This is a guest blog, from headteacher Rob Dell, who also wrote THIS article (about whether mainstream schooling and gentle parenting can ever mix: When I meet new parents at our school, they often arrive armed with the usual tools: performance tables, Ofsted grades, league positions. I understand why. These are the official signals—public-facing indicatorsContinue reading “What Makes a Good School? (Hint – it’s Not in the Report)”
Author Archives: SarahOckwell-Smith
My Family’s Journey with ADHD
Tell us why you wrote your new book, Raising Attention? I’ve been gestating this book for almost a decade. It’s taken me that long to be able to make sense of what my family went through and to be able to process it in such a way that I can write a book that isContinue reading “My Family’s Journey with ADHD”
It’s not your fault
On the guilt of being the parent to a child with explosive behaviour The following is an extract from my new book: RAISING ATTENTION all about the guilt, shame, embarrassment, self-doubt, anxiety and regret that all parents face in their darkest and most exhausting moments. For those raising children with explosive behaviour however this self-blame, questioning andContinue reading “It’s not your fault”
A plea to the parents of the ‘good’ children, from the parents of the ‘naughty’ children
“I’m so sorry darling. I don’t understand why nobody has shown up” I did understand. I just didn’t have the heart to explain to my shattered newly 7 year old, sobbing, in our empty living room, decorated full of balloons and banners to celebrate his birthday party. He had invited his whole class. None ofContinue reading “A plea to the parents of the ‘good’ children, from the parents of the ‘naughty’ children”
Parenting children with ADHD or explosive behaviour – a free excerpt from my new book Raising Attention
My new book RAISING ATTENTION, a supportive guide for parents and carers of children (of any age) with ADHD or undiagnosed explosive behaviour is published on July 3rd. Read on for a free excerpt from the introduction: The path of a parent who has a child displaying explosive behaviour can be a lonely one. IContinue reading “Parenting children with ADHD or explosive behaviour – a free excerpt from my new book Raising Attention”
My top gift recommendations for teenagers
One of my most popular posts at this time of year is my list of top toy recommendations for children, every time I share this I am asked if I can recommend similar for older tweens and teens, so here are my top tips: Under £10 Uno card game Crystal art kit Stone mandala paintingContinue reading “My top gift recommendations for teenagers”
What is emodiversity and why should parents of children & teens practice it?
Why embracing all emotions is important to raise happy, emotionally healthy individuals The following is an extract from my book ‘How to Raise a Teen’. Although this is from a book specifically about teenagers, the concept ?of emodiversity applies at any age: What is emodiversity? Raising young people in a home that fosters the importanceContinue reading “What is emodiversity and why should parents of children & teens practice it?”
Why you should embrace ‘Jenga Parenting’ with your older children and teenagers
You build the secure groundworks in infancy and then, little by little, day by day, you construct a tower of supportive scaffolding as you meet your child’s needs. Once that tower is complete, it’s time to remove the scaffolding boards, or Jenga blocks, one by one, little by little, at the pace of your own unique child. If you try to remove a block and things get a little wobbly, you reinstate it and continue to provide that support, but still with an eye on ‘letting go’ (no matter how much your instincts may be screaming at you to ‘hold on’.
Demetrescence & Woman’s Hour
Last week I was lucky enough to be a guest on Woman’s Hour, discussing the transition that mothers of teens go through, a little like Matrescence (the new motherhood transition), Demetrescence is the metamorphosis that mothers of tweens and teens transition through, which changes them in body and in mind.
Demetrescence – the motherhood transition that comes with raising teenagers
When writing my new book ‘How to Raise a Teen’, I took inspiration from Demeter’s story and named the transition of ‘later parenting’ Demetrescence. The ‘de’ prefix indicating a sort of reversal of matrescence, but with an emphais on Demeter, understanding that this is not the end, but rather a new beginning of a different relationship with your (almost) adult child.
Sarah Ockwell-Smith 