I know a lot of nesters are walking the tightrope balacing between having children and teenagers and I think this article from Barbie Bieber and Beyond will really help give you some hints and tips on suriving your tween daughter. 
You can find the link here -> How to Survive Your Tween Daughter
What do you think? Do you have any tips?
Happy reading nesters x
Why I no longer say have a great day.
A little while ago I said to my daughter as she clambered out of the car in front of her school “have a great day honey”, she said “I will, I always do”. When I picked her up that afternoon I said “Did you have a great day?”. “Yep” she said. Always wanting more information I pushed “So, what did you do?”. “Nothin’ mama”. “So did you learn anything”. “Nope”. “Who did you play with?”. “Don’t remember”.
I was deflated, she either didn’t have fun, she didn’t want to tell me or she simply could not be stuffed mustering the effort to involve me in her day.
So, my new plan was hatched.
The next morning we pulled into the illegal bus zone and as she collected her belonging I said “Honey, have a great adventure today”. She paused and inquisitively looked at me. “what did you say mama?”. I smiled at her and said, “Have a great adventure”. She giggled, kissed my cheek and her skinny, lanky little legs climbed over the front seat and out the door. 
When I pulled up that afternoon, she came running to the car. She was almost breathless and said “mama, I had a great adventure, today I had a great adventure!!”. She then went onto to tell me the story of her adventure “Well, this morning I dropped all my library books but a girl I didn’t know from year 4 helped me pick them up. Then my teacher, you know ma, that lady that is like you but at school? Yeah her well, she sang a song about a goanna and made us pretend to be goannas. Do you know how hard it is to be a goanna mum?? Then at lunch we found a lizard in the back oval, but we didn’t touch it cause Finn said they can bite. Then I drew a picture of an owl, it was funny because I thought the blue crayon was actually purple! But it wasn’t HA! Then it was time to come home and you are here!, so a pretty interesting adventure today”.
I was shocked to see the same blonde haired babe who yesterday barely managed to mumble two words remembering in such detail what she had experienced that day.
I realised she had done nothing new or vastly different from her normal days at school, but instead just paid more attention to the mundane everyday adventure of her life so she could tell me all about her ‘great adventure’. 
So, I tried it the next day and the next.
Every single day it worked. She would collect into her little memory bank the list of stories to tell me about her great adventure each day. It was like the way she looked at her day had changed, she all of sudden paid a little more attention to each small adventure she experienced each day.
So in our family we no longer do “have a great day”, we are a family of “have a great adventure”.
Give it a try, you might be surprised.
Parenting truly is wonderful and special and lovely. You are moulding the future generations, you are caring for those that are unable to exist without you. It truly is a privilege to shape the future.
Having said that, sometimes it’s shit.
Your tired and grumpy and cranky.
The fabulous team at The Motherish have put together a very accurate article about the various Stages of Parental Sleep Deprivation. 
It is funny and honest.
Make sure you share it with the mamas and papas around you.
P.S Thanks to the wonderful Nester Simone for sharing this with us!
Sometimes the most incredible news can turn quickly into the difficult news.
Every single parent thinks their child is special. What happens though if your child REALLY is special? They need more time, direction, stimulation. 
The idea that perhaps saying out loud that you wish your child wasn’t special is difficult to comprehend, but that is exactly what this brave anonymous author has done on IVillage.
You can find the link here -> ‘Don’t judge me but I wish my son wasn’t gifted‘.
It is a powerful read from someone who doesn’t want to be judged, and feels like she is unable to fully embrace the fact that her son is gifted.
I can categorically say that any parent who has more than one child has at some point or another thought about writing this.
A letter of apology to my second born is an honest (and funny) account of the differences between first born children and the subsequent ones after that.
Here is one of my favourite bits:
‘I’m sorry I don’t know any facts about you – Your brother’s baby book contains so much information about his first year, he could look back to discover every time he farted. I was on him like a crazy woman. “Oh, did you see that. His lip went up like Elvis. Oh my God, so cute. What’s today’s date? What time is it?” “Oh my God! All his toes wiggled at the same time. What’s today’s date?” And just today, I turned the corner after your brother calls me to, “help wipe the poop off his butt,” and there you are. You’re standing up, holding the Swiffer, which is somehow helping you to balance. Wow. You are already a tightrope walker and I had no idea. When you open your baby book to reminisce when you’re older, it will read, “Place photo here”, and you will know that mummy didn’t have time to write down silly stats. I was too busy loving on you. And wiping your brother’s butt’
Written by the hilariously truthful Jenifer DeMattia and published on Mamamia it is certainly worth a read.
So, there is this exclusive little club I am not a member of. They speak their own language, have their own rules and eat a bucket load of lasagne.
The little boys club is a world of its own.
My nephew opens my eyes up to the way boys see the world very differently to little girls.
The clever Shauna Anderson has written a very funny eye-opening piece about the ‘7 things mothers of boys will understand‘.
It is quite a humorous eye opener as I sit here surrounded by barbie dolls and pretend make-up..
Happy reading Nesters!
If you are a parent, you should read this. It perfectly puts into words the magic that is the last year of firsts.
While every parent at some point wishes that they could slow down time, you can’t. You can however, savour each, tiny last ‘first’.
Breathe it in. Memorise it.
You can find this wonderfully written piece here – IVillage – ‘The Last Year of Firsts’
Happy reading Nesters x
If you are looking for somewhere to take the little birdies where they will be entertained, you can have a chat and meet other families, then look no further than Parents and Littlies (PALS).
PALS meet each 11.30am.
Welcoming all children (and parents and carers!) from birth to school age, there is plenty of fun including craft, playdough, toys, blocks, sandpit, bikes balls, morning tea, music and story time and more.
You can find PALS at Bathurst Uniting Church. Just head down driveway and you can see them in the kids playground. All you have to take is a hat, water bottle and a piece of fruit to share.
COST: Only $2 per family.
For more information call Robyn on 0400 475 660.
Happy playing Nesters!
Sometimes finding the right thing to say can be hard.
Harder still is finding the right thing to say to a parent of a child who has autism.
You try and say ‘the right things’. You somehow end up with a massive case of foot in mouth.
The thoughtful Karen Siff Exkorn has put together a list of ’11 things never to say to parents of a child with autism’.
Just read it. Note it. Remember it.
Little girls just love their daddies. It is the simplest thing in life. Their first true love.
Source: Getty
Essential kids have put together the list of all things little girls wish their daddies knew.
You can find it here -> ’25 things little girls wish their daddies knew’
Share this with all the daddies of the little ladies in your life.
the central nest 