Allen O'Donoghue Motivation Interview Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Allen O'Donoghue
As experts in the field of parenting, family coaching, peer education and overcoming dyslexia, our podcasts cover a variety of topics including; positive parenting skills, team cohesion, conflict resolution, communication tools, overcoming dyslexia, motivational coaching, exercise and nutrition, and more.
I'm delighted to bring you the latest Motivation Interview podcast with world famous poster artist, Justin Hampton. Justin has been at the forefront of the rock art scene for over three decades and chats about getting started in the scene before there even was one, as well as life growing up and the influences he had that brought him into the art world. Hope you enjoy it!
To access the full episode, sign up at patreon.com/alodonoghuepodcasts
#motivation #rockart #posterartist
Welcome back to the Motivation Interview podcast. In this week's episode Allen speaks with educator, Vriti Saraf. Vriti is a phenomenal young lady who has spend her career empowering students to learn their own way and is looking to see how we can make positive changes by utilising technology in education so every learner can recognise their own abilities and skills.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. #motivation #education #inspiration #teacher
Welcome to part two of my interview with internationally renowned sports scientist, Simon Brundish. In this episode, Simon talks about family life, building a career in sport and how he has loved focusing on helping young people to develop their mental and physical health. #motivation #sportscience #youthsports
This week I chat with internationally renowned sports scientist, Simon Brundish, which was so engaging that it turned into two episodes! In part one of our conversation, we delve into Simon's life growing up with a young mother, going into care and excelling at sport & school. Simon's story is absolutely fascinating and a true inspiration. #motivation #sportscience #youthsports
In this week's episode, Allen chats with Tadgh Murphy, a young man who is in secondary school with big ambitions to become a comedian and podcaster. Tadgh takes us through the challenges he has faced, managing the condition arthrogryposis, as well as being a wheelchair user in society today. Tadgh's journey is so inspiring, we have no doubt you'll love this one!
In this week's episode I chat with artist Jodie O'Donoghue, who just so happens to be my cousin! Jodie talks about how art was always a big part of life growing up and how she dreamed of having her own studio as a child, and has fulfilled this dream. Jodie also delves into how her travels have inspired her and the importance of living by the sea when it comes to influencing her work. Hope you enjoy!
In today's episode, I sit down with my co-host from the Anfield Index Pro MindField sports psychology podcast, Dr Andrew Vincent. Based in the US, Andrew talks about the importance of sport as a child, the family dynamics he experienced growing up and becoming a sports psychologist, as well as so much more. Hope you enjoy this one.
In the latest episode of the Motivation Interview Podcast, I sit down with former Tool and current Ministry bassist, Paul D'Amour. Paul brings us through his life growing up, the challenges he experienced in the education system, founding one of rocks most illustrious bands and then walking away at the height of their fame. We also get to glimpse into Paul's work in setting up a school for children needing extra support, his work in movies and television and getting back on tour with rock legends Ministry. I hope you enjoy this one, I know I certainly did and it was so amazing to speak with the man who wrote so many of the riffs that defined my teens. Thanks Paul for being amazing! #motivation #toolband #ministry #bass
Hi everyone and welcome back to Episode 2 of the Motivation Interview podcast. In this week's episode, I speak with Katie McKeown. Katie is a young lady who talks very openly about the challenges she has faced in trying to participate in football at a competitive level, a notion that most males don't ever have to think twice about, and how that inspired her to give back to her community and become the first female referee in the county of Louth. Katie discusses her determination and how that is helping her build a career in accountancy.
We hope you enjoy this conversation with this highly inspirational young lady...one that every young woman should listen to.
To access the full interview, go to www.patreon.com/alodonoghuepodcasts and sign up to one of our tiers.
Welcome back to the Motivation Interview podcast. In this week's episode, Allen chats with business psychologist, Sue Firth. Sue takes us through life growing up as the child of a military parent and the impact this had on her growing up and moving into the field of psychology. Sue also discusses the importance of self care and getting a better understanding of ourselves in order to shape the future we want. We hope you enjoy this one.
To access the full podcast, sign up to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/alodonoghuepodcasts/membership
In today's episode, Allen chats with Dr. Fraser Carson. Fraser is Assistant Professor of Coaching and Sport Psychology at LUNEX University in Luxembourg. Fraser talks about his sporting career and the highs and lows of working in professional sport as well as his focus on increasing female participation in sport. Listen to two long-time friends discuss their career paths and how "luck" sometimes isn't just luck! #sportspsychology #sport #motivation
In the latest episode of the Motivation Interview, Allen chats with CEO of Leinster Rugby, Shane Nolan. Shane talks about his early life in boarding school, through his years working in business and tech, right up to taking over the role of CEO at his beloved Leinster. Hope you all enjoy this one! #leinsterrugby #motivation #IRFU
In this episode, Allen chats with radio presenter, Sinead Brassil. Sinead fills us in on the impact a good teacher had on her future career as a presenter for LMFM radio, how an unexpected pregnancy turned into a gift and how her dedication to research has made all the difference in helping to shape her professionalism. Hope you enjoy this one and let us know what you think! #lmfm #radiopresenter #motivation
In this latest episode, Allen sits down with Gags Tandon, creator of Anfield Index, one of the primary resources for everything Liverpool Football Club. Gags tells us about life growing up and the challenges he faced in school, immersing himself in the internet and it's potential, and his desire to give people a voice. The conversation was so intriguing and we know you will thoroughly enjoy this one. #LFC #anfieldindexpro #motivationinterview
The Motivation Interview podcast returns with former Irish rugby international, Niall Ronan. In this episode, Niall takes us through life growing up in Co Meath and finding a love for rugby, which he was able to turn into career due to his determination and work ethic. We also delve into life after rugby and how Niall has supported others to create and succeed in their mental and physical health goals with his company, Titan Wellness. Enjoy the latest episode! #motivation #rugby #health
In this episode, Allen chats with forensic health & learning coach, author and neurodivergent advocate, Olive Hickmott. Olive is a world leader in developing supports for neurodivergent people and takes us through her journey of her own learning struggles, her "AH-HA!" moments, and developing the Empowering Learning programme. Olive's knowledge and ability to make learning simple is amazing and we are sure you'll love this chat. Enjoy!
This week Allen talks with Ireland's first ever professional female boxer, former world champion and trailblazer Deirdre Gogarty. Deirdre tells us about walking into the gym for the first time when women weren’t allowed to box, being in the first ever female PPV fight, right through to winning her frist World title.
As the Deirdre Gogarty Legacy Committee work to get a statue built of Deirdre in her home town of Drogheda, have listen to Deirdre's story in her own words! #motivation #boxing #inspiration
In this episode, Allen meets professional MMA fighter, Ciarán Clarke, ahead of his fight in Dublin this coming weekend. Ciarán takes us through leaving school early and how the words of those around us can sometimes have a much bigger impact than they expect. Ciarán is open & honest and his dedication to his craft shines through. #mma #inspiration #motivation
Welcome to series 7 of the Motivation Interview podcast. Allen kicks off with a great chat with writer/director, Darren Thornton. Darren chats about getting into movies at a young age and the confidence of youth, when it came to creating. Darren's honesty around the highs and lows of the industry, is a breath of fresh air and we know you will love his story! #motivation #writer #movies
Allen & Lisa are joined this week by GirlWhoShivers, aka Tech, from the Hypnos project, to chat about the importance of equality and community in the web3 space and how we can learn from our kids! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen & Lisa are joined this week by Anna Skates to chat about understanding why our children can react they way they do and how this impacts them while online! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen & Lisa are joined this week by Irishnftgal to discuss consent and online use of our information in order to help our children understand their rights as they grow up in a more digital world! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety #consent
Allen & Lisa are joined this week by Tech & Jay to breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa are joined this week by Dom to breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa are joined this week by RainafazzAF breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa are joined this week by Anna Skates breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa are joined this week by Anna Skates breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
In this episode, Allen sits down with Amelia from Happy Nation, a project working to empower people to make positive change in their lives through simple daily steps! Amelia talks about her own challenges growing up and her inspiration for the project. #mentalhealth #motivation #nftcommunity #web3
In this episode, Allen sits down with Amelia from Happy Nation, a project working to empower people to make positive change in their lives through simple daily steps! Amelia talks about her own challenges growing up and her inspiration for the project. #mentalhealth #motivation #nftcommunity #web3
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Almost 1 year to the date since their first interview, Allen chats with Yam & Raph from the World of Women NFT project and how life has changed for them since they launched. They discuss the personal & professional changes they have experienced and where they see the future of the organisation as a whole! #worldofwomennft #nftcommunity #nfts #motivation #web3
In preparation for Allen's follow up interview with Yam & Raph from World of Women, which will be released next week, here is the very first interview with them from August 2021, just after the release of the original World of Women NFT project. The pair discuss their hopes and dreams for the project and how it has impacted on their lives. #motivation #nfts #nftcommunity #worldofwomen #web3
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them! #parenting #parentsontheblockchain #nfts #nftcommunity #children #onlinesafety
Allen and Lisa breakdown all the different elements of the blockchain, nfts and crypto and how you can learn alongside your kids and help them navigate the new world that will be available to them!
In the latest episode, Allen chats with the wonderful, Vicky Flores. Vicky has been a powerhouse in striving to bring equality and inclusion to the forefront of the NFT world. By documenting her own journey, Vicky has brought so many new people into the space! #inclusion #equality #nfts #nftcommunity #crypto #motivation
In the latest episode, Allen speaks with Jashon Mills, project manager for the highly successful Women Tribe NFT project. Jashon takes us through his life & career both inside and out of the crypto world! #nfts #nftproject #nftcommunity #womentribe #motivation
In this week's episode, Allen sits down with Katie Hultquist from Outright Action International, an organisation that works to gain equality for the LGBTIQ Community around the world. Katie discusses her passion for equality growing up and getting into activism as well as Outright's move into Web3!
