I have been working with children in my role as a primary school teacher for

over 20 years. I am also a Mum of 2 amazing children. However, their behaviour

has not always been amazing!

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My first born had issues with sleeping and when he was a toddler, the typical

issues with tantrums and feeding began too - oh the joys! I did not want to

respond to these issues in the way that they are usually dealt with because

those methods did not appear to be very successful to me. I was sure that a

better, easier way existed, I just hadn't found it...yet! So I began to seek solutions.

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I headed to our local library and returned with a massive mountain of books (much to the bemusement of my husband...it really was an enormous pile!) - the learning began and parenting really did become happier, calmer and easier.

My husband, who originally had no faith in these books (and wanted to continue parenting in the only way that he knew) came on board when he saw how our family life was transformed.

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​In fact, when the next parenting challenge arose (as they inevitably do), he began to ask 'What does the book say?!' Sometimes I would reply: 'I don't know, I haven't read that chapter yet', and he would literally take our son and send me off to read!

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Then we had our second child. Well let me tell you, no book and no amount of research helped me to successfully deal with and improve the behaviour my little feisty fire-cracker!

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​We had angry out-bursts that were off the scale with hitting, biting, kicking and spitting, and anxiety in the mix too. Once again, I did not want to follow the conventional approach to dealing with this behaviour, such as using time outs, shouting, punishing and bribing...as I knew these strategies don't work in the long-term, they cause so much damage to children emotionally and to the relationship between the parent and the child.

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Did I sometimes use these techniques? Yes, I did. I didn't know a different way of responding at the time. My husband's advice of: 'Buy another book' did not work! Nothing worked. This is when I reached out for help from an amazing Parenting Consultant called Elizabeth O'Shea, founder of Parent 4 Success.

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​When you know better, you do better. Gone were the outdated methods (that to be honest I did not want to use and did not feel comfortable using) and in came a vast array of Positive Parenting Tools and Techniques that actually worked. I learnt so much from Elizbeth and will be forever grateful for how yet again, family life was transformed.

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Fast forward to now and I am still using the techniques and tools that I learnt back then and Elizabeth's expertise. This has given my children the best possible start to life and has helped me to deal with so many different parenting challenges since then. These have included things like screen time struggles, knowing how to get the children to help at home, getting them to listen the first time I ask, dealing with friendship issues and sibling conflicts, navigating grief, homework hassles and more recently, tools and tips for the teenage years. 

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In 2022 my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he died from a brain tumour 6 months later. In 2023, I was widowed and became a solo parent. I was determined to help our children deal with their grief and give them the very best chance of thriving after such a traumatic event early in their lives.

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My children communicated their extreme distress at seeing their fit, healthy and fun-loving Dad die slowly before their eyes in the way that children do – through their behaviour.

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One had anger issues, the beginnings of a screen addiction, sleep disturbances and wanted to withdraw from life. My other child regressed in many areas of life such as feeding, sleeping and angry, aggressive tantrums returned…but this time they were even worse.

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This was (and still is at times) an extremely challenging, traumatic and exhausting time for my children and I. A primary loss comes with a myriad of secondary losses and the loss of a spouse means that every area of your life will be affected.

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We will always have our challenges because grief is not something that you get through…there’s never an end point. It is something that you have to learn how to live with.

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But I have the parenting tools and techniques that help us through these challenges – and that’s what makes the difference between surviving and thriving. Despite our monumental loss, we now have a much happier home, and so can you!

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In 2022, just before my husband’s diagnosis, Elizabeth shared the exciting news that she was going to train people to become Parenting Consultants, you have probably guessed that I jumped at the chance! I became a qualified Parenting Consultant in 2023.

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I understand first-hand how challenging life and parenting can be and it would be a

privilege to help you and your family navigate the challenges that parenting can bring.

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My non-judgmental approach, combined with expert advice, will leave you feeling

empowered to navigate challenges and be a happier, calmer and confident parent.

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I did the same course when I needed help that I teach today, so I know that it works!​