Lilly J Faith

27/12/2025

Parents you know when you're doing a good job in parenting when your nearly teenager is not hiding what they are really up to with their friends.

Open communication filled with honesty-we have invested in a relationship where we would rather know what's really going on with interaction with peers then having lies or deceit.

Truth can be hard to hear at times but it's raw, authentic & real.

Yesterday the boys found fireworks -yes they wanted to light the fireworks! Yes that would somehow find a lighter too.

So instead of saying no you can't do that we informed them on the safe practices of lighting the fireworks.

1. Suggest an adult to be present
2.Choose an isolated spot
3.Light candlewick facing up
4.Run away fast when lit.
5.Watch from a very far distance.

Trust your child. After educating Noah then it's out of our control into accountability for their actions. You educated them on safe practices. Pointed out risk factors but at the end of the day it's their choice yes or no do I light the fireworks. Kids when you say no will do it anyway.

So picking your battles is wise, the end result for some reason the boys couldn't light the fireworks.

Yes it's definitely no at times depending on the request asked by Noah. But sometimes letting go which can be the hardest & that a strong willed boy just has to learn the hard way is very venerable parenting with love.

We all were teenagers ourselves once- did you feel like you can tell your parents anything?

I didn't as I felt I would get into trouble or be punished for telling the truth or didn't feel supported by the young person I was becoming.

I didn't have a parent relationship where there was education about crime or being aware of peer pressure. I wasn't prepared for the big bad world as a teenager.

That's why I got into trouble with two offenses of shoplifting & being accompanied with involvement with stealing a car but I was a minor so there wasn't any criminal charges officially listed under my name on record when turning 18 years old.

Open communication leads to letting kids make informed choices. Awareness and education provides understanding the consequences of making right or bad decisions wouldn't you agree?

Open discussion is the difference between understanding guidelines of what's acceptable and what's not acceptable to legally following the law with kids behaviour. Rather than hiding away from deceit and lies from parents.

Open communication leads to empowerment with educating them on teenagers subject matter.

Home is a safe space where your child can be open & honest. No lies or deceit but only honesty. An open home where kids can share stories of playful moments that had the potential to turn into danger, harm or the possible chance of minor offences.

Father's and mother's you are doing a wonderful job informing them on the risk factors, teaching them right from wrong, educating them on subject matters so they are equipped for the teenager years to come.

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

30/11/2025

I'm releasing a blessing upon your family home may this Christmas season be filled with peace, love & sacred moments of family memories.

10/11/2025

I bumped into this legend today!

Always an honor to connect with Mr Peter Tully. Make sure you also check out his page Disability Community Awareness

I had a great chat to people as my wife and I found some much needed equipment and resources and kept the child busy.

What's Next for the Disability Community?
* Keep an eye out for smaller events throughout the year! They're crucial for staying connected and informed.
* Disability Action Week is coming up! Make sure you follow us for all the attached events.
* Save the Date! We can't wait to see you all at the biggest event of the year: the Brisbane Disability Connection Expo in March 2026—Queensland's biggest celebration and community event for the disability sector!

Sign up for the big one in March 2026 here - we are excited! https://developingauscommunities.com.au/brisbane-expo-2026/

Mr River Night
Founder and Director
National Disability Sector Advocate,
PWD, Carer and Father

‘Let’s bring the human back to Community Services’

Blossom Community Care Brisbane City Council Mark Butler MP Disability Community Awareness River J Night Lite n' Easy Queensland Police Service Queenslanders with Disability Network Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Amanda Camm MP

21/10/2025

01/10/2025

Our family loves spriggy pocket money.

Save a little
Spend a little

Let's teach early the principal of doing chores and earning rewards forming positive behaviours.

Parents set tasks and kids see the goals to earn spiggy pocket money.

Throughout the week, Noah & Abbey said. It's so cool having a credit debit card.

We went to the shops and spent hard earnt spriggy pocket money.

