Natasha, a mum in Mission Beach, connected with VPG’s Every Family program not long after relocating to the region, drawn by the opportunity to meet other parents, share experiences, and keep building on what she already knew as a parent.
She couldn’t have anticipated how soon those tools would be put to work. When her daughter started high school, the changes came quickly. A new school, new faces, catching the bus alone – and with them, the kind of challenges that test even the most connected parent-child relationships.
Never one to sit still when there’s more to learn, Natasha has completed a series of VPG Every Family workshops and programs, including Mindful Parenting & The Child Brain, Responding to Behaviour, and Bringing Up Great Kids, and is nearing the completion of Circle of Security, attending consistently alongside local parents.
VPG Every Family has given Natasha both the strategies and the confidence to respond thoughtfully. “I’ve learned to slow down and really listen to her voice,” she says.
She began creating intentional space for her daughter to open up, leaving her phone at home on their afternoon walks, staying present in those quiet moments when her daughter was ready to talk. Drawing on Circle of Security, she focused on what her daughter needed most – a safe base to return to, and a parent who was available. On the harder mornings, she breaks the day down into smaller steps – first this, then that – giving her daughter a clear and calm path forward.
The results are showing. “These last six months have been beautiful,” Natasha says. Her daughter is growing in confidence, making new friends, embracing new experiences, and beginning to mirror the calm and considered approach she sees in her mum.
Even Natasha’s husband has been quietly shifting alongside her – getting down to their daughter’s level, asking about her day, and learning to give her space to decompress before expecting conversation. “Through role modelling, he’s picking things up,” Natasha says. “I’m starting to see some really, really nice changes.”
VPG Every Family programs are offered both face-to-face and online, ensuring families across the region can access support in a way that works for them. For Natasha, the face-to-face environment has been central to her experience. “It’s been a really safe environment to talk, learn and get support,” she says. “Kate (VPG Every Family Officer) is an amazing facilitator. She’s so calm and organised.”
Natasha is now an enthusiastic advocate, sharing what she has learned with friends, neighbours, colleagues and fellow educators, and encouraging others not to wait. “We’re always learning – we need to embrace that,” she says. “You don’t have to have all the answers. And I think you can break a couple of family patterns when you have the right support around you.”
Every parent has something to gain from building their toolkit. For Natasha, VPG Every Family has been exactly that. “A beautiful, gentle reminder that I’m doing a good job – and that there’s always more for us parents to learn.”
