Protecting Our Children’s Innocence, Part Two

Today’s guest on the Treasuring Mothers podcast is Kathleen Cooke. She continues the discussion with tips from a book written by Det. Diane Obbema, who was one of the police officers who attended the Columbine shooting disaster.

As mothers we need all the help we can get to keep our children safe. Kathleen explains some tactics that any mother can action, in a very helpful way.

We all know of difficult stories where children have been molested. So it’s so important to provide a place that’s safe for our children to run to, and to talk with safety and freedom.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Jesus Christ

GUEST: Kathleen Cooke, author of Hope4Today
HOST:Jenny Baxter

Protecting Innocence: How to Discuss Sexual Safety with Children by Det. Diana Obbema

Tip # 3. Use those fears to help children understand why these things are happening. Let them know it is a scary thing. But we also need to teach our children the appropriate language to communicate their concerns. This un

Prepare a Good Will, Part Two

Alison Greenwood continues her chat with Jenny about why and how to prepare a good will.

She explains some worst-case scenarios that she has helped people with, and her advice is to not even go there. Why would you, when you can make a plan to change difficult outcomes for your children during a time of tragedy? Because, the whole idea around preparing a good will is to relieve even more suffering for your children.

You could buy a will kit HERE >>> But Alison wonders why you would do that because, with kids in the mix, you won’t want a cookie-cutter solution.

Don’t forget that the rules change slightly in each Australian state and territory.

GUEST: Alison Greenwood
HOST: Jenny Baxter

More great advice on wills

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Preparing a good will is an important and straightforward thing to do. And it can get you out of so much trouble!

Alison Greenwood explains the importance of NOT putting off having a will prepared. Especially if you have small children.

We tend to think that preparing a good will is too hard to talk about and think through. But lots of families have been caught off-balance when tragedy knocks.

Don’t let this happen to you.

While many of us just cross our fingers and hope for the best, Alison says, “Avoidance isn’t a good strategy.” Mmmm, that’s a thing we do. And it’s just not wise!

GUEST: Alison Greenwood
HOST: Jenny Baxter

Please subscribe below to listen to Part Two of the podcast with Alison.

Alison recommends you find an expert to help you prepare your will. This is because of the complexities of caring for children. The decisions about who and how they will be cared for in the event of a tragedy are not simple. So it’s unwise to leave those choices up to others who may not have your child or children’s best interests in mind.

However, you can read some good information about preparing a

Courage, Strength and Widowhood, Part Two

Melissa Lubke continues talking to Jenny about how she and her family managed after the tragic death of her husband, Andrew.

Lone parents face many challenges, as we all know. So in this interview, Melissa explains what she discovered in her new, and unexpected, life as a single mother.

Melissa’s story is an overwhelming testament to the ability of normal people to keep on going through dark times. So you can be encouraged! You can learn to trust yourself, the community you’re in, and God’s great goodness when things get tough.

GUEST: Melissa Lubke
Melissa’s website tells her story, and how she uses art to help heal her grief.
HOST: Jenny Baxter

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Strength, Courage and Widowhood, Part One

Sometimes the unthinkable happens. And then you have to think about it. Melissa and Andrew were happily expecting their third child, when it all went pear-shaped.

What do you do when all your dreams for the future come tumbling down one sunny summer’s day?

Melissa Lubke bravely tells Jenny how it happened, and what she did when she suddenly lost her husband.

This story is all about strength, courage and widowhood. In other words, survival, when you know you must keep on going for the sake of your young family. In fact, Melissa discovers there is life after death strikes.

GUEST: Melissa Lubke
Melissa’s website tells her story, and how she uses art to help heal her grief.
HOST: Jenny Baxter

To listen to Part Two of this interview, please subscribe, below.

Fiona Rowell has more to say about why you need to eat more protein in your diet.

The proportion of carbs:protein is quite important, surprisingly, much more important the number of calories!

One big thing to note is to avoid having a big hit of protein (meat) at an evening meal. It’s so much better for your system to spread protein intake over the course of the day.

GUEST: Fiona Rowell
HOST: Jenny Baxter

Click here to listen to Part One >>>

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In this podcast, Fiona Rowell wonders if you are looking after yourself? Do you want to stay fitter, for longer, as you get older? Because the secret to your long-term good health is to eat more protein. Who would have thought?

Fiona also explains what muscle mass is, and why you need to maintain it.

The “magic number” for good health is 25g of protein to be eaten each meal, she says. Woah! That’s quite a lot!

GUEST: Fiona Rowell
HOST: Jenny Baxter

Listen to Part Two of the podcast to find out how to bump up your protein intake, by subscribing, below.

Why you should look after yourself first >>>

Bernie Black talks about the Brave Foundation, which she set up to assist teen mothers.

Since writing Brave Little Bear (2006), about her teen mother experiences, Bernie left nursing to head up the Brave Foundation.

Bernie Black tells more of the story about why she set up the Brave Foundation. And she also explains what the Foundation does to provide a village of support around pregnant teens.

GUEST:Bernadette Black
HOST:Jenny Baxter

Part 1 of Bernie Interview >>>

Part 2 of Bernie Interview >>>

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Bernie Black became a mother as a teenager, and is now a strong advocate for teen parents. In this interview she tells some of the stigma she faced as a teen mother.

From Premier.tas.gov.au:

“Bernadette Black founded the BRAVE Foundation in 2009. BRAVE is Australia’s only national organisation to support 8,300 expectant and parenting teens each year.

“After more than 12 years of lobbying, BRAVE Foundation was awarded $4.4 million to run a nationwide trial to connect 350 expecting and parenting teens to education and support opportunities.”

It’s been a huge few years for Bernie as she explores her passion for teenage mothers. Here aim is to build a village of support around each one.

During this podcast, Bernie explains some of her experiences as a teenage mum.

GUEST: Bernadette Black
HOST: Jenny Baxter

Go back to Part 1 of the interview >>>

Go on to Part 3 of the interview >>> 

Jenny Baxter has published several articles about Bernie since her book,

An interview with 2019’s Tasmanian Australian of the Year winner, Bernie Black, who advocates for teen mothers.

From premier.tas.gov.au:

“After experiencing the stigma of teenage pregnancy, Bernie founded BRAVE Foundation in 2009 to provide support and education for teenage parents.

“Bernie aims to build support and acceptance around teenage parents so they can grow healthy, happy families.”

So here, Bernie Black outlines some of her recent experiences winning the Tasmanian Australian of the Year award.

Bernie and Jenny also talk through the importance of not “toughing-out” problems on your own. And the difficulty of the isolation factor for many mothers.

GUEST: Bernadette Black
HOST: Jenny Baxter

Of course, you can also listen to Parts 2 and 3 of the interview. There, Bernie describes what life was like for her as a teen mother. To listen, please subscribe to the podcast, below.