Family and Child Consultants

  By Niki Gent Let’s be honest—every family has that one meal that makes one of the kids pull a face like you’ve just served them a plate of worms. In my house, we had more than one. One kid hated cheche (actually, I think at some point they all did), one despised salad, one declared “Chicken Tonight” the worst thing ever invented (and still does), and another would cringe like he was being poisoned if you dared put yoghurt near him. And yet, every night, we sat down together and shared whatever was on the table. Not because I’m a fan of culinary torture, but because dinner in our house was always about more than just food. It’s Not About Cleaning Your Plate Let’s get this straight: I’m not talking about forcing your kids to eat every last bite or guilting them into choking down things they truly hate. This isn’t about food battles or power struggles. It’s about something bigger—teaching our kids that sometimes, life isn’t just about what you want. Sometimes, you have to do things...

  By Niki Gent, Family & Child Consultants Let’s cut straight to it—because honestly, I’m tired of sugar-coating what needs to be said. If you’re a parent who’s checked out, dodging your responsibilities, or pretending your kids don’t exist unless it’s convenient for you: it’s time for a wake-up call. Yes, I’m talking to you—the parent who hasn’t seen their child in months (or years), who “forgets” to pay child support, who ghosts on school events, birthdays, and the hard conversations. The parent who acts like parenting is optional, like it’s something you can dip in and out of depending on your mood or your new relationship status. I hear the excuses every day: “It’s complicated with my ex.” “I’m busy with work.” “The kids don’t want to see me anyway.” “I can’t afford it right now.” “They’re better off without me.” Guess what? Your kids notice. They notice who shows up, who calls, who pays attention. And they notice who doesn’t. Parenting Isn’t a Subscription Service You don’...

  When we talk about parenting—especially when raising a child with extra needs or differences—it’s easy to focus on the big milestones. First words, first steps, a new skill mastered, a good report from school. These moments matter, of course. But at Family and Child Consultants, we’re reminded every day that it’s the little things—unexpected giggles, a shared look, a quiet moment of trust—that quietly shape family life and healing. A Walk to Remember Tom and Priya came to us feeling overwhelmed. Their daughter, Layla, is autistic and mostly non-speaking. Communication was a daily challenge, and celebrations were often hidden under layers of hard work and anxiety. In a session, Tom described walking Layla to the mailbox each day. “Sometimes we walk in silence, sometimes she hums a tune. When she lets me hold her hand, I know it’s a good day,” he said. That simple walk—repeated, imperfect, and undramatic—became a ritual. It didn’t cure anxiety or erase difference, but it built trus...

When we imagine welcoming a child into our lives, we picture joy, love, hope—and maybe a wild dose of exhaustion. We dream up possibilities and picture a future with milestones and laughter. For some families, though, that early joy is soon braided tightly with a different, harder feeling: grief. It can happen the moment a diagnosis lands or gradually as a parent realises their child has unique needs that the world doesn’t always understand. And while there are words for the joyful parts of parenting, we don’t often talk about the heartbreak that can come with it, too. At Family and Child Consultants, we want to say this clearly: it is absolutely okay to feel both. A Story That Matters Let us tell you about Anna. When her son, Sam, was born, she fell instantly in love with his big blue eyes and his gentle spirit. She says she had never felt so fiercely protective or so flooded with gratitude. But when Sam was eight months old, the visits to doctors began—then the assessments, and then...