Little Steps. Beautiful Beginnings

07/04/2026

Conservation week celebrating Earth Day - how neat is this. Come down and support - April 15th 10-2pm Wednesday.

There is a street clean up 9-10.30am. Coleman and I will head down to help.

04/04/2026

I cut open a lime…
and found a little heart…

A quiet reminder that love is everywhere - not always loud or obvious,
but steady, healing, and always present.

This Easter, may we return to the law of love…
choosing
🌻 love over fear
🌻 compassion over judgment
🌻 forgiveness over resentment
🌻 kindness over control ; and
🌻 grace over harshness.

A season of rebirth, hope, healing, sacrifice, unconditional love, and new life after pain.

Proof that love is in everything 💚
Even a cut lime.

Happy Easter beautiful people, may peace be with you 🙏

02/04/2026

Tai Tokerau Festival 2026
Kaitaia College

A massive thank you to this beautiful whānau for supporting my boy to be part of the Dargaville High School Kapa Haka rōpū 🌱🌻

Introducing Whaea Tai and Matua Anaru and their beautiful wee pēpi. Tai joined one of my recent January/February 5-week infant massage classes and absolutely loved the kaupapa - so it feels extra special to now be connected again in this way.

Your leadership, your delivery, and the way you have held this rōpū has been outstanding.

Over the past 7 weeks, this rōpū has been showing up - learning, connecting, and making space for our Coleman to truly be part of it all.

The journey to get here hasn’t always been easy, which is what makes this moment of true inclusion, belonging, and connection feel even more special.

And now look at our Coleman - showing up, standing proud, and being fully included.

Identity. Culture. Manaakitanga. Whanaungatanga.
It’s in his blood. ❤️

A special thank you also to Tiger Tukariri for welcoming us onto Kenana Marae - a very special place that is part of Coleman’s whakapapa, and where we also walked his older brother in to be placed up on the wharenui wall.

Thank you also to the entire DHS Kapa Haka group, Whaea Laken, Ezel, Felix, Tamara and the rest of Tai and Anaru’s whanau for supporting Coleman and I during this time - we feel so blessed.

I first met Tai years ago when one of her boys attended Selwyn Park Kindergarten, and who would have thought 7 years later we would be reunited - and that I would get the privilege of being part of this incredible journey.

This is more than performance.
This is belonging.
This is culture.
This is aroha in action.
So thankful - blessed.

As I finish, sending Easter blessings your way. Safe travels wherever this break takes you, and may you find time to rest, reset, and fill your cup.

28/03/2026

Meet Ray (Ray Elvis) - showing up, doing his thing - and doing it with heart - a talented musician and artist.

Coleman had just missed out on a CD at the op shop. Bit gutted. But then he hears Ray playing up the road…

Coleman turns to me and says,
“Mum, can I give Ray my money?” (Oh bless) 🙏

That right there…that’s character. That’s mana.

So we head over.
Fist bump. Respect.
And nek minute - these two are singing Blackbird by the Beatles together - epic.

No stage. No spotlight.
Just raw, real connection.

Ray - thank you for bringing your gift to the streets. You’re not just playing music… you’re lifting people. And for our Coleman, you are always a light - always making time, always sharing a song whenever we see you out playing.

That kind of presence matters.

Big respect. Keep doing what you do. 🌻🎶

Both these young men share something special - Down syndrome.
Ray with mosaic, Coleman with Trisomy 21 - each walking their own beautiful path.

21/03/2026

Celebrating the beauty of extra -
the extra chromosome, the extra love, the extra perspective that changes everything.

Coleman - what an epic day - .2026

It started wobbly… wet grass, big sensory feels, a new experience, step by step, you worked through it.

Your first time running a stall with your beeswax creations, along with mum, and Janelle… a few sales, a few wander-offs to watch performances 😉 and one unforgettable sale from the ground, nearly asleep after a long, hot day Lula Upcycled Designs

You showed up. And I’m so proud. And without a single hesitation when he heard Te Wairoa Community Kapa Haka open he jumped straight in.

Thank you to everyone supporting Coleman - every purchase is helping him get to his ball ✨
(he’s going as a Warbler from Glee 🎤🔥)

There are still some available if you’d love to support 🌱🌻

Coleman…
You’ve taught me connection, presence, and what truly matters.
Your smile, your hugs, your way with people - pure magic.

20 years on… and still teaching me every day.

To all our beautiful babies around the world you are extraordinary.

To any parent walking this path -
if you have a baby or child who needs a little extra support,
a little extra connection…

This is your invitation.

Infant massage is powerful.
It strengthens the body.
Supports the nervous system.
Builds immunity.
And most of all… it communicates love.

Today, we celebrate all our beautiful babies around the world.
The ones who remind us that different isn’t less…

It’s extraordinary.

20/03/2026

A little glimpse behind the scenes… ✨
Just 11 days to go until the Tai Tokerau Kapa Haka Festival.

There’s something powerful unfolding here - watching these young ones show up and give it their all.

Yesterday a small group of boys practising together… supporting one another, finding their rhythm, building strength, building confidence - this is where the magic lives. This is where wairua is strengthened - and whose in the middle, our Coleman ❤️🙏

So much heart in this mahi. So much pride.

And a special thank you to Ezal - for the steady support you offer Coleman and the whole DHS Kapa Haka group. It does not go unseen.

19/03/2026

Coleman is getting ready to share his much-loved beeswax wraps - a simple way to reduce, reuse, and recycle 🌿

He’s been making and selling these over the years, from time to time - now he has a spot .2026 (this Saturday 21.3.26) - thank you Anna for the nudge 🌱🌻 come find him in the Hauora Zone.

