Last month, my eldest started high school. It's been a big adjustment for both of us. It's already a milestone for any family, but I also have the added complexity of raising my children in a country different to the one I grew up in. I'm a dual national Dutch Australian - I went to …
Author: Renee Veldman-Tentori

Meditation Apps for busy parents
Meditation is a good way for busy parents to (try to!) keep calm. How do you fit it into your day though? Years ago, when I kept hearing and reading about the benefits of meditation, I had the vague idea that to meditate, you needed to sit crosslegged on the floor, in total peace and …

Pumpkin Scones recipe for busy parents
Yesterday I shared this photo on Facebook. I now live in the Netherlands and am trying to ensure my children still have some tastes of my native Australia. I remember pumpkin scones and hadn't had them since I was a kid - so when I had some leftover roast pumpkin I thought I'd try this …
What does gender inequality at work look like?
In under two minutes, the Mayors Office London gives an impactful, visual demonstration of how it can feel for women to climb the career ladder. Sure, you can argue that there are exceptions, but in general, from my own experience, as well as what data is beginning to more publicly show, women need to work …
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Girls toys and boys toys experiment – very interesting eyeopener
There has been much discussion in recent years about girls and boys toys and clothing. This short experiment from BBC illustrates it really well. Volunteers were asked to simply play with a young child, but didn't know that the girls were dressed as boys and vice versa. From a selection of toys, consistently, boys were …
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Movie Review: Peter Rabbit
This Easter, I told my girls we were cutting back on chocolate and I was taking them to the movies instead. They'd seen the trailer for Peter Rabbit some time ago and were excited to finally see it. I also took my friend's two daughters, so went with a giggling gaggle of four girls aged …
Movie Review: The Greatest Showman
It's been a long time since I've thoroughly enjoyed a movie. Thanks to The Greatest Showman for bringing me that pleasure! https://youtu.be/AXCTMGYUg9A I first watched it while on holidays in Australia with my mum, then took my girls the week later while we were in New Zealand. I don't think I've ever been to a …
Learning to run: from completely unfit to a 5km race
This is a post I never thought I would write and a sentence I never thought I'd say: I'm a runner. Not only that, I competed in a 5km race, and wasn't last! I started out as completely unfit in October 2016 and ran a 5km race in May 2017. Along the way, I …
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Research on parents and older children whose parents have separated
ARE YOU A PARENT WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SEPARATION? ARE YOU AN OLDER ADOLESCENT OR YOUNG ADULT WHOSE PARENTS HAVE SEPARATED? WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES? Whether these were good, bad or indifferent, they are all important to developing understanding of how families get along together after divorce and separation. Shared care …
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Do you know what drains and recharges you? Topping up your personal battery pack
After a particularly draining day today, I had the image in my mind that I felt like a battery that was almost empty. For many parents balancing family and work, this is a long term feeling that we have often learned to live with, right? Does it have to be though? Do you know how …
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