by Su Birch | December 3, 2018 | Family, Meaning, Relationships
Has HAPPY has gone out of Christmas? It has become endless jingle bells crooned over shopping mall intercoms, a mad rush to buy and wrap presents, pressure to buy chocolates and cookies and cakes that we don’t need and shouldn’t eat, Christmas markets selling tat and...
by Su Birch | October 30, 2018 | Education, Family, learning, Uncategorized
I’ve just spent a wonderfully special month with my young grandsons and their creative parents. It has had me thinking about how hard it is to bring up children today. I’m particularly thinking about how many difficult decisions parents must make, the time constraints...
by Su Birch | September 9, 2018 | Change, Education, Family, learning
Every Thursday morning I coach English to struggling learners at a local primary school. As I walk to my room, I hear the pupils in their classrooms, chanting their timetables- 3 x 4 is 12, 4 x 4 is 16, 4 x 5 is 20. Part of me rejoices that nothing has changed since I...
by Su Birch | August 13, 2018 | Communication, Emotions, Family, Management
Yesterday I was checking out at the specialist fruit and veg market when the cashier rang up the apples incorrectly. “No”, I said, “those aren’t Golden Delicious they are Cripps Pink.” (I once worked in the apple business so I am a bit of a fanatic about teaching folk...
by Su Birch | July 16, 2018 | Communications, Family, Leadership, Management, Relationships
My 6 year grandson was tugging at his dad’s sleeve “Daddy”, Daddy, Daddy” and Daddy was paying no attention as he scrolled through his messages. Finally a frustrated “Daddy, just because I am little, doesn’t mean you don’t have to listen to me”. And he’s right....
by Su Birch | July 7, 2018 | Family, Relationships
The children are in meltdown. James has spilt his supper on the carpet and the dog is eating it. Mandy is pulling Thandi’s hair because Thandi has taken her troll doll. It is way past their bedtime. Tears and wailing are imminent. Your partner is hiding in the study...