In this week's episode, Allen speaks with Cliodhna from Connect FRC about the organisations trying to get a Community Centre built in the Moneymore area of Drogheda. The organisations are currently all in inadequate accommodation and the staff are working hard to bring this vision in to reality. #nfts #nftcommunity #nftcharity #morethanart
In this week's episode, Allen chats with Teresa from Boomerang Youth Cafe in Drogheda about the programmes and projects they run and how, support from Face Painted Kids could significantly impact what the service could offer! #nfts #nftcommunity #youthcharity #nftcharity #youthproject
In this episode, Allen talks to Stephanie from Sosad Ireland about the charity and the work they do to support people dealing with suicide. As one of the charities that the Face Painted Kids project hopes to support, we feel it's essential for people to understand why we are working with the charities we have chosen. Enjoy! #nfts #nftcommunity #nftcharity #sosadireland
This week, Allen chats with eleven year old, Indigo, creator of the Quokka Qommunity NFT project. Indigo is a phenomenal young lady who is looking to raise funds to support the endangered Australian animal, the Quokka! But this is just the beginning for Indigo, who has great plans to develop and be part of building the future of web3! The cuteness factor is definitely turned up to eleven in this chat. #nfts #nftcommunity #nftproject #nftyouth #metaverse
In this week's episode, Allen sits down with NFT artist, BowTiedTreeFrog, for an open & frank discussion about the impact of moving around a lot as a child, the challenges in her professional life & how she found her place in the world of NFTs. #motivation #nfts #nftcommunity #nftartist
This week, Allen sits down with Jon Beinart from the highly successful Toddlerpillers NFT project. Jon gets deep into his past and how art has always provided an anchor. We discuss the inspiration behind Toddlerpillars and some of Jon's plans for the future!
In this week's episode, Allen chats with irishnftgal about her experience of life in the NFT world, DAO's and seeing the importance of community building!
As we work through our new NFT series, I have been asked by a number of people to republish my original interview with Yam & Raph from the World of Women project. We met just after they originally launched and are planning a follow up conversation, later in 2022. So, as requested, here's the World of Women before they exploded!
In episode 3, Allen gets to chat with NFTignition about getting into crypto trading, then progressing onto NFT's before taking over & rebuilding the struggling Fame Lady Squad. What a story this is, enjoy! #nft #nftcommunity #fameladysquad #crypto #podcast #motivation
In the latest episode, Allen chats to NFT artist, Aoife O'Dwyer, creator of the Foofees project about growing up surrounded by creativity and joining the NFT community and finding her niche!
In the first episode of the brand new NFT special series, Allen sits down with the team behind the highly successful Hypnos NFT project. The team chat about getting into the space and how NFT's are changing the value that artists are seeing for their work.
In the final episode of series 5, Allen speaks with renowned Sports Psychologist and author, Dr. Josephine Perry. Josie takes us from growing up in rural England, through the bright lights of London and on to becoming one of the countries leading practitioners, working with athletes at all levels.
In this week's episode, we bring you Part 2 of Allen's chat with musician and comedian, Ellen O'Reilly. Ellen picks up the story when she discovered she had cancer! #motivation #inspiration #musician #bass #comedian
In the first part of this double header, Allen sits down with professional musician, Ellen O'Reilly to chat about her career and the struggles and triumphs she has experienced over the years. This interview is so unique & insightful, we needed two episodes to capture even a fraction of Ellen's life! #music #motivation #bass #podcast #inspiration
In the first part of this double header, Allen sits down with professional musician, Ellen O'Reilly to chat about her career and the struggles and triumphs she has experienced over the years. This interview is so unique & insightful, we needed two episodes to capture even a fraction of Ellen's life! #music #motivation #bass #podcast #inspiration
In this week's episode, Allen gets to see a completely different side to his first ever returning guest, rock poster artist, Brad Klausen. While Brad is known for his amazing art, this chat focuses on Brad's other big interest, consciousness and how ancient civilisations were maybe much more advanced than we give them credit for. The lads delve into how ancient art and artefacts can give us many clues to the knowledge they actually had! #motivation #arthistory #consciousness #art #ancientcivilisations
In this week's episode, Allen sits down with Yam & Raph, creators of the World of Women NFT project, one of the most successful NFT projects of 2021. Both chat about life growing up, getting into the NFT space & the challenges that come with the success they've had! #nfts #nftcommunity #motivation #worldofwomennft
In this week's episode, Allen sits down with singer/songwriter, Farah Elle about moving to Ireland from Libya and how her culture and life experience helped shape her musical direction. #motivation #music #singer #songwriter
In the latest episode, Allen sits down with Director & Film Maker, Frank W. Kelly about life in the movie industry, including his successes and challenges and how Covid lockdown provided him with an opportunity to strip things back and make some beautiful new short films. #motivation #filmmaking #directing #inspiration #movies
This week Allen is joined by vocal coach, tour manager and actor, Darryn Scott. Darryn takes us through his life growing up and how he coped with all the challenges he has faced and overcome to become as content as he is with the life he has!
In this week's episode, Allen chats with world renowned singer/songwriter, Lera Lynn about growing up, who and what encouraged her love of music and self-belief and some of the challenges of being an artist in 2021. Enjoy! #motivation #leralynn #musician
In this week's episode, Allen sits down with psychotherapist and yoga instructor, Joe-anne Angus about life growing up in Belfast during the Troubles and finding her path at an Ashram in Canada! #motivation #yoga #psychotherapy #inspiration #belfast
It was great to catch up with author, Matt Baglio. Matt is best known for his work, The Rite and Argo, both of which became Hollywood blockbuster movies. Matt charts his life growing up in the US to moving to Italy and becoming a full time writer. #motivation #writing #author #argo #movies
This week I have the pleasure of chatting with the inaugural winner of the Olympic Snowboard Cross Gold Medal, Tanja Frieden. Tanja talks about winning one of sports greatest races and how she moved into supporting people to make positive changes in their own lives! #motivation #olympics #snowboard #champion #energycoach #logosynthesis
To kick off the brand new series of the Motivation Interview Podcast, Allen chats with Dr. Mary O'Kane, author, lecturer in Psychology & Early Childhood Development and a regular on our TV screens and radio to discuss her journey from personal loss to success! #motivation #parenting #family #children #support
In this episode, Allen gets to sit and chat with one of the most inspirational, amazing women he knows, his mum, Mary O'Donoghue. Mary charts her life growing up in the countryside to a career as a counsellor and therapist that ultimately led to her becoming one of the most respected authorities on Logosynthesis in the world.
I am delighted to be joined today by creator of Logosynthesis, Dr Willem Lammers. Willem discusses how his studies in psychology and psychotherapy helped steer him towards understanding the importance of the flow of energy within us and how we can overcome the every day blockages we all can have. #energy #logosynthesis #lammers #energypsychology #energytherapy
In today's episode I get to chat with Vajrashura, a Buddhist practitioner from the Dublin Buddhist Centre. Vajrashura talks about growing up on a farm in Roscommon, moving to Dublin to study and finding a sense of belonging and contentment within the Buddhist community.
In this weeks podcast, I get to chat with sound engineer, Beckie Campbell. Beckie talks about getting into sound engineering at a time when there were very few women working in the area. She also takes us from small town life to the trials and tribulations of moving to the big city, taking on her challenges and following her passion which led to the creation of B4Media and joining the campaign for SoundGirls. Oh, and getting to work with the world's best musicians!
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Irish Olympic swimmer, Colin Lowth to discuss his journey from paddling pool to Sydney Olympics and beyond! Colin was so open and honest about his career. Hope you enjoy the chat!
To kick of series 4, Allen sits down with one of the stars of the Magnetic Netflix documentary, Jamie Lee. Jamie is a speedflyer who takes us through his amazing life from growing up on a farm to throwing himself down the side of mountains with just a parachute! #speedflyer #jamielee #magneticmovie #netflix #paragliding #reconnectwithnature
This week I get to chat with Lorraine O'Dwyer, Seanacai (storyteller), founder of Gallivanting Tours & Witch, about how she developed her love of traditional Irish myths and legends & now brings that love to the world around her. #witch #storytelling #motivation #inspiration #tradition #celticlegends
In this latest episode, Allen interviews world famous graffiti artist RASK. RASK's art can be seen all over the world and he even became the first graffiti artist to be displayed in the Irish National Gallery.
It's my absolute pleasure to invite Republic of Ireland and Manchester City player, Megan Campbell onto the Motivation Interview podcast. Megan has experienced the extreme highs and lows that professional football can bring and she shares her story with us from growing up playing with the boys, to signing a professional contract!
I'm delighted to be joined this week by Nina Kauser, sports journalist and fan media expert to discuss the challenges she faced breaking into a white male dominated arena and how the personal tragedies that she overcame, helped to inspire her to follow her dream.
In this week's episode, Allen is get's to chat with entrepreneur Eddie Gibbs about his early tech companies and getting into fan-media with Anfield Index. Enjoy!
This week Allen is joined by Director of the Droichead Arts Centre, Collette Farrell. Collette talks about finding her place within the arts and how her aspirations developed beyond winning that Oscar!
In this week's episode, Allen is joined by world renowned poster artist, Brad Klausen of Artillery Design. Brad takes us from being the next Wayne Gretsky, getting a job with Pearl Jam, to leaving a steady paycheque to head out on his own and ending up in the woods! This one is a cracker folks, enjoy!
This week I am so happy to bring you my interview with a lady who has had such a significant influence on my working life, Karen Devine. Karen is an entrepreneur and dedicated to volunteerism and is an all round wonderful person. Enjoy listening to Karen describe the times and events that shaped her life.
In this episode, Allen and Sean Maguire delve into how he "fell" into acting and all the ups and downs of his career, to get to his current place of contentment.
Allen gets to chat with Rory McGill. Rory is an holistic doctor and all round zen master (my words, not his!) who takes us through his journey from GP, to successfully working with clients using holistic methods!
I'm delighted to get to delve into the life & career of Sports Physiotherapist, Marty Loughran. From leaving his home to study in England to ending up at the Rio Olympics, Marty's journey is a cover story for determination!
In episode 9 of the Motivation Interview Series, Allen sits down with Laura Trafton in this bumper episode! They talk about the companies that Laura set up and was involved in, plus how she was involved in setting up the charity, Wishlist!
Welcome back to the series after a slight hiatus and we dive right in with Allen's good friend, Padraig Sweeney. Padraig takes us through the undulations of his journey to setting up home in Bogota, Columbia!
In this weeks episode, Alison Comyn is in the hot seat, delving into her early career in television, culminating in presenting the BBC show Holiday show before moving back to the island of Ireland and how she has taken on every challenge that has confronted her.
This week, Allen is joined by former award winning radio producer and DJ, Simon Green. Simon charts his love of radio and how it was the "be-all-and-end-all" for him, until it wasn't! We hope you enjoy this emotional trip through Simon's personal & professional career.
Former banker, turned Storyteller, Andrew Coppin joins Allen in the latest episode of the Motivation Interview Series. Andy charts his move from South Africa to London and how he decided that banking was no longer for him and he want to follow his passion...no matter how difficult it is!
In this weeks episode, Allen is joined by highly acclaimed author Nicola Cassidy. Nicola walks us through her early life, into adulthood where she deviated away from writing but always knew she'd get that book written!
