Have you ever doubted yourself as a parent and had to face feelings of guilt and regret at not being good enough? “When you’re a parent with a child with special needs you feel, well I felt like a bit of a failure as a parent. I’ll be honest there were times in the early days that I wished him out of our family because this is just too hard.” Listen this week as we talk with Kirra about some of the challenges she’s faced raising a son with Aspergers.
Parenting
Mums – You Don’t Have to be Perfect
As mothers, we often feel like we’re not doing a very good job, and that everyone else seems to have it all under control. Listen to Celia and Ali as they explore what it means to be a mum – some of the favourite parts and maybe not so favourite parts of being a mum.
Fathers
“My father seemed to know everything when I was little. As a teenager it’s amazing how much he’d forgotten! But then as an adult I realized he wasn’t bullet proof or out of touch. He was real. He had fears, failings and strengths just like me. I’m glad he was my dad.” What was your father like when you grew up? Is being a parent what you thought it would be like? Do you sometimes wonder whether you’re doing a good enough job? Listen to Rob Schubert this week as he reflects on his experience of fatherhood, and on God, who reveals himself to us as a loving dad.
Families Are Like Fudge
“Families are like fudge. Mostly sweet, with a few nuts!”
All families struggle with trying to balance individual needs and the family as a whole. That can lead to uncomfortable moments where things aren’t always sweet. Listen as Rob Schubert points out that even in the Bible there are no perfect families. Yet God does great things through them. Perhaps God can work in your family too.
Mums, You don’t have to be perfect
As mothers, we often feel like we’re not doing a very good job, and that everyone else seems to have it all under control. Listen to Celia chat with Ali Hoopmann, mother of 3, about the highs and lows of being a mum. How do we get through when we just feel like we’re not doing anything well?
Defending Territory
How do you bring two families together into a new family unit? Mark’s children were in their late teens and Beth’s were primary school age. Tune in and hear how they coped with different parenting styles and discipline, and what it took to make the relationships work.
Fathers
This week on messages of hope we’re celebrating Fathers Day. Listen in to hear a group of dads share their joys, struggles and hopes as fathers. Being a dad isn’t always easy but it’s a whole better when we know we’re not the only one. You’ll be encouraged to hear there is forgiveness for the muck-ups and plenty of joy to be had.
Not Like That You Don’t!!
Petrol pump attendant, secretary, teacher, foster parent, writer and mother of two daughters. These are just a few of the roles that describe our guest on Messages of Hope this week, Yvonne Coppard. Yvonne is from the UK and I’ll be talking with her about things that have shaped her life and her approach to parenting.
Disneyland
Would you like a free family holiday to Disneyland? The chance to see your favourite Disney characters, go on the thrilling rides and spend time as a family. It sounds amazing. But what happens when it doesn’t turn out that way? I’m Richard Fox and this is Messages Of Hope. This week I’ll be sharing about my recent trip to Disneyland. Even in the happiest places, families can still struggle but there is hope to restore the peace.