Optimum Coaching

Feb 22
7 min

When it’s time to stop doing what others expect and trust yourself more.

How often do you feel squeezed into doing things aren’t a great fit for you and your family, or worse leave you with a real sense of unease as to whether it’s really right or helpful? I’m not talking about the mundane necessities – doing chores or attending an event you find a little dull. It’s those times when you are battling your child to do something you’re not even convinced is right for them, and deep down you wonder if it’s doing more harm than good, but you feel you h

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Julie Cresswell

Feb 4
1 min

One Dose of Fun Please!

If you're in need of a lift and a dose of fun right now I'd encourage you to sit down with a cup of tea (and maybe even the rest of the family) and use these questions to help you bring some joy, fun and energy back into family life. If you find you're still scratching your head and you need some help to get the ideas flowing then e-mail me to book a time to chat: juliecresswell@optimum-coaching.co.uk #coaching #parenting #lockdown3.0 #lockdown2021 #homeschooling #workingpar

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Hanging on by your fingernails – how you might be doing better than you think right now.

Julie Cresswell

Jan 12
4 min

Hanging on by your fingernails – how you might be doing better than you think right now.

Ask most parents what they want for their child and the answer is always something to do with being happy, able to make choices, do their best and thrive. Right now, when we’re in lockdown 3.0 and many parents who are hanging on by a fingernail just getting through the day is a challenge. Surviving feels a battle and thriving - that’s just what other people do on social media whilst you limp along just about making it through. In the midst of what has been a tough year for f

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New Year - Same Challenges! Learning from the hard times.

Julie Cresswell

Dec 16, 2020
1 min

New Year - Same Challenges! Learning from the hard times.

This year it's not the usual New Year of looking ahead and setting goals. Whilst we may have had a brief relief from some Covid-19 restrictions we are still very much in the midst of challenging times. Whilst it may be difficult to look ahead and find help there are sometimes pearls of wisdom to be gained from challenging times. This 5 minute reflection sheet is to help you do just that. If you'd like to explore further how you can move forward in 2021 book a free 30 minute

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Julie Cresswell

Dec 1, 2020
1 min

Making Christmas 2020 Great

This 5 minute reflection sheet is to help you step back, work out what's most important to you this Christmas and begin to consider how to make key elements of that happen. To have a helping hand to explore further book a free 30 minute coaching chat. #parenting #coaching #makingfamilylifework #Christmas2020

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When you’ve hit a wall with school – is it time to home educate?

Julie Cresswell

Nov 30, 2020
6 min

When you’ve hit a wall with school – is it time to home educate?

What do you do when the experience of school has become unbearable for you child? When the mere thought of attending causes evenings and weekends to become a battle ground and the aftermath of a typical day is emotional overwhelm? Should you keep pressing on? Are you harming your child? Should you just call a stop to the whole thing and home educate? Depending on which statistics you read home schooling is up, somewhere between 130% [1] and 700%[2]. Whatever the exact figure

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Dear Parent secretly terrified you’ve broken your child

Julie Cresswell

Nov 12, 2020
4 min

Dear Parent secretly terrified you’ve broken your child

The responsibility we feel for our offspring is huge. The potential impact of our choices and behaviours weighs heavy. It’s a frightening thought. If you’re asking the question have I broken/damaged/f****ed up my child then I gently want to challenge you Is this the real question? Perhaps there’s a more helpful way to approach this. Perhaps as you gently explore what can be a very painful question, this might even be the birth place of hope. Press pause on the raging emotions

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Challenging Behaviour - Finding Positive Ways Forward

Julie Cresswell

Oct 7, 2020
1 min

Challenging Behaviour - Finding Positive Ways Forward

I've yet to meet a parent who hasn't, at one time or another, found their child's behaviour challenging. It's easy to talk about behaviour as communication, but much harder to identify the message. This 5 minute reflection sheet is to help you "hear" more clearly both what your child is saying and to tap into your wisdom and expertise on your child to consider what may be a helpful way to move forward. If you'd like to talk things through further you can book a free initial

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Dear Parent whose child is struggling in school – Part 3.

Julie Cresswell

Oct 1, 2020
4 min

Dear Parent whose child is struggling in school – Part 3.

When your child is struggling in school it can be hard to see the wood for the trees, yet sometimes taking a few steps back to pause, reflect and tap into your expertise can be immensely valuable. If you’ve missed part 1 and 2 I’d encourage you to go back and take a look. We’ve looked at addressing triggers and we’ve asked many questions to gain understanding. We’ve used our wealth of expertise to explore what’s happening and now onto step 3. The next step is often challengin

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Dear Parent whose child is struggling in school – Part 2.

Julie Cresswell

Sep 30, 2020
4 min

Dear Parent whose child is struggling in school – Part 2.

