Kids on the coast

Sport - when parents cross the line


Non-competitive sport is about as effective as a communist economy - it's a nice idea but it doesn't really work. Those of us who went to school in the 1970s may remember experiments in circular running races where nobody ever suffered the devastation of losing. Trouble is no-one ever knew the glory of winning either. And isn't that the whole point of sport? Like an economy it needs a bit of competition to succeed. Okay, winning may not be the only point, but it must at least be part of it so that the game makes sense.

Shop 'til you drop... 24/7!


Ever wished you could buy that perfect gift or compare products and prices without having to drag the kids all over town in the pouring rain? Well, guess what? You can! You can do all of this and more while having a cuppa (preferably in your slippers and pj's) and lounging back in the comfort of your own home. And, you can do all of this whenever it suits you...all you need is a computer and internet access.

Being Mum... At any age


There is a whole generation between the youngest and oldest new mums in Australia today. While the majority of women are giving birth between the ages of 25 and 35, if you walk into any playgroup or mothers' group on the Coast you're likely to find a few at either end of the age scale. Get up a bit closer and you'll find that everyone, regardless of age, is talking the same language. It's the language of nappies, teething, toilet training and tantrums.

You are so beautiful

By Karen Burton

Babies are born beautiful. They get smiled at, cooed over and admired pretty much indiscriminately not just by their parents but by everyone they meet.

Every day miracles

It's a funny thing about Christmas. On the one hand, we're encouraged to spend a lot of time thinking about what we WANT, focussing on material possessions and usually getting pretty stressed out in the process. But it's also the time of year that we tune into a special spirit of love. And besides the call for peace on earth, there's another important message in the Christmas story - about hope. About holding on through dark days and difficult times, when the road is rough and there's no room at the inn...because who knows what joyous experiences we may be part of, further down life's path.

Hidden heartache

By Alison Rodriguez

It is ironic that some of us, who spent our twenties trying so very hard not to get pregnant, should discover in our thirties that conceiving isn't actually as easy as we thought. Infertility affects not only those who are yet to have children, but also couples who already have children. (In fact, post-partum infection can be a cause of infertility.) And of course age is another factor.

Aussie familes in the balance

By Karen Burton

Finding the perfect balance between work and home life is every family's Holy Grail. Right now Australia stands at an interesting junction on the road to achieving it, with two compelling facts guiding the way. There is a skills shortage, and there is a baby shortage. Both these shortages can be filled by those in the 20-45 age bracket, and we're being lobbied from all sides to fill the gaps - to work more and reproduce more.

Step by step, The realities of the "Blended Family"

By Karen Burton

There is no recipe for the perfect blended family; no marital Magimix which will produce a happy, loving home by instantly smoothing out the hurt and confusion that often occurs when two families join. There are, however, a couple of ingredients that can make success more likely: time and understanding.