Now to do more chores helping mum & dad out "can I do anything for you" is often the question I get asked!

22/09/2025

15/09/2025

When life throws you curve balls, just smile !

01/09/2025

26/08/2025

Every now and then, you come across a book that makes you pause, not just to underline a passage or jot a note, but to step back and really appreciate how powerful a book can be. The Whole-Brain Child was one of those books for me. It reminded me that a little bit of knowledge, applied with intention, can change so much. It can soften conflicts, strengthen bonds, and even turn entire family dynamics around.

At its heart, this book is about transforming the way we relate to children. So often, when a child acts out—whether through tantrums, resistance, or emotional outbursts—we treat the behavior as a problem to be fixed. What Siegel and Bryson show us, in a way that’s both scientific and deeply human, is that children’s behaviors are really clues to what’s happening inside their developing brains. The book gives parents, teachers, and caregivers a whole new lens: instead of just reacting to what a child does, we learn to connect with how a child feels and how their brain is wired at that moment. And that shift; from punishment or frustration to curiosity and connection, is what makes the ideas in this book so exciting and transformative.

Here are five powerful practices from the book that stood out to me:

1. Connect and Redirect
When children are overwhelmed by big feelings, their right brain (the emotional, intuitive side) takes over. In those moments, logic and reasoning from the left brain don’t get through. The authors suggest first connecting with the child emotionally—acknowledging their feelings, showing empathy—before trying to redirect them toward problem-solving. For example, instead of saying, “Stop crying, it’s no big deal,” you might say, “I can see you’re really upset that your toy broke.” Once they feel understood, they’re more open to calming down and finding a solution.

2. Name It to Tame It
One of the simplest but most powerful tools is helping children tell the story of what happened. Putting words to an overwhelming experience engages the left brain and helps regulate emotions from the right brain. If a child fell and got scared, guiding them to recount the event—“You tripped, you fell, you felt scared, and then I helped you”—helps them process it, feel less overwhelmed, and move forward. It’s about turning chaos into narrative, which soothes the brain.

3. Engage, Don’t Enrage
Discipline doesn’t have to mean punishment; it can mean teaching. Instead of escalating conflicts by meeting resistance with more resistance, the authors encourage engaging the upstairs brain (responsible for decision-making and impulse control). This could mean asking questions, inviting problem-solving, or offering choices. By engaging rather than enraging, we preserve connection and actually help children build stronger self-control.

4. Move It or Lose It
Sometimes, the quickest way to help a child out of an emotional storm isn’t with words at all—it’s with movement. Physical activity resets the nervous system, integrates the brain, and shifts focus. The book suggests that when children are stuck in frustration or anger, encouraging them to jump, dance, or play can break the cycle of emotional flooding. It’s a reminder that the body and brain are deeply connected in calming down.

5. Let the Clouds of Emotion Pass
One of the most profound lessons is teaching kids that emotions are temporary. Just like clouds move across the sky, feelings come and go. Helping children recognize that sadness, anger, or fear won’t last forever gives them resilience and perspective. Instead of fearing their feelings or being swallowed by them, they can learn to ride the waves and wait for them to pass. This builds emotional regulation skills that will serve them for life.

In the end, The Whole-Brain Child is about reshaping our relationship with children. It gives us tools to see them not as problems to control, but as developing humans to guide with patience, empathy, and understanding. And the truth is, these practices don’t just change children—they change us. They invite us to lead with compassion, to slow down, and to remember that every interaction is a chance to build a healthier, more connected brain and a stronger bond.

BOOK: https://amzn.to/41XVpnI
Enjoy the audiobook with a membership trial using the same link.

21/08/2025

A course designed for families of children with disability, it's now free in Australia.

Now Free In Australia

24/07/2025

Timing that is planned or spontaneous is a strategy as I know Noah got unsettled in his nervous system. We got the interview & grading done for the next step in his transition to high school. The last step was the trial day postponed. Picking the right moment is key to winning.