are," she explains, offering parents a comforting framework for understanding their child's seemingly contradictory behaviors. As both an educator and mother of two young children, Neelam brings a uniquely balanced perspective that bridges professional expertise with lived parental experience.

For parents selecting childcare options, Neelam provides invaluable criteria to consider: from centre size and communication methods to educational philosophies and staff qualifications. She demystifies the differences between various early childhood settings, breaks down staff-to-child ratios, and explains the extensive behind-the-scenes work educators perform—from documentation and programming to personalized learning support.

We also explore Australia's evolving early childhood landscape, including plans to extend free kindergarten programs to three-year-olds by 2032, and discuss the vital supports available for children with diverse needs. Throughout our conversation, Neelam emphasizes that play is learning, and that skilled educators are constantly observing, documenting, and nurturing development through seemingly simple activities.

Whether you're a first-time parent navigating childcare options or seeking to better understand your child's educational experience, this episode offers expert guidance, compassionate perspectives, and practical wisdom from someone who truly understands both sides of the early childhood journey.

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Kerry Herbert opens up about her 40-year journey as an early childhood teacher and her passionate belief in the power of play. With a twinkle in her eye and wisdom gained from decades of working with young children, Kerry shares why she considers play "the highest form of research," echoing Einstein's famous quote.

What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Kerry's ability to demystify the developmental stages of play. She expertly guides us through the progression from exploratory and solitary play to more complex cooperative interactions, while emphasizing that children naturally move back and forth between these stages as they encounter new situations. This insight alone helps parents understand why their child might seem to "regress" in certain play contexts.

Kerry challenges conventional thinking about sharing, explaining that it's not always developmentally appropriate to expect young children to share. She introduces the concept of a child's "play history"—the unique experiences and associations they bring to each play scenario that shape their responses. This fresh perspective invites parents to view children's reluctance to share not as defiance, but as a natural part of development related to concepts like object permanence and time perception.

Perhaps most reassuring is Kerry's advice for parents who feel awkward or inexperienced with play. She encourages starting where you're comfortable, gradually expanding your play repertoire by observing your child's reactions, and remembering that different family members can contribute valuable elements to a child's play experiences. Through vivid descriptions that bring play scenarios to life, Kerry demonstrates how simple interactions—like matching a child's jumping rhythm with a drumbeat—can build connection and communication pathways.

Whether you're preparing your child for kindergarten, supporting a sensory-seeking child, or simply wanting to enrich family playtime, this conversation offers practical wisdom delivered with genuine warmth. Visit our website to learn more about consulting with Kerry to develop personalized play strategies for your child's unique needs.

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Looking beyond conventional healthcare for your child can feel like navigating without a map. Where do you find practitioners who understand children need support for their body, mind, and spirit? How do you know which approaches might help your unique child thrive?

Rose Irranca, a social worker with over 20 years of experience working with children, faced this exact challenge. After adding neuro-linguistic programming, hypnotherapy, Reiki, and kids' yoga to her professional toolkit, she struggled to connect with families who were open to these powerful but often misunderstood approaches. This sparked her vision for Holistic Kids – Australia's first comprehensive directory connecting families with practitioners who nurture the whole child.

The conversation delves into why children's natural intuitive abilities and connection to their subconscious mind often diminish around age seven, and how holistic approaches can help them maintain this powerful self-awareness. Rose shares powerful examples of looking beyond symptoms to root causes – whether for bedwetting, anxiety, or behavioral challenges – and how diverse modalities from child acupuncture to specialized Pilates can address issues conventional approaches might miss.

With 33 businesses already registered across Australia after launching just three weeks ago, Holistic Kids is rapidly growing into a movement that normalizes complementary approaches to children's wellbeing. Rose's vision extends beyond creating a directory to building a collective voice that can advocate for children's holistic health needs at policy levels.

If you're a parent seeking more comprehensive support for your child or a practitioner wanting to connect with families who value holistic approaches, this episode illuminates the path toward integration, collaboration, and truly supporting children to thrive in body, mind and spirit. Check out holistickids.com.au to explore the growing community and find the support your family deserves.

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Masculine and feminine energies aren't just abstract concepts—they're powerful forces shaping our relationships, parenting approaches, and personal wellbeing. In this deeply insightful conversation with NLP Master Trainer Toni Everard, we explore how these complementary energies function like a battery within each of us, creating the vital polarity needed for energized, fulfilling lives.

