Chatterminds

05/06/2026

The highs and lows of holidays!

I wanted to post about holidays.

We all look forward to them. We build them up in our minds, spend weeks planning, and get everyone excited about that anticipated week away. Yet so often, holidays are full of ups and downs. In fact, I would say *all* holidays are.

There can be a lot of pressure to have a good time. We've spent a lot of money, we've carved out precious time together, and we want everything to be perfect.

But the reality is often a little different.

Hot, whiny children. Fractious parents. Unfamiliar foods. Late nights. No space from each other. Disrupted routines. Sore tummies. Travel delays. And all of it happening away from home, when things can feel that bit harder to manage.

One thing I often talk about with families is the benefit of expecting the lows as well as the highs.

High moments and low moments are both normal. They are both part of holidays and part of life.

When we notice them, rather than resist them, they often feel much less stressful.

"This is a high moment – everyone is happy, the sun is shining, we're laughing together and eating delicious ice cream."

"This is a low moment – our flight is delayed, the toddler is overtired and screaming, our sunburn hurts, and we're feeling exhausted."

Neither moment will last forever.

Expect them. Notice them.

I've just returned from Greece after a wonderful holiday celebrating my daughter's 18th birthday. There were so many high moments: beautiful views, sunshine, amazing food, and precious family time.

There were also some low moments. I developed tonsillitis and felt unwell from the very first day.

That could easily have become a much bigger struggle in my mind. I could have got caught up in lots of "Why me?" thoughts, frustration, disappointment, and wishing things were different.

Instead, I tried to notice those thoughts and gently bring my attention back to the good things that were still around me.

Yes, I felt poorly. But I was also sitting comfortably in the sunshine, looking out at a gorgeous view and spending time with people I love.

Both things were true at the same time.

So, what about you?

Have you had any high moments and low moments on holiday recently?

05/06/2026

Hello all,

I hope you are well. I just wanted to share this wonderful new business that has been set up by a friend of mine Alex Jane. I used to teach with Alex in the Cayman Islands many years ago and she is a very experienced, very lovely lady. If you have a child who is dyslexic, I highly recommend you contact her to have a little chat!

Please give her a like and a follow and a share!

Thank you so much ###

📣 Hello and welcome to our page. We are Naomi and Alex.

We work face to face across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire offering full diagnostic assessments for 8 to 16 year olds, and specialist tuition for dyslexia. Please get in touch for more information.

We are:
✅️ Level 7 qualified to carry out diagnostic assessments for dyslexia.
✅️ Specialist teachers of dyslexia
✅️ Members of the British Dyslexia Association AMBDA
✅️ We hold APC (assessment practising certification) with British Dyslexia Association BDA.
✅️ Qualified teachers of 20+ years experience.
✅️ Fully DBS checked.

For more info visit https://www.learninglighthousedyslexia.com

Thank you

13/05/2026

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week is a reminder that mental health matters just as much as physical health — for children, teenagers, and adults too.

At Chatterminds, we believe that small moments of connection, calm, and understanding can make a huge difference. Teaching children how to recognise feelings, regulate emotions, and care for their minds is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

Sometimes mental wellbeing looks like:
-Taking a mindful breath
-Talking about feelings openly
-Asking for help
-Resting without guilt (how hard is this?)
-Spending time in nature
-Remembering that hard days are part of being human

No one feels calm, happy, or confident all the time — and that’s okay and completely part of being human. You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf. ###

06/05/2026

Here is a lovely in-person workshop that I am running with Sophie from Forest Flourish.

If you live in the Ross on Wye area it would be lovely to see you there! xx

06/05/2026

Hello everyone!

I am running a workshop on Friday with Mindful Parenting & Community Project It is all about conflict; rupture and repair

It would be great to see you there!

Link to book in comments. xx

23/03/2026

Something exciting is happening!

MPCP (the Charity I work with alongside Chatterminds) has received funding to develop a fully funded mindfulness course for neurodivergent adults (diagnosis not required).

We’d really value your input.