On this immense journey it can be hard to see the wood for the trees, but today I want to encourage you to take a step back and access the wisdom and expertise you have on your child (probably more than you give yourself credit for) which will help you find the best path forward. Step 1 was all about addressing what’s going on for you so that you’re best placed to support your child, but this doesn’t address the question of how specifically can you help your child when you

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Dear Parent whose child is struggling in school

Julie Cresswell

Sep 29, 2020
4 min

Dear Parent whose child is struggling in school

How do you begin to put into words how tough it can be at times? At the point where many parents are breathing a sigh of relief as their children are settling back into the routine of school, for you, the stress levels have just escalated. And the whole family are feeling the ripple effects as school stress seeps into home and makes everyday life so much more complex and tumultuous. And you’re working your socks off to support your child, but it’s exhausting and lonely and yo

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Replenishing Your Resources - the importance of wellbeing and self care

Julie Cresswell

Sep 9, 2020
1 min

Replenishing Your Resources - the importance of wellbeing and self care

I’m acutely aware that one of the costs of the last 6 months is the impact on many parent’s wellbeing, energy and resources. This 5 minute reflection is a way of taking a step to begin to reprioritise self care and wellbeing in a way which works for you and your family. #coaching #parenting #wellbeing #backtoschool

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Supporting Your Child Through Transitions - Part 2

Julie Cresswell

Aug 14, 2020
1 min

Supporting Your Child Through Transitions - Part 2

In a season of transition children and teens often need a lot more support. The main source of that support is usually their parents and care givers. If, you're running on empty this can be tough. This next reflection sheet is designed to help you consider your needs too and how some of them can be met so that you are best placed to support your child. l Grab a drink, the reflection sheet attached and a means of taking notes and find a quiet(ish) space for 5 minutes to t

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Supporting Your Child Through Transitions - Part 1

Julie Cresswell

Jul 27, 2020
1 min

Supporting Your Child Through Transitions - Part 1

As the return to school looms and children face another significant change the odds are they may feel a bit wobbly about it all. You may see this in their behaviour and conversation. Whilst it may be a challenging time there is lots you can do to support them. This reflection sheet is to help you consider how. As I emphasize in all my work – you are the expert on your children. What is right for my children may be different to yours so this reflection sheet is not a how t

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Julie Cresswell

Jun 30, 2020
1 min

Beyond Survival - Summer 2020

Grab a notebook, a drink and a pen and take 5 minutes to pause, reflect and draw on your expertise to identify how to make this ususual summer still be a great one for you and your family. To discuss your thoughts further book a free initial coaching chat at: https://calendly.com/optimumcoaching/initial-chat #coaching #eq #wellbeing #parenting #optimumfamilylife #summerholidays #2020 #Covid19

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Julie Cresswell

Jun 9, 2020
1 min

Brave Conversations

Brave conversations are a key part of making positive change. This 5 minute reflections is all about helping you prepare and be able to proactively and confidently have one of those, whether with your child or someone else this is a useful tool. Optimum Coaching's mission is to help you tap into your expertise to help you identify how to best support your child and make family life work better. If it would help to have a curious conversation yourself then you can book your

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Using curious conversations to support your child

Julie Cresswell

Jun 9, 2020
2 min

Using curious conversations to support your child

Is it time for a curious conversation with your child? It's easy to assume we know how our children are feeling, particularly when we are spending so much time around them However, sometimes the value in a conversation is not us gaining knowledge, but the other person being able to articulate something important to them. And sometime we've made the wrong assumption. We're in the cusp of lots of change - again - space and opportunity to communicate and articulate the feeli

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Confidently managing your child's education - lockdown and beyond

Julie Cresswell

May 15, 2020
8 min

Confidently managing your child's education - lockdown and beyond

Here we are in the midst of an educational experience parents, even elective home schoolers or teachers hadn’t anticipated or prepared for. We know at some point our children will be returning to school, but when and what it will look like is still very much guesswork for us all. This time raises some massive issues for parents regarding our children’s education, wellbeing and safety in a season when even the experts don’t have all the answers. We will have to make significan

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Julie Cresswell

May 1, 2020
2 min

Dear Exhausted Parent

Right now it’s tough. Really tough. Trying to be all things to everyone – constantly winging your way through this crazy time with none of your usual fail safes. The endless list of daily worries and the fear about what next. Feeling like your worst parenting flaws have been laid bare, whilst others appear to be sailing through on their epic adventure. Unable to stay on top of it all, yet unable to let it go. It’s overwhelming And terrifying And so, so relentless And the guil

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Making Life Work When the Chips Are Down - Part 4 - Sustaining

Julie Cresswell

Apr 8, 2020
1 min

Making Life Work When the Chips Are Down - Part 4 - Sustaining

So this reflection may be more like 10 mins than 5, but it's 10 minute well spent if you're in need of a bit of a boost to stay uplifted and inspired right now. As the days blur a bit and the intensity of 24/7 under current restrictions may be a mixed experience this is a reflection designed to help you explore how to find positive inspiration to sustain you during this season. If you'd like to talk through these reflections further please get in touch to book a time to chat

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