Allen is joined by singer SJ McArdle who takes us on a journey through the ups and downs of being a musician and how he has found the importance of sticking to your principles is so important. The lads also explore Stephen's career in youth work and how he manages both. Enjoy!
In episode two of our series, Allen meets with Lisa Heeney, owner of Aroma Buff, about how she went from working in marketing to setting up her own businesses that use reflexology and sustainability as their essence!
Allen kicks off Series 3 of the Motivation Interview podcasts with former Meath Strength & Conditioning coach, Martin Doyle. Martin charts his career from leaving school early, gaining his qualifications late in life and the trials and tribulations associated with his career!
I always learn so much from speaking with FooDee, she makes so much sense. We can all make simple changes to our family’s diet, that doesn’t break the bank or their tastebuds! Listen out for my rant in the middle and we hope you enjoy our latest Interview. #cacoaching #family #nutrition
I'm delighted to have been joined by the master himself, Ronan McQuillan from The Enemies. Ronan tells us about how music was just always a part of his life and how a setback in music brought him in a brand new direction. Enjoy!
This was such a fun and interesting podcast to do! Allen & Gerry tackle some very common Christmas parenting issues. Enjoy!!
Today, Allen chats with Youthreach resource worker David Carry. David charts his journey working in multimedia, right through his career to supporting young people who have fallen out of the traditional education system and the importance of time with friends and family.
In the latest episode of Series 2, Allen get's to meet with Fiona Walsh who is a prosthetics and make artist for film and television, having worked on some of the most successful productions of the last 10 years including The Hobbit series, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Wars. Fiona delves into her journey and the ups and downs of working in the movie industry.
As Season 2 continues, Allen finally gets to interview Sandra Garry & Gary Griffin, two people who's dedication to volunteering and supporting youth development, is an inspiration.
In this episode, Allen & Gerry discuss a range of parenting topics including a 14 year old refusing to go to school and how to support your child auditioning for a TV talent show.
Welcome back to Series 2 of the Motivation Interview Podcast. In this episode, Allen talks to actor Darby Stanchfield about her life growing up in a small town to becoming successful in her career.
Welcome back to Series 2 of the Motivation Interview Podcast. To kick us off, Allen chats with filmmaker, web developer and owner of Infinitum Limited, Jason Leung about his journey away from civil engineering in Vancouver, traveling the world and ending up owning a company in Budapest.
In this episode Allen and Gerry cover a range of Parenting questions such as teens hanging around and getting into trouble, volunteering, building self esteem, being left home alone, teens distancing themselves and dealing with adult children.
In our latest episode, Allen had the pleasure of talking with Louise McPhillips about her desire to build a cob house and how the concessions she has had to make along the way haven't dented her resolve to succeed. Louise also talks about where her determination came from and how she fostered it.
In this week's Motivation Interview Series Podcast episode, Allen speaks with sports entrepreneur Elaine Keogh about her life, being a young mother, building numerous businesses and overcoming personal setbacks through focusing on her personal health and fitness. #MondayMotivation
In our latest episode, Allen meets former CEO / Animation and Film Director at Coalter Digital, David Coalter. David talks about his upbringing, getting into a major corporation moving away to set up on his own and ultimately learning about work/life balance which let him to return to his former employers.
In our latest episode, Allen meets President of LNR Property in Miami Beach, Adam Behlman. Adam discusses the impact of losing his father at a young age, how a chance meeting got his mojo back and how a major health diagnosis made him re-evaluate his priorities.
Allen of www.helpme2parent.ie answers your questions on a number of topics. In this podcast, Allen discusses whether or not you can be your child's best friend as well as their parent, how to deal with kids playing parents off against each other, introducing alcohol to teenagers, parents social media use, having "perfect children" and overweight kids! Oh and a cheeky mention for the 2017 Parenting Expo in September in Dublin. We hope you enjoy it.
Grandparents Looking After Grandkids.
It takes a village to rear a child is an old saying and today it is as valid as it ever was. More and more grandparents are taking on the role of child carers. With the high cost of mortgages and child care, it is often necessary for both parents to work, to cover living expenses. Or both parents may choose to focus on career.
From the child's perspective grandparents caring for them is a wonderful experience. All children need love, acceptance and validation in order to develop a strong sense of self and independence and being surrounded by people who love them unconditionally fosters these qualities in them.
However, issues can develop unless boundaries are made clear from the very beginning.
Grandparents need to remember that this is not their child and it is up to the parents to set out how they want their child cared for. Issues around discipline, food, sleep etc. should be clearly understood prior to the childcare starting. Parents also need to understand that their parent has successfully raised them, so they are not without parenting skills.
Children need structure and consistency in their lives, so it is important that all the people caring for them are working from the same perspective.
Differing opinions need to be discussed and negotiated. It is not appropriate for the Parents to lay down rules which the other finds difficult or impossible to implement. It is also unacceptable for the Grandparents to agree to the structures and then to disregard them and do their own thing. What happens here is that the child receives mixed messages which just confuses them and leaves them feeling unsafe and with divided loyalties.
How then can these differences be dealt with respectfully?
1: both parties need to admit that there may be a potential problem.
2: an appropriate time needs to be set aside to discuss the issues. Not when people are tired following a long day, much better to meet when both parties are free.
3: start with “I” messages, e.g. I am worried, I feel restricted, I am not sure what is expected etc.
4: then say what you would really like to do about the issue.
5: together think up ideas which are possible solutions to the issue and list them.
6: choose one idea, the one most likely to succeed.
7: plan the details.
8: carry it out
If 8 fails or is difficult to implement, go back to 6 again and choose a second option.
Allow each party space to speak without interruption, giving them your full attention.
If parents and grandparents put their love for the child first, they will find it easier to come to an agreement in the service of the child. In this way appropriate boundaries for the child will be put in place. The parents will feel secure that their child will be well cared for and the bond between the child and the grandparents will grow from the daily interaction.
In our latest episode, Allen meets marketing pioneer, Jon Buscall. Jon has travelled such a fascinating path through dealing with mental health issues, being a published writer, lecturing and now running his successful business. Jon's openness and honesty in this interview are truly engaging and inspiring and highlight the need for us all to find our own balance as we strive for contentment.
In this interview Allen meets technology specialist, Lisa Fannin to discuss how she has built her career and attempts to balance work/home life as a successful product developer and being a mum and wife. Lisa talks about working from her core values and trusting her instincts and how, as she has grown, this has changed and got her to a point where the balance is getting that bit easier.
Lots of people assume that video coaching won’t be as effective as one to one coaching. Over the past few years our video coaching clients have increased. We have worked with clients from United Kingdom, USA, Canada and Australia and that’s just in the last six months!!! Here are a number of reasons why it is becoming more popular:
- Convenience – you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home.
- There is no wasted time travelling to and from appointments.
- You could be anywhere in the world and avail of our coaching expertise.
- Appointments can be scheduled to suit your time zone.
- For local clients it can be an alternative to face to face appointments.
Here’s what our video clients have to say about it.
Personal coaching can be about becoming the best version of yourself, and about living a life of gusto, purpose, and impact. My coaching experience with Allen has not only helped me work towards those things, but it has enabled me to discover what makes me tick, what stands in my way, and which priorities and goals are truly important to me. Allen has the gift of being able to find “hidden” tools that allow clients to realize their goals. My sessions with Allen are always productive and insightful. If you had asked me a year ago if having Skype coaching sessions would be as rewarding or helpful as they have been, I might have been skeptical. Thankfully, Allen is adept at helping me focus on what is really important, and what next steps I need to take. He has fantastic, creative ideas that I’ve found eye-opening, simple and practical. As someone who generally feels reasonably competent, it’s amazing how Allen can help me cut through the diversions to discover what, in retrospect, is the obvious path. That is a unique and skillful gift that he readily shares with others. Whether it’s a challenge that I wasn’t able to work through or a new endeavor that will affect my growth, I can look forward to having Allen’s insights and guidance to help me along that path. What started for me as a focus on “getting good parenting advice” has become much broader and more beneficial. I highly recommend Allen as a positive, knowledgeable and effective coach.
-K. Hanson
I first contacted Allen to help me with navigating a new career in a field that can be frustrating and demoralizing. I felt like he had the unique qualifications I needed to help me succeed and flourish in this business. With his help, I have gained an immeasurable amount of confidence and he has given me a lot of tools that I can use when I get stuck with whatever situation may arise. He has been an unending source of support and encouragement and he challenges me to look at situations from angles that I may not have seen. He has helped me in both my professional and personal life. He is a great listener and he provides a thoughtful and insightful approach to every issue. I highly recommend him to anyone who is interested in becoming an improved version of themselves!
-A. Rainey
I came to Allen for help with time management. I was hoping for some straight forward tips and some powerful motivation. I was not ready to face the fact that I was putting up my own hurdles and I was definitely not comfortable exploring why. But, Allen was just so genuine and caring that I couldn’t help but let my guard down with him. Once I did that his warmth and insight made it possible for me to gradually drop my guard altogether, a prospect that would have seemed terrifying only months earlier but has turned out to be more rewarding than I could have imagined. I’m still working on it but, Allen has given me the tools and encouragement to make changes I thought were impossible, not only in how I manage my time but in how I approach life. I am forever grateful.
-D. Ramsay
Not every family is 2 adults and 2.4 children. Whether you are a single parent by choice or whether you have lost your partner, the issue of parents forming new relationships can be hard for kids and can manifest itself in many different ways.
So what can parents do to help their children deal with either parent introducing a new partner?
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This can be quite a balancing act. The main thing to remember is that you are your children’s biggest role model so take it slow.
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You may be head over heels in love with person, but that doesn’t mean that your children will feel the same. Be prepared for them “not liking” this person in the beginning.
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It’s important to remember that your children love their other parent too and possibly might still hold out some hope that their parents will get back together so when a new partner is introduced this can be quite confusing and difficult for your child to understand.
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Your children don’t need to meet (or know) every person you may be dating. Although you may be infatuated with your partner, especially after a relatively short space of time, many relationships don’t work out and putting your children through the undue “stress” of meeting a new partner and all the emotions that come with that, should be kept to a minimum.
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If you feel that your relationship is one that is going to last, talk to your children about your partner before they meet. Let them know that this person is special to you and you’d really like them to meet.
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You can explain that this person is not replacing their other parent and that they will not get in the way of your relationship with your children.
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Have that first meeting in a neutral place, like going bowling or a park, something that your child actually likes doing. This way they don’t feel like your partner is encroaching on their turf!
