Who is our Crash Test Mummy of the Week?
Zoe – a Study and Work at Home Mum from Brisbane, Australia
Who do you live with?
I live with my two boys. Byron (almost 5) and Harper (2), and my partner who seems to be here more then at his own home!
How old were you when you first became a mum?
20
What do you love about being a parent?
I love that everyday I mean the world to somebody. That each day I am able to educate and enlighten my children about the world and give them someone they can always come to for support.
What is the most difficult thing about being a parent?
To date the most difficult thing I have faced is having a child that is struggling with something. My eldest is some what hyperactive and the transition into school hasn’t been easy. Seeing him sitting on a personalised naughty mat or having him tell me the other kids won’t play with him because their Mums said he was a naughty child breaks your heart.
What daily task do you wish was easier?
Some days I wish bedtime was easier. I wish the kids would climb into bed and fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. This would definitely make me happy.
What superpower would you like to have and why?
I would have the power to mute the world. Some days the yelling and thumping of children just gets to much (I swear my kids are part elephant!). Muting the world for just long enough to have a quiet coffee and recharge the batteries would be fantastic!
If you had time to take care of yourself, what would you focus on?
I would probably focus on caring for my insides. The outside, is yet to start failing me yet. I would really love to be assessed by a herbalist.
What is your idea of fun?
I think fun is letting go of boundaries once in a while. Throwing the bed time routine out the door, grabbing the scooters and going to the beach for dinner.
What question would you like to ask the Crash Test Community?
What do you think is the most important thing to teach your children now, to make them better people when they are adults?
Want to know more?
If you’d like to read more about Zoe, check out her blog Little Swallow where she writes about parenting, kids DIY, sewing and tales of her studies in Childhood Education.
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I actually just answered a similar question recently. I think one of the most important things we can teach our children is resilience. We can’t protect them forever and the more confident, resilient and secure they are, then the better equipped they are to handle whatever the world throws at them.
Laney x
PS If you’d like to be featured as Crash Test Mummy of the Week, complete your profile here.
Thanks Laney..
Your answer is perfect and something I will definitely incorporate into the education of my boys!
Zoe’s last post..Fresh hair for term 2!
You’re welcome Zoe. I hope you get some other interesting answers too :)
Lovely post ladies! Loved getting to know you better Zoe :) I agree with Laney, teaching kids resilience is really important. I also go to great lengths to teach my kids about diversity, I want to raise young men who respect and appreciate people for their differences. x
Nee Say’s last post..All systems down
That’s a very good value to teach Nee.
Acceptance of all is what I am big on. Teaching kids that not everyone is the same or can do everything, that different people have different strengths and weaknesses but everyone needs to be accepted with an open mind and not judged for being different. If they learn that I’ll be a happy mum.
Nat – Muddy Farmwife’s last post..A Good Old Fashioned Party
What beautiful values to for our children. We also encourage independent thought and not feeling the need to succumb to peer pressure or be afraid to ask why.
So lovely to met you, Zoe. I’m totally with you on the bedtime issue. As for your question, I agree with Laney – resilience is so important. I was never taught it and it took many painful life experiences to realise I needed it. Best of luck with raising your littlies! J x
Jane’s last post..I’m all in a dither
I love these q&a profiles Laney! Great questions! & great answer – resilience is so so important. And I love all the other responses – acceptance, independent thinking. So much I want to show & teach my babies that I’m a little daunted! Xx
Elisa’s last post..The best part of today is you
Lovely post Zoe. I really want to teach my children about valuing themselves… because if they have that they’ll reflect good things back out to the world. x
Misha – The Bling Buoy’s last post..Fear Factor – the housework edition
Great to read about Zoe and her great story of who she lives with, and about her blog. My hat goes off to her for studying and raising a family :)
We have five boys, and the biggest thing that we have taught our boys is to be true to themself. No matter what is going on in life, in and around them, its how they handle themselves that makes all the differences.
We have a 13 year old who at the moment is going through a rough stage (our 17 1/2 year old went through the same thing) – he is angry all of the time and doesnt know why! He is also trying to find his spot in the world and our family…he is not old enough to do what our second son is doing (who is 16) but he is too old for the 10 and the 6 year olds. He is also very emotional – too many hormones to deal with at once.
We also have a six year old who can not sit still – so I can feel for Zoe little boy who is having adjustments at school. I reckon that school time is not for every child – maybe time will help or maybe finding a school that caters for active kids might help? All the best with working it out :)
Lisa wood’s last post..Life On the Road Free Camping
Thanks so much for your kind answers.
It’s really great to hear other stories and morals families are being taught.
Zoe’s last post..Back to being a School Mum…