There are so many negative news stories out there.  So I’ve decided that on Friday this blog should dedicate itself to good news stories.

So here we go…

Here’s a wonderful story about a bus-travelling cat.  Each morning he lines up at the bus stop with the other commuters, gets on, takes a seat at the back, rides the route all day, then hops off and goes home.

As reported in The Australian:

“Susan Finden named her cat Casper, as in “the friendly ghost”, because he kept disappearing on his own journeys. But she did not realise quite how much ground he was covering.

It turns out that for months Casper has been lining up each day at the bus stop near his home outside Plymouth, in Britain’s southwest, and getting on board to spend the day riding around.”

Read the whole story here.

And if you’ve got a good news story you’d like to share, let us know.  Email: info AT parentwelbeing.com

Have a good Friday!

Working parents - we would love to hear your views about your work family experience.

How well are you managing your work and family responsibilities?  And how can your organisation help you to achieve better work family wellbeing?

This is the last chance to have your say.  The survey closes this Friday the 31st of July.

All you need to do have your say in this important research conducted by the University of Adelaide is complete a quick 10 minute online survey by clicking the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dJQaZn_2f0WvHtvyLwsfqFLQ_3d_3d

The survey will ask you about your workplace environment, and your satisfaction with life and work.

The survey will also ask general demographic questions such as your age range, gender and the number of hours you work.

Your participation will remain completely confidential.

And as a personal thank you for participating, you have the chance to win from a pool of exciting prizes, including chocolate, books and beauty products.

Help us to understand what effects your work family wellbeing, and what factors would help you live a better life.

And please invite all your friends and colleagues to have their say - both women and men - so we can hear from as many working parents as possible.

The collected data will be used to complete Sophie Mumford, a psychology student’s, Masters thesis under the supervision of Professor Helen Winefield at the University of Adelaide.

All you need to do to participate is complete a quick 10 minute online survey by clicking the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dJQaZn_2f0WvHtvyLwsfqFLQ_3d_3d

If you would like to receive a summary of the research findings, please send your contact details (email or postal) to sophie.mumford@student.adelaide.edu.au.

This study has been given approval by the Adelaide University Ethics Committee. If you have any queries about the ethical approval, please contact the convener of the Subcommittee for Human Research in the School of Psychology, Dr. Paul Delfabbro on 08 8303 5744.

Any other questions can be directed to myself at Parent Wellbeing, info@parentwellbeing.com.au or Professor Helen Winefield at the University of Adelaide, helen.winefield@adelaide.edu.au

To complete the quick 10 minute online survey please click on the link below.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=dJQaZn_2f0WvHtvyLwsfqFLQ_3d_3d

Thank you! We look forward to hearing your views!

Yesterday, I ran our Work Family Wellbeing workshop at a construction company.  We spent the day focusing on wellbeing rather than balance, and taught people tools to increase their wellbeing and make the most of their work and family lives.

During one of the breaks, one of the participants asked me which of the wellbeing tools I use regularly.  It was an interesting question.

I do use a number of the wellbeing tools but not all the time.

When you live a busy life, it can be easy to get bogged down in daily hassles, and forget about caring for yourself.

But lately, I’ve been reminding myself of their importance and value.

And in fact, yesterday’s workshop was a great reminder to me of the need to always be checking in with myself - and listening to the true responses!

To be asking myself:

How well do I feel physically?
Do I need more sleep?
Do I need to forgo the muffin?
Do I need to exercise more?

How well do I feel emotionally?
Do I need to tell someone how I really feel?
Do I need time to myself?
Do I need to indulge myself in a little luxury?

How well do I feel domestically?
Is everyone pulling their weight?
Do I need to cut out some trivial tasks and save myself some time?
Do I need to lower my expectations?

I came away from yesterday’s workshop realising that wellbeing is a lifelong pursuit.  It takes commitment and dedication.  But it can be done.

On the way home in the cab I had a lovely chat with the cabbie about his kids.  When I got home, I gave my kids a big hug and told them I loved them.  And even when my daughter had a meltdown about wanting noodles and not pasta for dinner, I stayed calm and reasonable and loving.

And I went to bed happier.

By Jodie Benveniste, director of Parent Wellbeing.

ABC childcare centres were once the darling of the investment world.  Until, their overly ambitious owner Eddy Groves met the global financial crisis and the company went belly up.  Who said childcare was profitable?

But now there is a new ABC.  And they want to listen.

They want to hear your complaints, comments and quips about your childcare experience.

They’ve established a new forum based website to collect your comments: Childcare Chat.

They are encouraging an “open and honest dialogue with ABC and each other about childcare issues that matter to you.”