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As always, keep good lines of communication open with everyone involved and chat about how the first meeting went.
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As the meetings continue, make time for your partner to chat with your children in a relaxed way and without any pressure.
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It might also be an idea to let your former partner know that you have a new relationship.
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As your relationship develops, it might be worthwhile explaining why your partner is staying over and remember that you are showing your children how to conduct a positive relationship.
In Episode 1 of our Motivation Interview Series, Allen meets professional rugby player and creator of the world's leading social audio app Limor, Shane Monaghan. Shane talks about how, as a teenager, he set out a timeline of milestones to measure his progress to achieving his goal of becoming a professional in the sport he loved. Shane also delves into how the setbacks throughout his career impacted on his self motivation and desire to succeed which has resulted in him creating Limor app and becoming a pioneer in the social audio world.
What is resilience and why is important to our children?
• Resilience is the ability people have to recover from setbacks quickly and in children it is extremely important. Most parents I deal with, if they were able to pick a trait they would love their children to have, it is the ability to deal with things when they go wrong or don’t go as well as expected, and can adapt to any situation that they find themselves up against. Ultimately this is resilience.
• The people who are successful in any walk of life are the people who, even when they are knocked down, believe in their own ability to achieve and can pick themselves up and “get back on the horse”. Resilience is just as important as natural ability.
How can we build resilience in our children?
• First things first, we are all individual and we all learn skills in slightly different ways. The list below is a toolbox of techniques that could work for your children.
• Your child has some resilience skills already! That’s right, your child begins building their ability to cope with pressures from day one. Also remember, your child will hone their resilience skills, not only through interactions with you, but through friends, relatives, teachers, coaches and peers. This can be quite a reassurance for parents.
• Doing everything for your children will slow the development of their resilience. We all learn from doing things for ourselves, but if we block our children from learning how to complete tasks and be successful at it, this can stunt their progress. Obviously it will be important to be there for them if they need a little help but don’t take over.
• Little victories are extremely important. Your child will achieve things and while you don’t need to go overboard in the praise of these, it will be important to help them to recognise HOW they achieved these victories.
• Get them involved in helping others. Volunteering is the bedrock of many communities and provide volunteers with a serious sense of self-worth and belonging, two very important aspects of resilience.
• Trusting your children will help them trust themselves. Allowing your kids that bit of leeway to try new things and build their confidence is really important. It can be as simple as letting them walk to the shop or school on their own. If issues do arise, again, instead of giving the solutions, get them to explore the potential solutions with you.
• Sometimes straight after something has happened or not gone as well as your child had hoped, give them a little bit of time to process it in their own heads before delving into solutions.
• Be enthusiastic but realistic. “You were the best player on the pitch sweetheart!” when they have been substituted after 20 minutes is not much use to your child. All it will do is make them believe you less. If all the evidence tells your child that they have had a bad game or things haven’t gone there way, you can start with an open-ended question like, “how are you feeling after that game?” This allows your child the space to talk about their feelings, if they wish.
• Remember that your child’s feelings are real for them, so if they are frustrated or upset about how an event has gone, explore with them, what they could do differently if they are in a similar situation again. If they struggle with this, give them a number of different options and let them pick the one that works for them. You can then go on to talk about what they need to do to put this option into action.
• Teach your children relaxation & mindfulness techniques. We can all do with learning skills to calm ourselves down and keep things in perspective. There are lots of simple relaxation tools online, get them and learn them with your child.
Allen of CA Coaching answers your questions on a number of topics. In this podcast, Allen discusses about how best to talk to your child about stranger danger. Being realistic, how to keep safe and also what to do if an incident does occur. He also provides tips to deal with a difficult ex partner. You can't control what they do, so all you can do is control what you can do. Using these tips can help reduce the stress and keep your relationship with your child positive.
For some parents, using the internet can be as scary as walking a tightrope across the Grand Canyon on a windy day. Some people get a complete mental block about using sites and either feel like they need to do a course or find someone to help them navigate sites…just incase they cause the computer to explode! It is very much based around a fear of the unknown. Many people didn’t get a chance to grips with the internet as it was evolving and have now almost resigned themselves to the fact that they just don’t know how to use it and that’s that.
Children and young people, on the other hand, embrace the internet like it’s their best friend! There is absolutely no fear factor and they feel so confident that they will accept any new popular sites and learn as they go. They delve into nearly all nooks and crannies of sites they enjoy (many of these being social media outlets), until they figure out how it works and then off they go into cyberspace to discover the world.
Both of these attitudes have created a sense of growing distance between some parents and children resulting in parents relying on media outlets to inform them of the “dangerous” sites that can cause their children harm, while at the same time, almost providing a road map for young people to explore a new site they shouldn’t. Well here’s the good news parents, it doesn’t have to be like this and there are a number of really helpful sites out there that can help you learn and understand all about the sites your children use every day (see the list below!).
How we access the internet is constantly changing and, as parents, it’s important to be aware of how your children are using the internet on a daily basis. We’ve progressed from a big bulking computer and monitor in the corner of the kitchen to having the ability to access the internet via tablets and phones and using glasses is just around the corner…who knows where this will lead us next!
With all this in mind, online bullying has become a real and tangible issue for both young and old alike. Whereas, years ago bullying was generally confined to outside the child’s door, with the ever expanding use of technology, we have unintentionally opened our front door and invited bullying into the home. As parents we can’t completely prevent our children from going online, and it’s important to not scaremonger your children about the internet but it is important to discuss with them how they can keep themselves safe while online, just as you would teach them about road safety or stranger danger.
So what can parents do. We have created a short information sheet for both parents and teens to keep safe online which can be downloaded below.
Tips for Kids
- People you are talking to online may not be who they say they are.
- Only put up information you’d be happy for your parents & relatives to see/read.
- Everyone should check out webwise.ie for tips on staying safe.
- Only accept people as friends online if you know them in person.
- Never agree to meet an online friend in person, without permission from your parents.
- Not everything you read online is actually correct.
- Respect others and yourself while online as you would in person.
- Show your parents how to use the internet!
- Don’t give out personal information (phone number, address etc.).
Tips for Parents
- Discover the internet together.
- Make sure you have good lines of communication open with your children.
- Learn about what social media your children use and how they use it.
- Check internet history.
- Don’t overreact if you find something that makes you uncomfortable, it’s possible your child got there by accident.
- Encourage your child to let you know if they ever feel uncomfortable.
- Save any abusive/concerning messages sent to your children, no matter what devise it is on.
- Report any obscene messages to your local gardai.
- Set guidelines for internet use whether at home or on mobile devices.
- Set up the computer in a busy space in the house (kitchen/sitting room).
- Get parental controls on your devices and your children’s devices. Use filtering software and keep it up to date.
- Check www.webwise.ie regularly for updates on the latest trends in social media activity.
Download our Online Safety – Tips for Parents
Useful sites for parents:
www.zeeko.ie
www.schooldays.ie
www.Webwise.ie
www.Internetsafety.ie
www.Hotline.ie
So don’t be scared of the internet, that expensive tablet you bought isn’t going to blow up in your hands if you access a Manchester United supports site (well maybe it will!), and like we consistently say, communication with your child is the key.
If you have any concerns about your child’s internet use, or wish to book some internet safety coaching sessions, feel free to contact me at allen@cacoaching.ie.
Most of us will admit that at some point in our lives, we were a bit lost at sea! Every day, people sit at their desk or at their kitchen table and day dream about making a change in their lives. They want to add a bit of spark to things and feel that they have so much untapped potential. The problem is, they don’t know where or how to start the process of change.
We allow ourselves to be held back by many different factors. Some are real actual issues we need to take into consideration (such as leaving a secure job without another one to go to) right through to our own personal insecurities getting in the way (I’m not good enough or someone else is better than me). The greatest point we have to remember is, we are actually in control of what happens to us, much more than we like to think. Each and every one of us has the ability to make changes, that is a fact! Whether it’s radical change like moving to a new country or just changing our mindset to be more positive and pro-active in following our dream, we all can make that change.
Now I know you may be sitting there thinking “Yeah that’s easier said than done”, and this is true to an extent but if we actually sit back and analyse what is in our way, there are very few elements that we can’t overcome. In our individual work with clients, we see it every single day! People who felt that there were too many obstacles in their way, after working with us for a short period of time, broke through the barriers that, ultimately were put there by themselves, and have achieved their desired goals. Sometimes all we need is someone to guide us through the initial process of recognising those barriers and exploring ways to make them disappear!
Does this sound familiar? So what do you do next? Here are some tips to get moving forward and get pro-active. It’s in your hands!
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Be very specific about what it is you want to achieve – Many people say to us, “I want to change job”. When we ask what it is they want to do, they look blankly back at us. What they are actually saying is, “I just want to get out of THIS job!”. When you want to make a change, decided what it is you actually want and keep looking forward.
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When you have decided where you want to get to, begin to examine the practical steps you need to take to get there- If you want to be a doctor and are currently an office worker, you need to see what qualifications you need, how much it might cost etc. It’s not impossible to achieve but you need to be realistic about the time scale and do you want it enough.
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Carry out a cost/benefit analysis – By this we mean, look at all the pros to making this change, write down everything. Then look at all the cons of this process. This will help you to make sure this is the course of action you want to take.
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Go for it! After going through the above steps, and you’ve decided its what you want to do…go for it! You’ll have days of insecurity and doubt but you need to stay focused, you can do it!
- If you are ready to make change happen for yourself, we’re here to guide you through the process. Email Allen today at allen@cacoaching.ie to get moving!!
It is never too early for you to get your kids into a healthy lifestyle. Children have a lot of energy and as a parent, it is your role to help ensure they use up that energy every day. Some tips for raising a healthy, happy child:
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The earlier you introduce fruit and vegetables into their daily routine the less likely you are to have a fussy eater. Don’t pass on your own food prejudices onto your kids – encourage them to taste everything and try everything. And remember just because they don’t like the taste of things at two years of age doesn’t mean they won’t like it when they are three or four or five.
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Of course kids should have a sweet treat, but remember they should be just that, a treat. Sweets, chocolate and bars should not be a daily occurrence, especially for toddlers. Treats can just as easily be fresh fruit, raisins or fruit yoghurts (that are low in sugar). You can teach your toddler what a treat is, and that doesn’t always have to be a sugary treat.
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Good behaviour should be rewarded with positive reinforcement and not sweet treats. If you are doing a star chart with your child, the end reward should be an activity together – something fun that you will do together and that you will both enjoy.
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Know what your child is eating. If you are buying processed foods for your toddler know what the ingredients are. Many processed foods are high in sugar, salt or saturated fats – none of these are good for young children.