Coleman will have sets of three available:
one large, one medium, and one small - perfect for everyday use, from sandwiches to cheese to those leftover veggies.

Pop by, say hello, and support him on his journey. If he sells out, we’ll happily take orders and make more.

This little venture means so much more than just selling wraps…

Each one supports Coleman’s growth - building strength, coordination, and confidence. Even the simple act of pe***ng and preparing helps strengthen his fingers, supporting his writing and fine motor skills in a practical way ✨

From time to time, he may step away to enjoy the festival - and that’s part of the magic too. If he’s taking a break, we’ll leave a sign so you know he’ll be back soon.

Come closer, take a look… feel the care in each wrap, the story in each fold …

Choose one for your home, your whānau, your everyday - and know that in doing so, you’re not just buying a wrap… you’re supporting a young man growing in confidence, strength, and purpose… while also caring for our ocean and our planet by reducing waste 🌱🌻

18/03/2026

This Saturday, come and feel the heartbeat of connection at Artbeat 2026 Festival (10am–2pm) 💛

Join Coleman, Tania (), Janelle, and P-J () for a space filled with creativity, care, and a whole lot of heart.

Coleman will be there with his beeswax wraps - a simple, beautiful alternative to glad wrap. Perfect for covering sandwiches, cheese, those leftover veggies, anything 🌱🌻
Every purchase supports his journey towards his ball - the ticket, the outfit, the excitement of what’s to come.

Tania will be sharing her handcrafted natural range - from soaps and serums to clay masks and salt baths - all created with deep intention and love for the body 🌸

Janelle brings her gorgeous macramé and handmade soaps - pieces that feel both grounding and soulful.

And you’ll find me there too…
with unscented goat milk soaps (perfect for pēpi and sensitive skin), nourishing massage oils, and a quiet little space to pause.
If you feel called, come and learn a few soft, nurturing gentle movements - a moment of connection, a moment of calm, a moment just for you and your baby 🌱🌻❤️

Come by, say hello, share a smile…
and if nothing else, pop in for a high five with Coleman 🙌

If we sell out, we’ll happily take orders and make sure your goodies find their way to you.

We would love to see you there 💫🙏❤️
2026

15/03/2026

Yesterday afternoon, a small journey begins.

Across a campground, and then slowly up a steep hill, our Coleman walks - barefoot.

His destination is a place of remembrance.
A place to sit with the memory of his brother, who passed nearly seven years ago.

Shoes have never been his preference. He tolerates only two kinds - a pair worn to school, and another reserved for dancing… his Michael Jackson shoes.

I offer him mine.

He pauses for a moment… considers the idea with a hard no.

This journey must be taken his way.

Walking is not easy for him. Each step carries effort. His feet hurt. His back aches. His body feels the strain. Yet slowly, he continues. He falls a few times, sits for a while, then slowly gets up and carries on.

It takes fifty minutes to reach the top.

There, we sit together. A bottle of ginger beer - his brother’s favourite - shared quietly while his brother’s music plays into the evening air.

After a time, we begin the walk back down.

There is something ancient about bare feet touching the earth - some call it grounding.

For babies learning to walk barefoot, it strengthens balance and awakens the senses - perhaps this connection never truly leaves us.

And as we walk together down the hill - slowly but surely - all I could think:

There is magic in his bones.

Me, I had shoes on, there was no way I was gonna make that trek without shoes on - I most definitely would have not coped.

When was the last time you walked barefoot for a time? I love to wake up in the mornings and head outside with shoes off and let the dew of the grass cool me down - it’s invigorating especiallly during the cooler seasons.

11/03/2026

08/03/2026

If you work with parents/caregivers and babies…
this could change the way you support families.

In just:

4 Days of Training
4 Months to Certification

You could become a qualified Infant Massage Instructor through the IAIM lens

And add a beautiful 5-week infant massage programme to your current services.

A programme that supports:

🌻bonding/attunement
🌻calm
🌻sleep
🌻confidence
🌻connection between parents and their babies.

Perfect for those working in:

• Midwifery
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Doula work & Karitane nurses
• Yoga or bodywork
• Early childhood, social services
• Anyone supporting maternal and infant wellbeing

By the end of the process, you will be able to offer a baby-led, cue-based infant massage class within your profession or community.

Join professionals across Aotearoa bringing this powerful practice to families. Supporting families and respecting babies

Training begins May 4
Online across 4 Mondays

🌻Spaces are limited

“Could this be the next step in your work with families?”

07/03/2026

Summer at the local town pools has a way of bringing people together - and one of those awesome connections over the last season has been Eva.

Eva works at the pools and has become one of Coleman’s friends over the summer - supportive of Coleman and his cheese touch game - always on point - driven (this is not her only job), a go-getter, and someone who clearly loves the outdoors.

Now she’s heading off to join the Army as a combat specialist, and that’s seriously impressive.

Coleman wishes to join the army too. Because he has down syndrome we’re not sure what opportunities may exist for him in that space - but seeing people like Eva chase big goals is always inspiring.

Eva and Coleman first met through TK Swim Club many years ago, and all the way through high school.

Eva - big respect. Wishing you strength and success on the adventure ahead - do keep us posted where army life takes you - be well and be happy - we will miss your gorgeous smile - so infectious.

On that note with the turn of a new season - Autumn - there is only one week left of our community town pools open - yep closes 15th March - I wonder who will be the last man standing with cheese touch.