And they say “This is your opportunity to affect change and help mould the future of Childcare in Australia.”

They have ABC representatives ready to answer your questions such as why the heating system at your childcare centre hasn’t been fixed yet, their policy on junk food, and why you get charged for public holidays.

It’s a worthy initiative - and if your kids are in ABC care - I encourage you to have your say!

During my recent, very enriching camping trip, I had time to read a book in its entirety from start to finish.  It was luxurious.

The book, which I highly recommend, was The Slap by Australian writer Christos Tsiolkas.

Here is the back cover blurb:

At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own.

This event has a shocking ricochet effect on a group of people, mostly friends, who are directly or indirectly influenced by the event.

In this remarkable novel, Christos Tsiolkas turns his unflinching and all-seeing eye onto that which connects us all: the modern family and domestic life in the twenty-first century.

The Slap is told from the points of view of eight people who were present at the barbecue. The slap and its consequences force them all to question their own families and the way they live, their expectations, beliefs and desires.

What unfolds is a powerful, haunting novel about love, sex and marriage, parenting and children, and the fury and intensity - all the passions and conflicting beliefs - that family can arouse.

In its clear-eyed and forensic dissection of the ever-growing middle class and its aspirations and fears, The Slap is also a poignant, provocative novel about the nature of loyalty and happiness, compromise and truth.

It is an engaging, engrossing and enticing story, largely because Christos Tsiolkas writes without fear.

Thank you Christos for writing such a deliciously gutsy book.

Has anyone else read The Slap?

By Jodie Benveniste, director of Parent Wellbeing.

We spent last week in the beautiful Flinders Ranges camping.  It was a week of cold and rain and wind - but it was a truly enriching week.

There was no mobile phone coverage, no laptops and no TV screens.

There were no showers, no formal shelter and no appointments to keep.

We survived with tents, a canopy-clad kitchen, and a campfire.

We kept warm and dry in rain coats, gum boots, and thermal underwear.

We spent our time, walking, reading and chatting - and eating.

And the kids played amongst the creeks, rocks and trees.

We got away from it all - and we got back to nature, ourselves and each other.

Our holiday cost us only 2 tanks of petrol - but was worth so much more.

And we returned to civilisation with a renewed perspective on what’s important - and what isn’t.

Here are three important lessons I learnt from camping with the kids:

1. When kids have the freedom to roam and explore amongst nature, they rarely get bored.

2. You don’t need 24/7 email, phone, text contact with others to live a good life.

3. Taking a week out of life leads to a better life.

Camping is good for the soul.

By Jodie Benveniste, director of Parent Wellbeing.

Ever felt unappreciated?  Ever felt taken for granted?    Ever found yourself doing everything for everyone else while no one seemed to do anything (or much) for you?  Well, I certainly have.  And it’s not a good feeling.

Here’s three ideas to tackle these feelings head on - and no it doesn’t involve yelling at your partner or your kids.

1. Appreciate yourself

It is lovely to be admired by others - but how often do we admire ourselves?  How often do we recognise the hard work and love we contribute to our families. How often do we stop and reflect on our bounty?

We’re more likely to beat ourselves up for things we ‘didn’t do’ or ‘didn’t do well’ or ‘didn’t do well enough’.

If you like approval or validation from others, perhaps it’s time for some self-approval and self-validation.

Even if others don’t always voice their appreciation, you can appreciate yourself.

2. Appreciate others

When living busy demanding lives, we can forget to acknowledge others.

It’s easy to think our partners have the better deal because they get to ‘go to work’ or they get to ’stay at home’.  But oftentimes, no one has the better deal - the roles are different but equally demanding.

How often do you thank your partner for picking up the dry cleaning, caring for the kids all day, bringing home the bacon?  Probably not as often as you could.

By voicing your appreciation  for others, it might just be reciprocated.

3. Think differently

Instead of thinking, ‘I spent hours cooking a beautiful meal that the kids hardly touched.  No one appreciates me!’  Think, ‘It’s the end of the week, and the kids are tired.  They can have leftovers tomorrow - which means tomorrow I don’t have to cook at all!’

Instead of thinking, ‘My partner’s working late again, and I’ve got to deal with the kids again. No one appreciates me!’ Think, ‘My partner is busy at work, and is under a lot of pressure. Instead of getting angry, we need to talk about how we can help each other. We’ll sit down over the weekend, and talk about it.’

We all go through times of feeling unappreciated. But the resentment doesn’t have to build until you explode.

Instead, try appreciating yourself, voicing your appreciation for others, and thinking a little differently. It just might help!

By Jodie Benveniste, Director of Parent Wellbeing