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Make a trip to the supermarket an adventure – think about the fruit and vegetable aisle from the perspective of a toddler. All those colours and shapes will be attractive to them. Talk to them about food and bring home something new to try every week. As long as a child is in a buggy or trolley you can also avoid the sweets aisle – remember they learn pester power at a very early age.
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Involve your kids in cooking. Help them to understand that time spent cooking helps to create yummy food that they will enjoy.
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If they don’t like the texture of fruit or vegetables then make your own sauces. Load them full of fresh fruit and vegetables and whizz them up to a smooth consistency that you can put on pasta or with chicken or potatoes.
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Get them used to exercise – a lively trip the playground, kicking a football in the garden, playing chasing. On a wet day run races up and down the corridor or play chasing around the couch. Teach them to swim, dance or other activities that involve jumping around and being active. Kids who are active have better concentration and sleep better at night because both their bodies and their brains are tired.
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If your child is an only child, set up play dates with other kids. This will encourage them to try new things, to play new games and to learn how to share and interact with others. This is a very important lesson for when they go to school. It is also very important for you as a parent to get out and spend time with other adults and break the cycle of being stuck at home.
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And finally, both kids and clothes are washable. Allow your kids to get dirty when they are playing. Put on their wellies and let them jump in puddles (wait until you hear them laughing).
Exercise:
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Exercise should be a daily part of family life.
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Get them involved in team sports. Team sports not only get them fit and healthy but also teach them structure, discipline, team work and fun while making new friends.
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If it’s raining, set up games indoors or take them to indoor play areas. Remember, children and clothes can be washed…kids love playing in the rain.
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Let them try as many as possible.
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Take an interest in the sport they play.
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Don’t give them or let them create excuses to not take part. People with severe disabilities and without limbs exercise every day.
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Make time for exercise yourself. Sometimes it seems like there are never enough hours in the day but we need to prioritise exercise. Plus you’ll never regret getting up and exercising!
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It is also important for your children to see you exercise (or to know that you make time to exercise). If they exercise as kids and they see you enjoying and making time for exercise as an adult, they will learn that it is part of a lifelong habit. It helps to clear your head. It helps you to de-stress. It releases endorphins – the happy hormones. And it keeps you fit and healthy. A great result!
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They will also learn that time for mum and dad need time for themselves also!
Check out www.safefood.eu -For some really important information and tips to keep your kids healthy!
The word “Drugs” can be really scary for parents – When do I start talking to my child about drugs? What drugs do I talk about?
We live in a drug taking society which means that we need to understand and be aware that our children are going to come across drugs at some stage. The first thing to remember is that our children, in the majority of cases, will come into contact with legal drugs such as alcohol, tobacco and medicines. The secret is to get yourself as much correct information as you can. Talking about legal drugs to your children is a great first step to opening up communication about the subject without getting into the so-called scary stuff!
Don’t panic, you’re not the first parent to worry about whether you know enough or whether your child knows more than you. It’s okay to say “I’m not sure but I’ll find out for you”. With all of our discussions, communication is the most important part of the parent/child relationship and never more so than discussing drugs. If you have good communication, your child is less likely to go looking for information elsewhere. As a parent it’s important for you to learn the correct facts about drugs and luckily there are many really good resources on the internet, some of which we have put up on our site cacoaching.ie.
Why is it important for parents to talk about drugs with their children?
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No Family is immune from the impact of drugs. Be they legal or illegal drugs, many families will have some dealings with drugs.
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Children know more about drugs than we think. They come across drug use in the home from a very early age. This is when it’s a great opportunity to open up the discussion around drugs.
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Generally society will use scare tactics to “frighten” people into doing or not doing what someone wants. Drug use is a prime example of this.
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Ultimately if you have a child who does get into difficulty with drugs or is struggling to not give into peer pressure, they will need you to be there for them.
When should parents start the drug conversation?
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This very much depends on the parent and how comfortable/knowledgeable they are about the drug(s) in question.
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Children will be aware of legal drugs such as tobacco, alcohol and medication. This is a great opportunity for parents to begin the conversation around safe use of legal drugs and the law. It does not have to be significantly in depth but you can discuss the effects of having too much of a certain drug and what it can do to you.
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Use “teachable moments”. If you have to give your child some medication, see an anti-smoking advert on tv or even if you’re not drinking at a family event, you can use this opportunity to discuss the reasons for these.
What about the preteens?
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Find out what they know. You can discuss with you preteen what drugs they have heard about and where they heard them from. It’s a good opportunity then for you to get the information for yourself and chat to them about what you feel they need to know.
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Discuss the difference between legal and illegal drugs.
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Provide reassurance. As your child gets closer to second level school, reassure them that if they ever come across or feel pressure to take any drugs, they can always come to you and you will help them deal with it.
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Practice role playing situations. With your child you can practice how they might say no or give them alternatives to being in those situations like, “I have to be home at X time”, “I got in trouble the last time, I can’t afford to get in trouble again”.
And then the teens?
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It’s really important to not be judgemental if your child comes to you to talk about drugs.
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Don’t dismiss what they believe as ridiculous. They came to you with, which is a huge bonus, sit and discuss with them where they got their information and then discuss the facts that you know.
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Don’t assume that your child has tried drugs/will never try drugs. Both of these issues can bring their own pitfalls. Some parents feel that it is a good idea to drug test their child with a home testing kit bought from a pharmacy. As I have said to many parents, you need to be prepared to deal with either outcome. If it is a negative result, you have effectively told your child that you don’t believe/trust them while if it’s a positive result, what will you do then? Many parents don’t think through the consequences of carrying out these tests and by communicating with your child, there is more of a chance that you can work together to find a solution.
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Don’t ignore your gut feeling. If you have concerns, speak to your child.
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If you child does come to you with a problem or you find out that your child is taking drugs, don’t overreact. What your child needs is to be supported to stop. First things first, let them know you’re there for them and that you will help them get through whatever the situation is for them. Then depending on how severe the situation, you can contact your doctor for a referral to local drug services. You can also find out what services are available in your local area that could be more appropriate to your child’s needs.
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While it’s important to support your child, you must also keep yourself and your family safe. If you’re concerned about your child’s behaviour while they are under the influence, it might be worth speaking to your local community gardai about the situation and as for their advice if there is violence.
Where can parent get more information?
There are some wonderful resources out there. Many parenting drug awareness programmes offered through schools and youth/parent programmes. There are also some excellent sites with some good information to support parents and teens through a very difficult time. A selection of these we have linked below.
Intervention – Drug and Alcohol Information and Support in Ireland – Drugs.ie
Talking to Your Child About Drugs
Drug info - FRANK
Talking about sex with your child can be just as daunting as talking about drugs with your child. How can parents approach the subject without embarrassing their children and themselves?
• This really does depend on how your child develops physically and emotionally. Both of which can happen a different times. There are some really good books out there now for tweens & young teens about changes that happen to both boys and girls, and I think it’s really important for both to understand how the opposite sex develops as well. By buying one of these books, it introduces your child to the idea of changes and even just telling them that they can read it in their own time and ask you any questions they may have gives your child a sense of freedom and also allows them to process things in their own head. This way they can come to you when they are ready and not just when you think ‘they should know’.
• Children are capable of understand so much from quite a young age. From 2-3 you can start to refer to parts of the body by their actual names, this actually will help when it comes to more in depth conversations in later years.
• 7-8 is a good age to begin to talk about where babies come from. Be factual and you can continually refer to the importance of a healthy loving relationship.
• 8-9 is also a good time to begin discussing the changes that will occur in your child’s body and the body of the opposite sex.
• There are some very good books out there for boys and girls on the changes that take place.
• As you discuss relationships, it’s so important to constantly refer to healthy relationships and model this. Ask your children what they think a healthy relationship should be like and discuss from there.
Our children are growing up in a digital age now, how can this impact on our children’s ideas of relationships?
• Remember you are your child’s biggest role model, so how you conduct your relationships has been teaching them from day one.
• So many teens put huge weight on getting large amounts of “likes” and “online friends” but there are so many dangers linked to this.
• It’s important to teach our children about healthy relationships and what they look like. Pornography and the general media distort the reality of what a healthy relationship is like. We need to take this on board and not leave our children to see that this is what relationships should be like.
Comedians will regularly joke about teens becoming irrational and everything being “So unfair!” Why is this the case?
• There are actual physical and emotional changes that take place in teens that cause them to be quite moody. A teenagers brain grows and develops are a really rapid rate and this can cause their moods to shift just as quickly.
• Also due to these rapid changes, teenagers have poor impulse control so they can say things they don’t mean.
• The physical changes that teens go through also impact on their moods. In girls, they get their monthly cycle and this can cause significant mood swings.
• Both boys and girls are trying to get to grips with who they are in the world and put with the physical and emotional changes, can lead them to feel very insecure.
• Your preteen/teen has much more of an understanding about what happens in the world and it isn’t a nice place sometimes. As a child, they just had to worry about who they were going to play with or what was for dinner but as they get older they begin to fully realise that people hurt and kill people, that animals are killed for food and other realisations that can be hard to get to grips with.
What can a parent do to support their child through the teens?
• Don’t just dismiss what is happening a “they’re just being moody!” It’s important for your child (no matter what age) to know that their feelings matter and are important to you. This can be difficult, especially if it is a regular occurrence but you have to remember that that break up at 14 really does feel like the end of the world to your child.
• Our bodies tell us how we are feeling before our mind does. We will feel a tightening in our stomach or sweating etc, so let’s work with our teens to help them to recognise these signs and offer tips to reduce their stress levels.
• Maintaining physical health will have a significant impact on how our children can deal with their emotional health. Both are as important as the other. Getting enough sleep, eating healthily, getting exercise etc are all so important to being able to maintain our health. We also need to be part of this and model the importance of physical health.
• Talk about how we cope with issues and how they can do the same. This can be hard as we have to look at ourselves and realise that our children see how we deal with issues. Let them know that they can take time out, go for a walk, talk to someone they trust and relaxation techniques in order to de-stress.
• Encourage your teens to get out and about. There are more and more options being brought onto the market to keep us indoors or interacting online. Make sure your children are involved in activities and encourage them to spend time with their friends.
• Teach them social responsibility. One of the most fulfilling things we can do is give time to help others. Getting our kids volunteering will give them so much personally while helping others at the same time.
You can download our free factsheet - Helping Teens Cope
More and more children are being diagnosed as suffering from anxiety.
Some are more severe than others, but for each individual child, there are parents who can sometimes feel very lost in how to help and support their child through times like this.
