Author: Polly - Social Coach

Why it's important to get a second opinion

Choosing Your Own Path

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When it comes to things medical, I’m a firm believer in getting a second opinion. It’s not that I don’t have any faith in doctors. It’s just that too many times I’ve been on the receiving end of a decision that seems to be easier for them rather than the right option for me. It was seeking a second opinion that gave me three beautiful children when the first specialist told me it would never happen. And it’s was a second opinion that has given me a new knee when the first specialist told me that it’d be best if I just ‘made do’ with the help of some ‘lifestyle changes’. Lifestyle changes. By that he meant giving up playing a sport I’ve played for over 20 years. He meant giving up skiing, tramping and every other active past time I’ve enjoyed. I may be 48-year-old mother of 3 with a few extra kilos on board, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to grow old. Heck, I’ve still got a long list of things I …

Mothers Day. Better Late Than Never?

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This year, Mothers Day didn’t quite go to plan. I’d given my kids a very specific brief. I didn’t want any presents, I just wanted their presence. “It would be nice to get out and do something together”, I told them. Imagine my surprise when my Mothers Day present turned out to be a horse riding experience. I was overwhelmed. What an amazing gift. And what wonderful children I have grown. Children who have clearly spent a long time saving enough money for us to all go horse riding together. There was silence. And nervous shuffling, before Miss 9 admitted that not only were we not booked to go horse riding that day, they hadn’t saved a single penny. The thought that they might actually have to pay for the gift they were giving me clearly hadn’t entered their heads. I thanked them graciously. After all, revenge is a dish served cold. A week or so later I took them to their favourite toy shop. I told them I’d love to buy them a present …

Giving Presence – Have I Gone Too Far?

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There’s nothing I love more than being on holiday. It doesn’t have to be a long holiday, or even a holiday to anywhere fancy. As long as I’m not at home facing the endless list of things that need to be done, then life is good. Which is why I think ‘giving the gift of an experience’ is a concept I’ve embraced. OK, maybe we’ve gone passed embracing and are now in a serious, long-term relationship. You see, last year the experiences I gave the kids for their birthdays were fun days out doing something they each loved. Miss 10 went horse-riding, Miss 8 went skiing and Mr 8 had a not-so-great day out at the Monster Slide festival. This year, I may just have taken it to a whole new level by using the idea of ‘giving presence’ as an excuse for a holiday (or two). I didn’t see anything wrong with this approach until a well-meaning friend pointed out that I might be setting the bar a bit high – creating an expectation that …

Spend wisely, save the world.

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When I took the kids on a Zoo sleepover experience a few weeks ago, I never dreamed it would be so life changing. Dave, our very entertaining guide, passed a comment that the whole zoo, and all the people who worked there, had made a commitment to go Palm Oil free which meant making a few changes – from whose ice creams they sold in the shop to how he shaved before he came to work in the morning. It got me thinking. If I make a few simple changes to the way I shop – choose this brand instead of that – then perhaps I too can make a difference. You see, I’m no eco-warrior. But I am a Household Shopper aged 25-54 so I know that the way I choose to spend my money counts. If I – if we – start supporting the brands that support the causes we care about, then I believe we can create change. It turns out lots and lots of things we use every day – things …