A few years ago, I was living through one of the most painful chapters of my life. I had a vision of a home filled with laughter, trust, and closeness with my daughter. But instead, I was watching her slip further into anxiety. She stopped sleeping, stopped eating, started self-harming and every time I tried to help, it seemed to push her further away. I felt helpless, terrified, and full of guilt.

I’d already known deep grief, losing my beautiful son when he was just six years old - and that loss shaped my parenting in ways I didn’t fully understand. I poured my heart into protecting my daughter, thinking that shielding her from pain would keep her safe. But as I went back to university to study developmental psychology, I discovered something that broke my heart: sometimes, love can turn into overprotection, and that can fuel the very struggles we’re trying so hard to prevent.

It was then I realised, no one was telling parents these things. And I thought: That has to change.

Now, I'm dedicated to empowering mums with gentle, effective ways to reconnect with their children, even amidst anxiety. Small shifts in parenting can transform both children's mental health and family bonds.

That's why I created The Calm Connections Challenge. It's for any mum longing for calm and closeness, who wants to feel confident and connected again.