One of the most anxious times for any parent can be having a teenager leave school early, no matter what the reason. Today we will explore ways to deal with your own feelings and supporting your child as best as you can.
What do we mean when we talk about anxiety?
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The first thing to say is that most of us feel anxious at different times in our lives. It is a natural emotion that anyone can experience especially if there is a significant event coming up.
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What we need to recognise is that anxiety is an emotion of the future. By that I mean, we worry about something turning out worse than we hoped.
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We can exaggerate how badly things are going to turn out and this causes a body reaction such as butterflies or sweating.
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We rarely imagine the event turning out unbelievably positive, yet there is as much chance of this happening as the worst case scenario happening.
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Teenagers are growing up in a world where there is so much focus on each person (selfies, social media etc) where validation and acceptance come from well outside the normal peer boundaries.
Teenagers seem to have so many different issues that can lead to feelings of anxiety, and this can be a massive worry for parents. Are there any ways that parents can help to reduce their child’s anxiety?
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There are many different models for working with people who are suffering from anxiety and for most people, we don’t want our kids popping pills. We would much rather they learn to deal with these anxieties and the causes for themselves.
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How many people do you know, got into a car to learn to drive, had an accident early in their driving career and never drove again. What happens is that an event takes place, that causes a person to think a certain way about their driving, which then causes an emotional reaction (fear, embarrassment etc), which leads to a physical feeling in the body (butterflies, making themselves sick) that impacts on behaviour (never driving again). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy believes that if you can change any one of these, there is a higher chance of success.
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You need to listen to your child, not only to what they are saying but to what they are feeling. Don’t dismiss their feelings by saying that the “bully won’t hit you today”. I was given a great analogy once, where it was described as your child, when they think of school, sees a huge tidal wave about to crash in around them. It’s important to get to the root of the issue.
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Ask your child how they might like to deal with the situation that is causing them anxiety, if they can begin to change that sense of hopelessness, they are in a much stronger position to overcome.
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Get them to practise mindfulness techniques where they focus on their body and breathing properly. When you are anxious, your breathing increases and your body goes into fight, flight or freeze mode. By teaching you child to control their breath, will help them to slow this process down.
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Enlist the help of a professional if it is so severe that it becomes debilitating.
Having a child leave school early is almost a worst case scenario for many parents. How can parents handle this situation?
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There are really a number of different elements here. Legally if you child is under 16 they need to be in school. Nearly all parents are well aware of this, but can still struggle to get their child back into education.
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Engage with your local Education Welfare Officer. They will be able to tell you all the available options for your child and will advocate on behalf of your child if they have been put out of one school and you’re struggling to find another school that will take your child.
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If your child is just refusing to go to school, you need to learn what the reasons are for this. You will most likely hear, “I just hate it” or “I hate a certain teacher” or “It bores me”, but is your child actually saying, “I’m struggling with the work” or “I don’t understand what the teacher is saying to me”. When children struggle in school, how they can deal with it in many cases, is through disruption or aggressive behaviour which distracts from them not understanding the content.
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There really is no point in asking your child “What do you want to do with your life”, you might as well be asking if they fancy a first class trip to the moon. Many teenagers live in the here and now and the future is not necessarily something they worry about.
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The main objective is to get them back into some form of education as quickly as possible. There are many non-traditional educational options available in most areas now, so take the time to find out what and where the options are, just in case another school won’t take them in.
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It’s also important for your child to not be left to sit around and sleep in. This will encourage them to stay up late and as the novelty of being out of school wears off, they can become restless and this is when they can gravitate towards groups of other young people who might encourage anti-social behaviour.
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Get them working with/for you or a relative where they have a purpose for each day. This may also make them realise that school wasn’t quite as bad as they thought.
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Try and talk to them about what the issues were in school that caused them to leave. You will probably be told that it was down to everyone else, but try and dig deeper with them.
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Come up with a plan together. They may be embarrassed at being put out of school, but this may show itself through angry and aggressive behaviour. Maintain the household boundaries but try and work with your child to reassure them that you will support them through this period.
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Keep your own emotions and disappointment in check. You might feel embarrassed and let down by your child. Its okay to let your child know you’re disappointed but let them know you’re not giving up on them.
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If your child just refuses to go to school, you may have to let natural consequences kick in where they have to get out and get working but it will be important not to facilitate them doing nothing.
Both of these issues can be very difficult for both parent and child. By exploring as many options as possible, you are letting your child know that you are there for them and will work through these issues with them. This can offer such reassurance to your child which can make the process that bit more bearable for both of you.
If you or your child require support around any of the issues discussed above, contact Allen on 086-8058404 or at allen@cacoaching.ie to arrange a personal appointment.
We can’t choose our family but we can choose our friends…and your kids are going to choose their friends. As a parent this can be a worry as you may feel that certain friends can be a negative influence on your child. So how do you deal with this in a positive way?
Do we let our kids pick their own friends or do we have any right to interfere?
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The best thing you can do is get to know your kids friends. Allow your kids to invite them over to your house and take an interest in getting to know them. You will be amazed at how, when they get to know you on a personal level, will help to influence their actions when it comes to your child and the influence they may try to assert over your child.
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There are actually quite a number of levels to dealing with this and a lot will depend on your child’s age. As a younger child, sometimes you might have to say that they cannot play with a certain child as you have concerns but how you deal with this is very important.
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If you are to just say, “That’s it, you can’t play with them, because we say so”, will most likely just cause confusion within your child. There may be a valid reason, and one that might not be appropriate for your child to know about, but they do need an explanation. The reason for this is that they can begin to think that there is something wrong with their friend or even something wrong with them.
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Try and get to know the parents of your children’s friends, even just on a first name basis. This will make any potential issues that may arise, easier to deal with in a positive manner.
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As your kids get older, this can become a lot more difficult to control or impact upon. They will choose their friends based on a shared interest or shared acquaintances. Much of how they deal with situations involving friends will come down to how they view themselves and how they should be treated.
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By teaching our children to respect themselves and respect others, you are increasing the chances that they will, for the most part, make the right choices. Of course they will make mistakes but that’s when, as parents, we have to be there for them.
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You may get to a point where you have to approach the parent of a friend and have a frank discussion about how, negatively, both your children are influencing each other. This is not an easy discussion to have and emphasises the importance of knowing their parents. You may be met with a negative response and be ready to keep your cool with this.
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If your child continues to hang out with an extremely negative influence (someone who maybe is getting them into trouble), you may need to take more drastic actions like severe consequences.
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And then, the hardest one of all, allow natural consequences kick in. If your child is choosing to get into trouble, whether they are being influenced by others or not, then they have to deal with the outcome of that. You can be there for them to support them but they need to deal with the outcomes of their actions.
For more information contact Allen on 086-8058404 or allen@cacoaching.ie
Talking to your kids about money can be something you try to avoid but is this doing them any favours? Sometimes it’s a topic you can’t avoid because there is just not enough money coming into your household. Either way, as parents, it is important to teach your kids about money. In this article we will discuss practical ways to teach your kids how to budget, how to manage their money and how to talk to them honestly about a shortage of money in your home without creating anxiety and stress around the subject.
Some parents ask “Why should children have to worry about money, shouldn’t kids be left to be kids”?
• There are a few points to make here. One, by talking to and teaching your children about money management, then there is less chance of them “worrying” about money.
• We teach our children how to tie their laces, how to add and subtract, how to cook and clean…all really important life skills, teaching your child how to manage money is an essential life skill that if you don’t do it, someone else will.
• As we say there is no such thing as a perfect parent, and most of us have probably become wiser with our money after making a financial mistake. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a major mistake (like investing in property and losing it, or a minor enough mistake like spending more in the bookies than you’d planned). We learn all the time ourselves, we can teach our kids this learning too but not in a “don’t do what I did” perspective but more from a “this is what I did and why I did it, if I could go back this is how I would have handled it differently”. This shows our kids that we can learn from our mistakes and change the result next time around.
• Children (and adults!) nowadays are used to instant gratification. Be it full TV series on demand or downloading or streaming music when you hear a song you like, we have gotten used to having many things at our finger tips. There is now a pressure on young people to have the latest gadget/game/toy as soon as its released, but if we continue to just get these things for our kids, when they hit adulthood and that first job, where they have to pay bills, save for that first car etc, they can really struggle and can very quickly and easily get into debt with credit cards/loans.
• Kids are dealing with money from a very young age. Whether its money from grandparents or even just doing the weekly household shop, they are understanding that money has a value. We tend to teach our children to be consumers “you can use that money to buy something in the shop” so why not use the opportunity to teach them that they can save for something bigger or that money is not the only commodity they have. They can give their time/support/help/volunteer. And these are just as fulfilling if not more so than toys.
• Many of us have brought our kids to the big toy store with birthday money or the fiver from granddad and said “right what do you want to buy?” and then spent the next 40mins saying “no you don’t have enough money for that”. Why put ourselves and our kids through this. We can sit down and have a chat about what our kids would like and discuss how much everything is. Even go online and look at some things so they have an idea of what they would like and how much it cost.
So saving is important for children?
• Absolutely. When many of us were young, most of us had to save or wait for what we wanted. This thought us so many life skills (working for extra money, patience, anticipation and the joy of actually earning something you really want), it’s important for our children to learn these lessons too.
• Communion and confirmation (or other relatively large sums of money) are great opportunities to get your children to set up bank accounts and begin the process of saving.
• Weekly pocket money is also good as our children then learn easily, if you want that magazine, you’re going to have to save for a few weeks, or you can get something else now. It also teaches them decision making for themselves which is really important.
• As they get older you can also talk to them about managing debt like credit cards and loans.
With everything people have been through over the last number of years, should we shield our kids from our financial situation?
• If your financial situation has changed it’s okay to let your children know this. It is important however to practically explain how this will impact on them. Kids can worry about losing the house or not having enough food so letting them know that its things like holidays, activities etc that are changing and not the essentials is important and comforting.
• Children’s intuition is very strong and they generally know if what you are saying isn’t the whole truth. They easily pick up on stresses and strains so there is no point in pretending that everything is perfectly fine. Yes they don’t need to know every last detail but to chat to them about the changes you’re making and try and look at the positives. Get kids creating ideas for family activities that are free or cost less. There are tons of free activities happening all over the country every weekend, maybe look at doing something special once a month. Packing up a picnic (even if you have to have it in the car) and going on an adventure is great fun.
• It’s important to teach them that it is possible to manage on a smaller budget but that everyone in the house will have to make changes. It’s a great opportunity to discuss simple money saving tips like turning off lights, unplugging tv/consoles etc at night, not leaving taps running…all things that will actually help reduce the household outgoings.
