‘I know you don’t need me any more and I’m happy with that. It’s the way it should be.’ Before you were born, I took a photo of the beach where we lived – this is a long time ago, more than a lifetime for you of course, and buying a first home near the … Read more
Emily Writes talks to teenagers about how the level four restrictions are affecting them, and asks how they can be better supported. There are unfortunately so many terrible stereotypes about teenagers, but Gen Z might just be our most resilient generation yet. Struggling through feelings of helplessness around climate change, they started a movement to make … Read more
The second season of the teen series 13 Reasons Why will be online tomorrow night. Spinoff Parents editor Emily Writes outlines what you need to know – because your teen will be watching this show. Content warning: This post contains discussions of mental health and suicide. Last year, The Spinoff Parents heard from a number … Read more
High school teacher, counsellor, and mother of three Louisa Woods considers the way we talk about teachers and teenagers in light of the latest ‘school scandal’ which was anything but. In my time as an English teacher I’ve used I don’t know how many texts. Some have been classics, the ones you’d expect: Othello, To … Read more
Kristen Joiner reflects on what she wants her teenage sons to know about life in this new world they’re growing up in. It’s 2018. Thank God. From Donald Trump comparing the size of his button with Kim Jong-un’s, to Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo, 2017 was a doozy of a year. Hopefully it will turn out to … Read more
The thought of their teenage kids watching porn is an uncomfortable one for many parents. But as teenager expert Louisa Woods explains, it’s probably not a cause for alarm. If you think your teen has never or is never going to access porn, you must be living under a rock and keeping them captive with … Read more
Our resident teen and tween expert Louisa Woods on why The Talk isn’t just a talk – and why you need to start early. In the immortal words of Salt-N-Pepa, Lets talk about sex, baby. Well, not quite. Let’s talk about sex, kids, hits closer to the mark. While much has changed since 1991 when … Read more
Chaz Harris shares the impact Love, Simon had on him as a gay man and how important representation in film and literature is. It was the weekend of the Big Gay Out during Auckland Pride and I’d travelled from Wellington with my Promised Land co-author Adam Reynolds to hold a stall for our book. Unfortunately, … Read more
Puberty: if you’re parenting a teen or pre-teen, it’s inescapable. Mum-of-three Emmaline Matagi gives the lowdown on how puberty has rocked her household. HELP! I have an almost 13 year old son and I do not know what the fuck I am doing! There comes a point in your mummy life when you have to … Read more
Many parents of young people have been in touch asking for advice on how to talk to their children about YouTuber Logan Paul’s video in the Aokigahara ‘suicide’ forest in Japan which showed a man who had died by suicide. High school teacher and counsellor Louisa Woods has some tips for parents. Content warning: This post contains … Read more
We’re often given the impression teenagers don’t want to share too much with their parents, but is that really the case? High school counsellor Louisa Woods asked real teenagers how communication with their parents could be improved. Revelations of sexual assaults and harassment by Harvey Weinstein and other prominent men have filled social media feeds … Read more
Louisa Woods is a high school teacher and counsellor and a mother of three. She knows teenagers. Here she shares her advice on getting your teenage child to open up. A very wise 15 year old once said ‘We’re just worried about being judged and sometimes don’t know what to say or how to say … Read more
Teresa Soper, the Christchurch mother dubbed ‘Momma Doof’, has been charged in connection with underage parties she organised at her semi-rural property. She tells Luke Oldfield why she did it. This is an edited version of an article that first appeared on cradletogravy.co.nz. Carefree teenagers vs censorious adults is a battle as old as time, … Read more