The experience of lockdown is quite varied, and each family faces their own unique challenges as the demands of lockdown emerge. New challenges and new stresses impact how we perceive the needs of our children (and of ourselves as parents). What does my child really need from me? Is it OK if I feel like we’re just surviving and not really thriving? How will I know if I’m starting to ‘lose it’ (and how can I get it back again?). 

Parent and child wellbeing is foundational to surviving or thriving through a lockdown, and foundational to other valuable outcomes – including educational outcomes, family relationships, and a sense of hope for the future. Whilst there is no one neat answer to the question of wellbeing, there certainly are needs that can be interpreted from behaviour, approaches of managing an environment that are known to be effective, and aspects of self-care that make a significant difference. 

The therapeutic process of sharing our thoughts and concerns means that, instead of our thoughts circling in a loop inside our own head, our thoughts benefit from the light of day and can be engaged by others who can create a safe space and a fresh perspective. My role is exactly that – to generate a safe environment to explore concerns, explore an alternative focus, and help change the course of thoughts and actions into the future. This reflective practice forms a different kind of loop, one that helps parents out of stuck spaces and into greater wellbeing for their children and themselves. 

My experience has included the home education of my own kids (all grown up now), helping hundreds of parents interpret their child’s needs by considering the child’s behaviour, and generating environments of reflective practice that make a difference to daily living. 

I am offering online sessions for groups of up to four parents – to discuss the challenges of lockdown, explore the needs of your situation, and encourage new ways of being or engaging with others at home. I will respond to requests for support on a needs basis and as time permits. This invitation is initially set for the period of Friday 3^rd September to Thursday 16^th September, and will then be re-visited as a possible continuing support option for St Thomas parents during lockdown. Sessions will be offered at various times throughout the work week, with the hope that parents can also be supportive of one another in the group space and learn through each other’s experiences.

To book in for a session, please email me at al.robinson@marymead.org.au

Your email must include:

• Your name and the names of your children that attend at St Thomas;
• Your contact details
• The basic nature of the focus you would like to have in the session (such as rising conflicts in family relationships, school work refusal, boredom, anxiety);
• An indication of your availability (such as “Mon-Thu up until 12:00 noon, or Tue/Wed afternoon after 2:00pm”)

Kind regards

Al Robinson
School Counsellor
St Thomas Aquinas Primary School