Ending the day connected

Back-to-school season is a chaotic time for parents. You have to shop for school supplies, establish new routines, deal with school lunches and figure out a way to get suddenly sleepy kids out of bed in the morning.

For children, young people and parents the start of a new school year can be both an exciting and challenging time.

This column is an advice free zone as I know the reality of the morning routine although, now that my brood have flown the nest, I really do miss it. Honest?

There is one dimension of being a parent where the research beautifully matches my experience in the trenches — something stunningly simple, where the return on investment was undeniably good for my kids and good for me: I read to them. Almost every evening, we snuggled and read. Despite the inevitable ups and downs of family life we ended the day connected. And this year, for the first time having none of my four children at school anymore, I really do miss it. Cherish it.

Puaki: Ma¯puna-Kabinet Gallery in Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, February 3-April 18.

The beauty of ta¯ moko, is illustrated in a stunning photo exhibition in the Ma¯punaKabinet Gallery in Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom. I’m privileged to be a colleague of the team who have looked after this exhibition over the last few days.

The exhibition explores ta¯ moko, its reclamation and the stories of those who have claimed their birthright.

It is an exhibition not to be missed! A visit to Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, the exhibition and its cosy library is ideally combined with Te Oranga o te Awa — the Manawatu¯ River Improvement Festival. It will be held in Foxton to celebrate the reopening of the Foxton River Loop Reserve. The celebration is at the reserve on February 27 from 10am-3pm.