How to be steady + calm so your kids can too!

Some weeks it feels like there is more to hold than any one person was meant to carry. There is the news, the pace of everyday life, the worry about the world our kids are growing up in, and the small moments when we snap or shut down at the very time we wanted to be patient. If that sounds familiar, you are in very good company, and this session is for you.

Join parenting author Steve Biddulph and Suzie Brown for an hour of practical ideas on how to feel steadier and calmer yourself, because children tend to find their footing when the adults around them have found theirs. We will begin by naming how this moment feels for parents, grandparents and carers, since it helps to know it isn't just you. Then most of our time together goes to tools you can take straight into your own week: ways to settle yourself when things get loud, ways to stay present with the kids in your life when your mind is somewhere else, and some short guided practices we will do together, live.

In one hour you’ll get:

• A warm welcome and a short chat about how this moment feels for parents

• Simple tools from Steve to help you calm quickly

• A guided practice with Suzie, from your couch

• Optional extra time at the end for your questions, for anyone who can stay

Who it's for

Parents, grandparents and carers of children of any age. You don't need any background in anything, and you don't need to have it all together.

A note on what this session covers + doesn’t

This is a general session on building steadiness and calm in everyday life. It isn't designed to speak to specific circumstances, such as parenting a child with additional needs, a health diagnosis or grief, although many of the tools may still be useful to you.

Your speakers

Steve Biddulph AM - is one of the world’s best-known parent educators. A psychologist for 30 years, he is now retired but continues to write and teach.  His books, including The Secret of Happy Children, Raising Boys, The New Manhood,10 Things Girls Need Most are in SIX MILLION homes and 31 languages. His latest book, Anxiety Be Gone and Wild Creature Mind, explores a radical new insight that is sweeping the world of therapy and cognitive science. In the midst of the world's worst mental health crisis - and struggles of war and climate - Steve sets out simple ways of accessing your other mind, which adults, teens and even young children can use to activate your wild creature, and explore new ways to use the wisdom of your body to solve problems, heal and grow. He has two grown up children, and lives in Tasmania with his wife and co-author Shaaron, and assorted wombats.

Suzie Brown is a Mindfulness meditation and Buddhist Insight teacher on a mission to help people feel less stressed and have the tools to cope with eco anxiety and the challenges of our times. Suzie has been at the forefront of climate campaigning for 20 years, having run environmental campaigns at the Australian Conservation Foundation and Environment Victoria, and consulting to local government and nonprofits. Suzie was the founding CEO of Parents for Climate, and now continues as a non-Executive Director on our Board. 

Laura Billings is mum of two and a Senior Campaigner at Parents for Climate and will host the evening.

About Parents for Climate

Parents for Climate is a community of more than 27,000 parents, grandparents and carers across Australia who are working together for a safe climate for the next generation. We are hosting this session because many people in our community have told us how heavy things feel right now, and we wanted to offer something that genuinely helps.