My clinic Family Doctors Plus recently presented an education session at a local Primary School. It was a session on "Puberty for Girls", and it was attended by grade 5 girls, their parents, the school principal and some of the teachers. The presentation was made by my business partner Dr Fiona Raciti, myself and Heather Menzies (Psychequip Principal Psychologist).
We have done this presentation dozens of times now;
She basically asked the mothers/carers/aunts/grandmothers to share what puberty was like for them. As each of them shared their thoughts with the group, they were handed a string. This string went from person to person, and in the end, it was like a giant cobweb spread over the audience. Heather used this exercise to highlight how all women are connected by their experiences.
Then one of the mothers further highlighted the importance of girls being kind to each other as they all go through the massive life-changing event of puberty. Then another mother shared her hope that all the girls would be supportive of each other instead of reverting to shaming or bullying.
The session left us all with a feeling of connectedness and hope. What a great way to start a girl's entry into adulthood-by highlighting the sense of community and the importance of supporting one another. As a mother of both a girl and a boy, this message resonated stronger in my heart.
Dr Maria Renee Boulton, GP, wife and mother of 2, has enjoyed working in general practice for 12 years.
Dr Maria has always enjoyed working with mothers, babies and children, all the more so since starting her own family. Dr Maria works in general practice at Family Doctors Plus in Windsor, Brisbane, Australia.
She has recently published her first book “Mum’s Guide to Pregnancy”- a
There comes a point in life you realise that conflict is unavoidable. Whether it’s in the playground, the workforce or even within your personal relationships, it just isn’t feasible for humans to agree with each other 100 per cent of the time.
The art of conflict, however, is apparently how you manage it.
According to experts there are five strategies for handling conflict, and women often have a different approach to men.
So what are the five strategies for managing conflict, and how do women traditionally differ?
There’s a new Royal in town. On the 19th May this year the Royal family will welcome with open arms Meghan Markle to its tightly knit clan. Details are emerging of the big day. It’s got me thinking. About the fairy tale we all grew up with. In 1981 when Charles married Di, one of the most televised events in history, I was a 4 year old living in the Qld mining town of Mt Isa. I remember it as if it was yesterday. We all sat around our small television and watched the fairy-tale unfold. The beautiful bride in the flowing dress marrying her handsome prince. Ok prince. As the years unfolded the union would be anything but the fairy tale we all thought it to be.
When the Duke of Edinburgh passed away recently, it marked not just the end of a royal era but the final chapter of a royal marriage which had lasted more than seven decades.
Far surpassing the marriages of most, including three of the couple’s children, the Queen’s union with Prince Philip outlasted the leadership of more than 170 Prime Ministers across the Commonwealth, including 14 in the UK alone.
"He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know,” the Queen famously remarked during celebrations of the couple’s 50th anniversary.
So, what lessons can be learned from a marriage that not only stood the test of time, but became a source of strength and security under the most intrusive of spotlights?
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