To create something that is genuinely supportive, accessible, and relevant, we’d love to hear about:

-Your experience of neurodivergence

-What has (or hasn’t) worked for you in online courses

-What would help you feel comfortable, engaged, and supported

If this resonates with you and you’d be open to sharing your thoughts, please DM with your preferred contact method.

We’ll then be in touch to arrange a relaxed, informal chat.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this — your voice will help shape something meaningful for others.

18/03/2026

Sometimes the best moments look like nothing at all.

Bare feet on the grass.
Fresh washing on the line.
Sun on my face for a few quiet minutes.

No rushing.
No fixing anything.
Just noticing.

It’s amazing how much calm can come from the simplest moments when we actually pause long enough to feel them.

These tiny pauses are something I often encourage families to find in their day — small moments of connection with ourselves, with nature, and with each other.

Simple.
Free.
And surprisingly powerful.

What’s a small moment today that made you stop and smile?

13/03/2026

Do you live local to Ross on Wye?

Do big emotions sometimes take over in your home?
(tears, shouting, overwhelm… for kids and parents)

You're not alone — and there are gentle ways to help everyone feel calmer.

Join us for Calm and Create, a relaxed and friendly workshop where parents and children learn simple ways to understand and manage big emotions together.

✨ Children enjoy creative crafts
☕ Parents get a little “time for you” space
🌿 You’ll learn practical tools to bring more calm into family life
💛 And there are moments to connect and create together

No pressure. No judgement. Just a warm space to learn and breathe.

📍 Bishopswood Village Hall
📅 Saturday 2nd May
⏰ 10:30am – 12:00pm

💷 £10 per person
☕ Refreshments included

📞 Message or call to book:
07764 538595
07729 315654
✉️ [email protected]

Places are limited so the space stays calm and supportive.

05/03/2026

When your child is overwhelmed, start with you.

1. Calm yourself first.
Your child needs to borrow your calm.
Slow breath in. Slow breath out.
Drop your shoulders. Soften your voice.

2. Get down to their level.
Kneel. Sit beside them.
Few words. Gentle presence.

3. Let the storm pass.
Big feelings come in waves.
They can’t hear reason yet.

4. Don’t worry about others watching.
Your child matters more than judgement.

5. Remember what’s underneath.
They are not being naughty.
They are communicating feelings that have taken over their body.

6. Words can come later.
First: calm.
Then: connection.
Then: learning.

Beneath every big emotion is a need.
When you stay calm, you help their nervous system find its way back.

I am running an online workshop all about this stuff, next Wednesday. Link in comments... xx

03/03/2026

Hi everyone,

I thought it was time I reintroduced myself, as it’s been a while 😊

I’m Carol — mum to two amazing humans (a nearly 18-year-old daughter and a nearly 12-year-old son). I’m turning the big 5-0 this year… and honestly, bring it on! My body might be getting a little wrinkly around the edges, but my mind and sense of happiness are the strongest they’ve ever been.

After many years of feeling consumed by anxiety on most days, it truly feels like a gift to be where I am now. Mindfulness has played the biggest part in that journey, and it continues to shape both my life and my work.

I’m a former teacher (primary trained and later a secondary SEND teacher). In 2018, after leaving teaching, I set up Chatterminds with a small seed of an idea — to work with children in a cabin in my garden, sharing mindfulness, building emotional resilience, and getting creative. I knew a lot about mindfulness, SEND and working with children… and absolutely nothing about running a business! It was a steep learning curve, but I’ve loved growing Chatterminds from the very beginning.

Over the years it has evolved. After Covid, I moved mainly online. We moved from Bristol to the countryside and built a home in my parents’ garden in the beautiful Wye Valley. Mine and Oli’s (my hubby’s) dream was to create a slower, more mindful pace of life — closer to nature and living more simply.

I used to be constantly busy, overscheduling everything (because I could never say no), running on adrenaline, getting ill often, and feeling anxious and low. Now, my wellbeing is my priority — because when I feel well, I have so much more to give.

These days, I work with children and also parents and whole families, helping them find calm and steadiness in the busyness of life.

My work helps children understand and manage their feelings and helps parents feel supported.

So welcome — it’s truly lovely to have you here. If you have any questions, please do get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.