• Getting your kids to do chores around the house are a great way of them earning their pocket money but also giving them a sense of contributing to the running of the house. This can have a big impact as they get older of feeling a strong connection to the family and the home, especially if they run into difficulties.
• Try to avoid phrases like “we can’t afford it”. This might be true but can feed into your child’s worries about the family income. Try things like “you’re going to have to save for it” “the money we normally spend on going on holidays is going towards X”.
What about for parents themselves?
• Set up a household budget and be strict on it and honest about your outgoings. There’s no point in not doing it as ultimately all it will do is cause you more stress.
• Many parents are slow to cut their kids’ activities when budgets change but everything has to be on the table. If you aren’t going to cut these activities, you have to find where you are going to make the same savings elsewhere.
• Practise what you preach. There’s no point in getting your kids to try and help with the family saving and you wasting money yourself. If you’re kids are going to miss out on activities, you should also show them that you are willing to make sacrifices.
• Remember that time with your kids is far more important than buying them things. Get out and run around and have fun with them. Not only will it give them lovely memories, but it will make your own worries melt away for a while at least.
•A father recently told me about losing his job 2 years ago and how he is so much happier now as he has a much stronger relationship with his kids and although this doesn’t take away the money worries he has, he says it gives him much more fulfilment than he ever got from working.
Allen of CA Coaching answers your questions on a number of topics. In this podcast, Allen talks about how dealing with family pressures at Christmas, when should children get a phone, staying safe online, children's privacy, sibling rivalry, setting boundaries, volunteering, gift giving as separated parents and introducing a new partner to your children at Christmas.
Bullying is such a difficult topic for parents and kids alike. Many parents feel that they need to ‘sort out the bully’ or some even bury their head in the sand and hope the problem goes away. Much of this is due to parents not knowing how to deal with bullying, especially when your child is being accused of bullying.
Your child being bullied is one of the most worrying aspects of bringing up kids. It’s a very real issue and can be very difficult for parents to deal with. There are many possible forms of bullying and sometimes your children might not even be aware that they are being bullied.
One of the best things you can do is work with you child to develop strategies for them to deal with the issue themselves. By empowering your kids to tackle the issue, you will be arming your child with invaluable skills, not only for life, but also for preventing them from being bullied in the future.
We’ve put together some of the most effective tips that you can give to your kids to help them deal with bullying in as positive way as possible:
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Encourage your child to show confidence. Even if they are not confident on the inside, they can pretend. This is something you could role play with your child to let them see how it feels to portray confidence.
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Don’t fight back/name call the bully, this might well have the opposite effect and put your child in even more danger.
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Walk away but don’t run. Your child can just say “leave me alone” and walk away and find an adult. Don’t run as this may just encourage the bully to chase your child.
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Let you child know that it’s very important that they tell you what’s happened. This can be difficult for your child, especially if they have been warned not to tell anyone.
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Ask what they want to do about the situation and how they would like it handled. This will encourage them to think about how they have the ability to overcome the situation, but with your support.
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Encourage your child to make friends. Children who have friends are less likely to be singled out by bullies. Introduce them to new activities where they can make new friends and build positive peer relationships.
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Teach them what bullying actually is. Let them know the different types of bullying and not to accept it, even if it’s their friends who are bullying others.
These are just some tips that can discuss with your child. The big thing is to have the discussion, even if you don’t think it’s a major issue. If your child has awareness of what bullying is they will see it and with open communication will be more likely to speak to you about what might be going on for them.
(Check out www.webmd.com for more information and useful tips)
What if your child is the bully?
I think it is fair to say that parents worry about their child being bullied BUT when parents discover that their child is the “bully” they are often shocked and defensive.
So my first point here is to control your own reactions. If a parent, the school or a youth club contacts you to say that your child is bullying another child you need to stay calm and listen to what they have to say. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. You need to let them know that you are open to working with them to find a solution.
Take it seriously. You may not want to believe it. You may not want to believe that your child could behave in that way. But you need to deal with it.
Take a balanced approach. Sometimes parents will be embarrassed. Others might even be faintly proud that their child is a strong and dominant character. Both reactions are normal human reactions but either way, you still need to deal with this situation.
Listen to what is being said, gather the information and prepare yourself to talk to your child about it.
Talk to your child and be ready to listen.
Ask them about bullying, find out if they truly understand what they are doing:
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Talk to them about what bullying is: being nasty, excluding others from games, laughing at people for being clever (or not clever) or for looking different, sharing negative messages on social media, not standing up for others, making others feel worthless.
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Sometimes, by having this conversation you will discover that a child doesn’t understand what they are doing. But they will recognise their behaviour through the conversation and will be genuinely remorseful at the notion of hurting others.
The next step is to ask them about the incidents that were mentioned to you.
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Again, you need to control your reactions. Don’t get angry. Don’t drag them down to the Garda Station to scare them. But you do need them to understand that this is serious. Remind them that you still love them but that you are going to work together to fix this.
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Keep listening to them. If this behaviour is totally out of character you might find that they are doing it as a reaction to something that happened to them. Perhaps they experienced bullying in the past and this is their new defence mechanism.
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Role play the situation with them as it might have happened in the past so that they act out the incident. Now that you understand the incident, reverse roles where your child is the victim of bullying. Talk to them about how it feels to have been on the receiving end. Then role play it with a different ending, without the negative behaviour and ask your child to explain how they might handle it differently in future.
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Make it clear that you will be returning to talk to your child about this again to see how they are getting on and remind them that they can come and talk to you about it any time.
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Don’t label your child a “bully”. This can have lifelong implications. Let them know that just because they have bullied in the past does not mean that they will be a bully forever and that they have the power to control how they behave.
Bullying is a worry for everyone and we need to take positive action for our kids whether they are being bullied or are the bully.
“I initially engaged with Allen because I wanted to take up a national role at work in and in order to so I had to go through an election process and make a speech which filled me with trepidation. Through working with Allen I identified my own innate strengths which Allen encouraged me to bring to the fore. In hindsight the biggest thing that Allen’s coaching did for me was to develop a platform upon which I could build on the confidence and skills that were already there. I would highly recommend for anyone who wants to learn more about themselves and reach their true potential.”
“Allen, in a supportive and empathic way, challenged me to set goals. He used his skills in assisting me to break down these goals into steps so as I was able to achieve them while giving practical and insightful advice on how to take that all important first step towards my goals.”
“Allen is an inspirational and motivational coach who challenged me to realize I can reach my full potential in all areas of my life.”
“Allen’s approach is clear, practical and thorough, focusing on growth and development. He kept the sessions focused on all the important issues that we were working on yet was also flexible enough to adapt to the needs of the moment.”
“He has given me the successful tools to stay focused on my goals. I am clearly aware of where I am today, where I want to go and with the skills and tools I have learned from Allen what I need to do to get there. The main difference in my life is that I know how to manage it better and make the right choices to live a balance life. I feel more self aware, focused and in charge of my own life.”
“Since taking that first deep breath so to speak and getting out of my own way my stress level has dropped significantly and overall personal and professional life satisfaction has grown leaps and bounds. This would not have been achieved without the assistance from Allen.”
“While working with Allen I felt supported, encouraged and most of all listened to at all times. His way of working empathetic but in a gentle calm manner he still manages to challenge you to confront the problems you are facing. His skill appears to come naturally to him which I would have no hesitation in recommending him for coaching anyone who feels stuck in any area of their life or career.”
Hey folks,
We are delighted to announce to launch of our new Introduction to Coaching 101 Course.
This is a one day programme (or 3 x 2 hour online sessions) for people who are interested in learning some of the fundamentals of developing your own self (business/client) coaching strategies. Participants will explore belief and value systems and how they impact on our personal (professional/client) growth and development. We will also examine bringing clients through the key coaching questions and building in goal setting and overcoming potential blocks that may arise.
What is Coaching?
Coaching is a designed relationship between the coach and the client, which focuses and enhances the professional, business and personal life balance of the client through a series of structured sessions. These sessions help the client to define clear and achievable goals in both their career and personal life.
The Coaching model takes into account the whole person, their system and their environment while being a measurable and practical process.
To register your interest please contact us at info@cacoaching.ie or call 086-8058404.
None of us want to ever be called a pushy parent, but how do you get the balance between actively encouraging your child to be the best they can be and pushing them to the point where they want to give up. By building resilience in our children, we are giving them a tremendous gift that will lead them through life.
In this article we will examine ways to get that balance in place.
We hear the term thrown around a lot but what actually is a pushy parent?
• I suppose the typical view of a pushy parent is the parent who stands on the side line at their kids sports match, shouting and roaring instructions. Then getting home and going over and over the things their child did wrong and how to fix them.
• Another is the parent who has a racquet or club in their child’s hands or have them sitting at a piano from the moment they can move independently.
• There can sometimes be a fine line between being supportive of your child and their interests and slipping into pushy parent mode. I am all for encouraging your children and helping them develop their skills and interests but when it moves into 2-3 hours of practise a day, at a very young age, their needs to be some balance brought to the situation.
• This can be even more difficult if your child shows a higher skill level for a certain sport or activity and you as a parent can feel under pressure from coaches or teachers offering advice on how to get your child to the top.
Is it easy to get the balance between encouragement & pushing too hard?
• The “simple” answer is “not all the time”! It can be difficult because parents feel that sometimes they need to encourage their children to go to activities that they may not be overly interested in at first, but then go on to love, once they begin to see their skill levels increase.
• There is also the difficulty of giving your children too much control over what they do. By letting them drop out of everything because they “don’t want to do it” after only doing two lessons and then giving up, can lead your kids believing that they don’t have to commit to anything, or that maybe they’re not good at any activities as they haven’t had the chance to build a certain amount of skill for the activity.
• It is important that your child needs enough time at a certain activity to see that they are improving. For some this will be rather quick, while for others it may take much longer. The important thing is to continue encouraging them.
What if your child is really gifted…what do you do then?
• The most important element here is to support them and encourage them, without it becoming the complete focus of their lives. By this I mean, your child still needs to have that balance in their lives where they can do & experience other things that aren’t related to the area that they are excelling in.
• Instead of pointing out faults and mistakes that your children make, ask them how they think they might improve their performance. You may be amazed at how much they know and understand themselves. If they are struggling, you can give them suggestions, but try and shape them in a positive learning way.
