Articles by Tanya Russell

If you change nothing, nothing will change IMAGE Aurora

If you change nothing, nothing will change

July 07, 2018

Q I’m not coping with being at work at the moment. I feel like I am a hated person and a group of staff now ignores me because I told them they made me feel uncomfortable for speaking badly about other staff. There seems to be a culture of negativity and when I raised my concerns with the manager, I was told to lodge a formal complaint and to access counselling. I just don’t see how counselling will resolve the bullying I am now experiencing. I am also afraid to lodge a formal complaint because these colleagues will know it is me and will probably make my work life even worse. I feel stuck and miserable – what if I lodge a complaint, put myself through a process and the investigation comes back in favour of the colleagues I have issues with? This has happened before and I don’t want to have to leave another workplace due to something like this. What do I do?

Achieving a ‘work-screen’ balance in family life IMAGE Aurora

Achieving a ‘work-screen’ balance in family life

May 03, 2017 Comments

Q   My children seem to be addicted to their electronic devices, especially their iPads, and so getting them to do anything around the house is so difficult. As much as this frustrates me, I accept that I have allowed this to happen and now really want to find ways to reduce their device time. Any ideas?

Coming to terms with the changes ageing can bring IMAGE Aurora

Coming to terms with the changes ageing can bring

April 05, 2017 Comments

Q My father has begun to display early stage dementia and his doctor has confirmed this. My children are aged 5 and 7, and as Dad’s dementia progresses, I want them to develop age-appropriate understanding. At the same time, I don’t want them to think that dementia and the forgetfulness that goes with it is automatically part of growing older. Please give me some tips to encourage them to be patient and thoughtful.

Exam results do not measure success in life IMAGE Aurora

Exam results do not measure success in life

March 01, 2017 Comments

Q  My son Jack has completed his first term of Year 12 and his anxiety levels are climbing. He has set himself high standards and wants to proceed to university. I want to support him and would appreciate some strategies, including how best to prepare him for the HSC exams.

Marriage: Should I stay or should I go? IMAGE Aurora

Marriage: Should I stay or should I go?

February 01, 2017 Comments

Q Over the past few months, I have been seriously considering leaving my husband. We have been married for 14 years and we have three children but somewhere along the way, we have grown apart. I am torn between doing what’s “right” by the children and what is “right” for me. I don’t know how I feel anymore and don’t want to open up too much to my friends, especially if I decide to stay. How do I start unpacking this more in my head before making my decision?

For this busy mum, 'something's gotta give' IMAGE Social Services

For this busy mum, 'something's gotta give'

December 01, 2016 Comments

Q As a parent of three children I feel I have lost who I am.  I have put so much effort into what I perceived as being a great parent. I have always put my kids first and now they rule our house.  I have done this out of love but now feel stuck and don’t know how to change this.  My relationship with my husband is strained because I have given everything, including all my time and attention, to my children, believing I had to do this to meet their needs. But I have done this at the expense of my relationship and now have nothing left in my tank to give him.  How do I reclaim ‘me’?  I feel like I am just ‘surviving’ − trying to cope as a mother of three, work and run a household.   I am in a rut and don’t know how to get out.