Toni takes us on a journey through the foundations of these energies, explaining how they transcend gender while influencing everything from our decision-making to our emotional responses. You'll discover the qualities of healthy masculine energy (structure, boundaries, decisiveness) and feminine energy (intuition, expressiveness, nurturing), along with how childhood experiences shape their development within us.

The most transformative part of our discussion examines what happens when these energies become wounded. Control issues, emotional shutdown, people-pleasing, and boundary challenges all signal energetic imbalances that drain our vitality and strain our connections. Through powerful examples—from dinner table battles with children to partner conflicts—Tony illustrates how these patterns play out in daily life and offers practical approaches for healing.

What makes this conversation truly special is the emphasis on practical application. Whether you're navigating parenting challenges, relationship dynamics, or personal growth, you'll gain tools for recognizing your energy patterns, taking responsibility for your responses, and creating more balance. Toni's compassionate approach reminds us that healing is always possible when we bring awareness to our patterns and choose alignment over survival.

Ready to transform your relationships through energy awareness? Listen now, and discover how balancing your masculine and feminine energies can create more harmony, authenticity, and vitality in every aspect of your life.

https://tonieverard.com/

The Way of The Superior Man: David Deida

No More Mr. Nice Guy: Dr, Robert A. Glover

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Occupational Therapist Judy Au explores the holistic approach of pediatric OT, explaining how foundational skills underpin a child's ability to participate in daily activities and engage with the world.

• Occupational therapy supports children in all daily activities including play, social interactions, and self-care
• The DIR Floortime approach is relationship-based, considering each child's individual differences and developmental level
• Foundation skills like sensory processing and regulation must be established before working on specific tasks like handwriting
• Children need the right amount of sensory input to feel calm and ready to engage, communicate and learn
• Each child has a unique sensory profile that affects how they experience and respond to their environment
• Movement before fine motor tasks helps prepare a child's brain for learning and focusing
• Sensory-friendly strategies can be adapted based on a child's changing needs rather than following a fixed "sensory diet"
• Co-therapy with multiple professionals allows for more comprehensive support for both child and parents

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What happens when you're the only speech pathologist for hundreds of kilometers? Meet Bethany Burrell, founder of Speak To Bee, who travels across 200 kilometers of rural Victoria supporting children and adults with complex communication needs. Her journey reveals the hidden struggle of families in remote communities facing five-year waiting lists, three-hour drives to specialists, and profound isolation.

Bethany shares how her own neurodivergence became her superpower, creating therapy sessions that look nothing like traditional table-work. "If they want to be under the table with a blanket over the top, that's completely fine. If we're walking on the beach having fun, that's fine too," she explains. This flexible approach helps her connect with clients who might otherwise struggle in conventional settings.

The boundaries between professional and personal blur dramatically in small towns where your GP might also treat your clients, and grocery shopping becomes a therapy reunion. Yet these close connections create rich, meaningful relationships that sustain both therapist and client through challenges. Bethany's candid discussion about burnout—the warning signs, the recovery process, and the boundaries necessary for survival—offers valuable wisdom for any helping professional.

For speech pathologists considering rural practice, Bethany paints an enticing picture of professional growth, personal development, and the incomparable reward of helping someone order their first hot drink or say "I love you, mum" for the first time. Her story reminds us that sometimes the most significant impact happens far from the spotlight, where dedicated professionals quietly transform lives one conversation at a time.

Ready to explore how you might make a difference in underserved communities? This episode will challenge your assumptions about rural practice and might just inspire your next career move.

speaktobee.com

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Speech Pathologist Nikita Pinto reveals the critical pre-linguistic skills children need to develop before they can speak their first words. These foundation skills are essential building blocks that support all future communication development.

• Reacting to sounds and people in the environment forms the basis of listening and understanding
• Responding to people and turn-taking establishes the back-and-forth pattern essential for conversation
• Attention span is crucial as children need to stay focused to absorb language information
• Joint attention allows children to share experiences with caregivers about objects or events
• Playing with toys provides exploration opportunities and contexts for language learning
• Understanding familiar words precedes the ability to speak them
• Vocalizing and making different sounds develops into first words

Parents often focus exclusively on getting their child to say words, missing the importance of building connection first. Children need to hear words repeatedly in different contexts for approximately six months before they can use them meaningfully. Using facial expressions, animated voices, and body language ("affect") helps captivate children's attention and makes words "stick."

Instead of asking lots of questions, provide information by commenting and naming things in your child's environment. Use the "four-to-one rule" - offer four pieces of information before asking one question.

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