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On Mother’s Day, as tradition requires, I received a lovely card from my beautiful 15 year old daughter. It was full of positive affirmations about how great a mum she thinks I am, unfortunately this was not to last long.

The next day I sent her a reminder to attend orchestra rehearsals. What ensued was a ferocious email argument. She told me she took back all she’d said on Mother’s Day, she hated me and that I was the worst mother ‘EVER!!!!! The twenty message tirade ended with her saying ‘F*** you!’ and me responding ‘Whatever’.

As I braced myself for her eventual return, I had no qualms about forcing her to attend something she didn���t want to go to. When I think about it I ‘force’ my children to do a lot of things, from music practice, to housework and homework, to fulfilling commitments they’ve made. I’m not bothered (or not too much anyway) if they are unhappy with me.

As parents we spend a lot a time focusing on making sure our children are happy. We are also thinking about what is in their best interests. The reality is that these aren’t necessarily always the same thing. Many children would be happy with unrestricted screen time, no homework and chocolate for dinner but you wouldn’t find many parents agreeing with that arrangement.

The Family Law Act talks not about parental rights but of parental responsibilities.  The Court’ s paramount consideration when making decisions for children is to determine not what makes them ‘happy’ but what is in their best interests in the short AND long term. Certainly as parents our responsibility should be to do the same. Our job isn’t about being their friend but about guiding them in the right direction and as best as possible setting them up for a productive and fulfilling life. Sometimes this may require us to ‘force’ them to do something, sometimes they may be unhappy and sometimes they may hate us.

How did my day end? My daughter came home and was her normal loving self. The argument had already been forgotten and we made school lunches together whilst chatting about the trials of her day. I’m sure she’ll hate me again next week but I’m also confident the lessons I teach her and things I ‘force’ her to do will make her happier in the long run (fingers crossed).

Elise Turco

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Court orders Russian tycoon to pay US$4.5b cash settlement - and that's on top of US$146m pair of Swiss chalets and other real estate in Geneva

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"Last time I checked, we only have one life. Whether your goals are setting world records or plunging ahead to juggle a career and parenthood, your job is to get rid of the bad fear and turn the less-bad fear into good fear that motivates you to strive for the bigger."

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Family Tax Benefit Part A

Do you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A and have a child who turned 1, 2 or 5 between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2013? If you do, you have until 30 June 2014 to meet the immunisation requirements and receive your $726 Family Tax Benefit end-of-financial year supplement for 2012-13. For more information check out http://bit.ly/1eNegof 

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Well done Honey Maid for standing up for what is true: Love.

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 I think Apple is kinda cute...

10. North West

9. Apple

8. Kal-El

7. Moon Unit

6. Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily

5. Pilot Inspektor

4. Princess Tiaamii

3. Moxie CrimeFighter

2. Jermajesty

1. Tu Morrow. 

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In Australia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, being 11th May in 2014. In the UK, it falls on the 4th Sunday of Lent, being 3 weeks before Easter Sunday i.e. 30th March in 2014. It falls on many different dates in different countries across the world, from the 2nd Sunday of February in Norway to 22nd December in Indonesia.

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The Financial Services Council (FSC) yesterday called for access to the Age Pension to be tightened and the superannuation access age to be increased to age 65. John Brogden, CEO of the FSC, said that providing access to superannuation benefits at age 60, while the Age Pension is not available until age 67, encourages the wrong type of behaviour. However, the FSC believes early access arrangements for superannuation should apply for those unable to work to a higher preservation age. The FSC has also recommended that the retirement age should be linked to life expectancy through a formal process guided by the Government Actuary. 

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BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has hailed the first same-sex marriages in England and Wales as sending a “powerful message” about equality.