6th April 2023

TERM 1 RECAP

As this term draws to a close, I have been looking through our calendar and have realised what a busy term we have had.

Here are some of the events we have had this term:

- swimming trials and district, zone and region swimming competitions

- year 4 camp

- NAPLAN

- incursions and excursions

- year 6 interschool sport and sports training

- 3/4 athletics (and a postponed 5/6 athletics)

- assessment week in week 9

- SWPBS rewards (Toy Day for students in P-2 and Teach the Teacher for students in year 3-6)

- cross country

- Parent Teacher interviews

- Harmony Day

I would like to wish all of our WHPS families a restful and rejuvenating holiday.

For those of you currently observing Ramadan and for those families who will be celebrating Easter this weekend, enjoy this special time with your family and friends.

I look forward to seeing our WHPS students back at school on Monday, 24th April.

Katrina Spicer

Assistant Principal - Wellbeing

katrina.spicer@education.vic.gov.au

INSIGHTS

WILL I RUIN MY KIDS' LIVES BY WORKING TOO MUCH?

A note of comfort to working mothers

By Dr Justin Coulson

Apparently, a stay-at-home mum should earn $184 000 a year. That’s how hard the typical stay-at-home mum works for her family, doing everything from being head chef, to first aid provider, to dental hygienist (you can check out how much you’re ‘worth’ here). While motherhood may be the most rewarding job on earth, the sad reality is that it’s also the lowest paying job on earth. And with increasing interest rates, increasing inflation and an increasing cost of living, many women are faced with increasing mother’s guilt – either guilt for not contributing financially, or guilt for working and not being there for the kids.

Interestingly, mothers have always worked, right from out hunter-gatherer days. It’s only recently that mothers have felt guilt for working outside the home (thanks in part to societal pressure such as the ‘perfect 1950s housewife’). And with that guilt has come the question – “Will I ruin my kids’ lives by working too much?”

The reality is that there is some evidence for negative impacts on our kids when mothers jump into full-time work very early. However, most mums choose to delay getting back to work until the first year or two of their child’s life – and the research supports this. While not everyone has the choice to stay home, when full-time work is commenced in the first year of the child’s life there are small negative effects on child development and the quality of the attachment relationship.

But long term, maternal employment seems to have a lot of benefits for children. A longitudinal study showed that there were better socio-emotional outcomes (such as increased prosocial behaviour and reduced conduct problems) for children whose mothers work. And an international survey of over 100 000 people showed that as adults, daughters of mothers who work are more likely to be employed and earn higher incomes, and the sons of mothers who work are more likely to spend more time caring for family members. The data definitely shows that you are benefiting your children by returning to the workforce, and that the benefits extend into adulthood!

However, while your kids may be thriving with a working mother, you may not be. In fact, while you may have increased feelings of self-worth and competence from being in employment, working mothers are twice as likely to experience high stress compared to their non-working counterparts. Balancing paid employment with all the demands of motherhood is not simple, and parental burnout often results. According to research, part-time employment seems to provide the best balance for mothers, resulting in fewer depressive symptoms and better health, more involvement in learning opportunities and more sensitive parenting that full time employment.

If you’re a working mum, either by choice or due to financial necessity, full-time or part-time, here are five quick tips to improve your work/life balance and ditch the guilt:

Find your why behind working and embrace it.

It’s great to have a job you’re passionate about, but it’s also great to admit that you’re working to afford the mortgage repayments on your house. Own your reason.

Create more time by saying no to unnecessary commitments.

That might mean saying no to taking on another project at work, but it also might mean saying no to your child joining the soccer team. When time is limited, you don’t want to squander it. Spending time together doing nothing much at all is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your kids.

Implement rituals of connection.

Make time for daily family dinner. Or cuddle your kids and read them a story before bed. Just make sure that there are predictable moments throughout your day where you will put away distractions and focus on connections.

Start family traditions that you can all look forward to.

It can be as simple as a weekly movie night. Or as elaborate as yearly holiday to an exotic location. The enjoyment comes from looking forward to the tradition.

Take time to meet your own mental and emotional health needs.

You can’t be there for your kids if you’re burnt out. Taking time to look after you is the first and most important step in being able to look after anyone else.

You’re definitely not going to ruin your kids by working. In fact, they’ll probably benefit from it.

But I don’t think anyone, at the end of their lives, has ever said “Gee, I wish I’d given more time to my work. I sure regret spending so much time with my family.”

Make the most of the time you have.

It doesn’t matter if you only have 10 minutes a day with your kids. Make it the best 10 minutes of your whole day.

You will never regret it.

Our school subscription to Happy Families allows access to the Happy Families website to all members of our school community.

Families can access the Happy Families website at: https://schools.happyfamilies.com.au/login/whps

Password: happywhps

Follow this link to the 'Support for Parents and Families' page on our school website.

https://www.wheelershillps.vic.edu.au/support-for-families

Below is a list of support agencies and links to their websites

Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800 | visit website

Beyondblue | 1300 22 4636 | visit website

Headspace | visit website

BiteBack | visit website

Headspace | COVID specific resources | visit website

Brave online | free online anxiety program | visit website

Year 4 Camp Manyung