Is my child ready for school? It is one of the biggest questions parents ask in the year before prep, and it is one I have changed my mind about over the years.

In Episode 13 of This Mamma Chats, I explain why I think "school readiness" is an old-fashioned term, and why I would much rather we talk about the school being ready for the child. Every child has their own strengths and their own areas of need, and a checklist of writing their name, counting to 100 or holding a pencil does not do justice to who they are as a whole.

I also walk through how the transition to school works for kindy families in Queensland:

• The transition statement and why I encourage parents to consent to information being shared
• Inviting local schools into our centres so teachers can see children in an environment where they feel comfortable
• For children who need a bit more, the more tailored transition support option, which can bring in a psychologist, speech pathologist or occupational therapist so everyone supporting your child is on the same page

Whether you are a parent, an educator or a teacher, I would love to hear your thoughts on this one. If your child is starting school soon, I hope it gives you a few helpful conversations to have with your kindy and your school.

What happens when the parenting you planned for looks nothing like the parenting your child actually needs?

In Episode 12 of This Mamma Chats, I sit down with Karla Daly for a really honest conversation about raising a neurodivergent child and a neurotypical child under the same roof.

Karla grew up as a CODA, the hearing child of two deaf parents, and shares what that childhood was really like, from interpreting for her parents to why a deaf house can actually be a loud house. She also talks about her son's early obsession with the alphabet, his autism diagnosis and later discovering he has a PDA profile, which many parents prefer to call a persistent drive for autonomy.

We chat about the transition to school, the school readiness lists that described the complete opposite of her child, and why for a PDA child it is not "I won't", it's "I can't". Karla explains low-demand parenting and the small changes in language that have made such a difference at home, plus the micro moments of self-care that keep her going. We also talk about generational patterns, finding your village and how she and her husband Nathan look after their relationship.

This conversation is a reminder that what so many families need from the people around them is less judgement and more curiosity. If you are walking a similar path, I think you'll get a lot from this one.

What happens when a childhood spent on a cattle station shapes the way you parent on the Gold Coast?

In Episode 11 of This Mamma Chats, I sit down with Laura Beveridge, a mum of two boys who grew up on her family's cattle station near Charters Towers. She now runs a construction business on the Gold Coast with her husband Jesse, around 1,500 kilometres from her family.

Laura shares what it was like being homeschooled by her mum alongside her four siblings, from radio lessons through distance education to doing jobs every morning and helping host Contiki tour groups on the station every winter. We talk about the work ethic and people skills that upbringing gave her, starting boarding school at 13, and how she is passing those values on to her own boys.

We also chat about moving away from "you'll be right" parenting towards a firm but fair approach that makes room for feelings, why resilience and emotional regulation matter more for school readiness than counting to ten, sharing the load with a hands-on dad and wanting to raise gentlemen. Laura is also really open about being hard on herself, living with ADHD, postnatal depression, holding on to her identity and building a village when your family is far away.

This is such an honest, warm conversation, and I think a lot of mums will see a bit of themselves in Laura's story.