• There is no guarantee of success. The reality is that your child may go on to become the next world superstar but the majority won’t. 1% of young people will make it to the top of their chosen field so maybe this shouldn’t be the complete focus of their childhood. We all know the stories of people like Tiger Woods or the Williams sisters in tennis, where they seemed to be bred to be the best, but there are as many Padraig Harrington’s who went onto be Major champions having started in their teens.
• There have been many many junior champions or “would-be” world beaters, who packed it all in or decided they didn’t enjoy it anymore, because it stopped being fun. This can be very frustrating for parents who have invested lots of time and money in their child’s development and can cause issues within the family. Keep in mind, if your child ends up regretting dropping out, they have to live with that, not you.
• It can be important to ask yourself, who is this for? Is it for your child or is it for yourself. Your child’s enjoyment needs to be the overriding reason for them taking part in an activity, and not focusing on having to be the best or worrying about becoming a professional.
Many adult children are still living, or have moved back, into the family home for many different reasons. For some people this can bring about a very different dynamic to the family set up, which can sometimes be the basis for conflict. We’ll delve into ways to manage this situation.
So why do adults stay living with or move back in with their parents?
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Generally it usually comes down to money! Yes it’s not the only reason but in most cases it will be the main reason. People either don’t have the money to get their own place or have maybe lost their own place due to financial difficulties.
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Other reasons might be for physical or emotional support due to different medical conditions.
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Many full time adult students will live with their parents throughout their studies as their income potential is significantly decreased.
So where and how can issues come about?
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For adults who have lived away from the family home for a good amount of time, moving home can be a necessary evil. When they move back into their parent’s house there can be a large number of issues that arise. Parents can sometimes slip back into “parenting” mode. This can be nice in the beginning, having meals cooked, washing done and so on, but this can quickly turn into a bone of contention when parents get upset because you’re not home on time for dinner, or came home late from a night out…or didn’t come home at all!
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The flipside can also arise, where the adult child moves home and expects the parents to “look after” all the above. Some parents can feel like they have already done their job in raising their child and this can build resentment. Why should a parent have to wash an adult child’s dirty undies!!
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If the child isn’t working or making any attempts to create employment opportunities for themselves, this can become frustrating for parents and trying to talk to their child about it can almost turn into the same experience as it was when they were 6 or 7 years old!
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If a grandchild has come into the family home also this can be difficult as grandparents may feel that their child isn’t parenting “right” while the adult child can feel that they are being undermined by the grandparents.
None of these situations are easy to deal with so what can the parent do?
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First things first, make sure there are clear lines of communication open, this includes you being open to hearing what your child is trying to tell you about their situation. Ultimately you both want the current situation to run as smoothly as possible for everyone in the home.
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It might be worth creating a “family contract” of sorts. Not one that’s is overly restrictive or oppressive but one that is an agreement on who does what and when. So it could be as simple as agreeing with your adult child that they do their own laundry or that or will text them during the day if you are making dinner for everyone.
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As it is your home, your standards of cleanliness need to be maintained so they need to clean up after themselves.
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You need to also decide and agree if and how much they will contribute to the house financially.
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If there is a grandchild in the house, you need to sit down with your child and ask them what the boundaries are for the grandchild. They need to lead this discussion and will need to be supported to maintain their boundaries for the child.
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If you feel that they are not parenting properly in a certain area, approach this gently and subtly and never in front of the grandchild. They may ask you for some advice or support but always take their lead.
You can contact me at allen@cacoaching.ie
It’s a time that both kids and parents look forward to and dread in equal measure. The summer has been a time of playing with friends, taking part in summer camps and having the normal routine relaxed…and in some cases completely thrown out the window. The summer can be stressful for parents trying to find things to do for their children.
With children starting back (or even just starting) at school, it can be a really good time for parents to take control and set a new routine and boundaries for their children.
Okay so what can parents of young children do to ease the transition into junior infants or back into school for those who may have completed a year of school already?
First things first, let your child, no matter what age they are, know that school is important. If you place importance on school, your child is more likely to pick that up.
There are a few different variables for kids starting school for the first time. If they have been in Montessori or crèche already, they will have been prepared quite well for this transition and may well be going to school with friends. For those that may be going to school straight from home having not had experience of being in large groups with other kids or the structure of school, here are a few tips:
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Talk to them about what to expect from school. Explain to them how school works, what the teacher will do, what they might learn, how to make friends and so on.
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Let them pick their school bag, pencil case and other necessities and try on their school uniform. This can ease transition.
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If possible take them to school to have a look around. Most schools will have a day where new children can go in and have a look around and see their new classroom. This is really good at helping them feel less worried about going into a new building for the first time. Sometimes schools can be very large, intimidating buildings with lots of children running around.
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Try and make sure you are there with them on their first day. Dropping them off is such a big event for all of you so go with them and talk them through the walk to the classroom or meeting point.
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Hold it together! You may feel quite emotional yourself but try and keep it to yourself, when you get back into the car or home, you can blub away all you want. You child will be looking to you for strength.
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Leave when you’re told to! The school staff are really skilled in dealing with upset children, they do it all the time. Your child may be upset and crying and calling for you but you need to leave them to it. They will settle down much quicker than if you keep hanging on.
After the summer and the boundaries relaxed, is it important to get a proper routine going for school?
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Absolutely. It is really important for parents to set a new routine as quickly as possible. One that suits both you and your children. By that I mean, you know your kids best and if they are hyper in the evening time, try and get some energy burned up in the early evening and make sure they are having enough wind down time. Making sure they get enough sleep is one of the most important elements in how they get on in school.
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No electronic devices in the bedroom. There is no need for them and there is a biological reason for this also. The light from tablets/tv/phones actually tells the brain that it is time to wake up so you probably find that your kids take extra time to drop off after watching or playing on a device. Tell them that all devices are to be left downstairs…they’ll probably fight you on it if they are used to it but persevere and they will come round. It may just be a battle of wills.
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Make sure they are up on time and get a good breakfast into them before school. This might be as hard for you as it will be for them but the mornings need to be chaos free (as much as possible!!). You will set the tone in the morning and if you are up in enough time and calm, it can have a massive impact on how things will go with everyone else.
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Set a homework time and stick to it. It can be good for kids to have a snack when they come home and then get straight into their homework. Explain to them that the earlier they get it done, the more free time they will have. No TV/playing/devices are to be turned on until home is done.
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Make sure their uniform, books and everything they need for the following day is arranged the evening before. This will have with keeping the household calm in the morning. Sometimes a checklist stuck on the fridge that children need to tick off as they have done them, in preparation for the following day, can be a good way of both you and them keeping track…and reducing arguments.
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Keep an eye on their diet. Make sure that they are getting proper nutrition and exercise. It is going to be very important that they get their down time as well. Make sure they get time for their friends and activities that they enjoy.
What advice would you give to those parents with children who are making the transition from primary to second level school?
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Okay, sometimes this transition can be harder for parents than it can be for kids. By this I mean, realising that your children are going into a more adult environment and all that that brings with it. It can also be the beginning of your child really beginning to pull away from the family unit. This is natural and essential for your child to do, just tell yourself that you will be there when they need you when they inevitably mess up!
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Before they begin, talk them through some of the changes that they will experience. Remember they have gone from being the biggest in their primary school to being the smallest kid on the block in their secondary school. This can be daunting so to help with this, talk to them about changing classrooms, dealing with different subjects and teachers and reassure them that they are ready for the change (even if you don’t think they are!).
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Help them set up a practical, realistic plan for getting homework done. There will most likely be much more homework and this will be new to them. Before they get a chance to get overwhelmed by this, work out a structure together.
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Many schools offer great support to new students coming into the school, whether that’s a mentor scheme or prefect and Year Head teachers. Advice your child to seek help if they need it.
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They will most likely be getting a mobile phone at this stage (if they haven’t had one before). It will be important to talk to them about online safety and peer pressure. You don’t need to scare them but try and make sure that they know how to be safe and that they don’t ever have to do anything they don’t feel comfortable doing.
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What if your child is the one who is getting in trouble in school? What can parents do then?
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It’s what every parent dreads but it happens. Try not to lose your temper and fly off the handle. Find out what actually happened and co-operate with the school to see what the best solution is. Your child is actually less likely get in trouble in school if they know you are in contact with the school.
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Talk to your child, find out if there is something going on which is causing them to act out like this. They may be feeling like they don’t understand what is going on, they may have an undiagnosed learning issue, and they might even just need glasses and have hid it from you! Then they may be having to deal with being bullied. Dig deeper and look for signs but recognise that something is going on and needs to change.
For more information contact Allen at allen@cacoaching.ie.
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What is a Pre-Schooler? A pre-schooler is thought of as a child that is aged between 3 and 5 years. But regardless of whether they are 3, 4 or 5 they still need the a structure that creates boundaries for them and keeps them safe.
You are taking what you have implemented at the toddler stage, the routine that you have created for them and the communications patterns that you have established with them and you are building on these.
And if you haven’t had a good routine or a strong communications pattern with your child up to this time, don’t worry, it’s not too late to introduce this now. Your kids are far more adaptable than you think. They are not set in their ways. Any behaviour patterns that they are demonstrating now can be changed – it just takes awareness from the parent and dedication to changing this pattern.
The same issues as for toddlers – routine around eating meals, playing, sleeping and engagement with other children is important. It’s just more challenging at this time because your pre-schooler is trying to assert their independence and so they will push against you and challenge your authority.
Discipline for Pre-Schoolers At this stage, your child is still trying to understand what is acceptable and not and so you may find that they continue to push and challenge you in their behaviour. Some parents experience the terrible twos and go on to discover that they don’t stop when your child turns three. Others escape the terrible twos only to discover that their child hits the terrible twos while they are three. Tantrums, shouting and stamping of feet can be a feature of this stage and so it is an important time for parents to remember that they are the adults and it is their responsibility to deal with this calmly.
Again, much the same as with toddlers, the purpose of discipline at this stage if to provide consistency, boundaries and ultimately to keep your child safe.
But the difference at this stage, is that your child is better able to understand when you explain what they have done wrong.
For you, explanation is key … in order to maintain discipline, you must be able to explain to them why they are on a time out or why you have taken away a toy etc. HOWEVER the difference at this age is that they will feel completely justified in telling you exactly why they did what they did (and whose fault it was) and chances are they will think that they were right. You need to remember, again that you are the adult. Your coping mechanism at this point is to be firm, explain why you are doing what you are doing and do not engage further in conversation with them … let them justify, justify, justify what they did but don’t get into a discussion with them about it.
This is also a good age to introduce star charts or reward charts as they can appreciate rewards and can start to comprehend that positive behaviour has benefits.
For more information on preschoolers and positive parenting, visit http://cacoaching.ie.