1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families Podcast. 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 2: It's the podcast for the time poor parent who just answers. 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: Now, can you believe it's one more week? One more week? 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 1: And to where in the sixth month of twenty twenty four. 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 2: We've got a busy couple of weeks ahead and I 6 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 2: think this year, this end of the year is really 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: going to fly. 8 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: Oh where is the time going? Hey, Welcome to the 9 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: Happy Families Podcast. We are so grateful to have you 10 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: joining us for our Friday edition of I'll Do Better Tomorrow. 11 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: Every Friday. In the podcast, for those of you who areknew, 12 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,279 Speaker 1: we talk about the things that have gone well this week, 13 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: things that haven't gone well, how we can do better 14 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: tomorrow in the hope that number one, we can aspire 15 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: ourselves to be better parents, but number sure that we 16 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 1: can help you in your family as well. Coylie, I'm 17 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: going to go first today. Last week on the Happy 18 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: Families Podcast with Older Better Tomorrow, you shared Emily and 19 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: the way you've got her writing a journal now and 20 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: how that's improved her writing, but it's also got her 21 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,640 Speaker 1: reflecting and keeping a record of her life. So this 22 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: weird thing happened in the last week. My Mum sent 23 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: something up to us. She's doing a bit clean out. 24 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: They're doing a bit of a renovation at home, and 25 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: she found a folder with a whole bunch of letters 26 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 1: that I sent. We're going back twelve to thirteen years now, 27 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: I was still a university student. In fact, it was 28 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: more than that. It was fourteen fifteen years ago that 29 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: I was still a university student doing our PhD. And 30 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: for Christmas, because we had no money, because we were 31 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: poor students, we were literally living on nothing. For Christmas, 32 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: I decided to give mom and Dad the gift of 33 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: one letter every week sent through the post old School, 34 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: where I was going to share memories. That meant that 35 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: I had to come up with fifty two memories for 36 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: the years that I was going to share about my childhood, 37 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 1: growing up and being raised by Mum and Dad. 38 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: I just have to interject here because the letter journal 39 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 2: only starts in March, so I'm actually thinking that your 40 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: mom may not have kept the first year because she 41 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 2: wasn't sure you were actually going to fulfill cove your commitment. 42 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: Anyway, I write some pretty serious letters and what I 43 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: wanted to do today as a response to what happened 44 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: last week sorry, and I guess it's more context. After 45 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: our conversation last week, you pulled this thing out and 46 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: said read this to the kids. And I didn't even 47 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: know what it was. You just put it in front 48 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: of my face and said read this to the kids. 49 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: And we were in the living room as a family, 50 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: So I said, okay, nories. I'm laying on the carpet 51 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: and I started to read, and then I realized what 52 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: it was. It was this Christmas gift. Mum had sent 53 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: it to us, and you or asked me to read 54 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: the kids these memories. So I haven't been particularly selective here. 55 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: I just wanted to grab one to highlight the value 56 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: of doing this and what a difference it makes. This 57 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:28,960 Speaker 1: is one of the letters that I wrote. And forgive 58 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 1: me for probably being a little bit overly personal and 59 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: sharing a whole lot here, but I think this is 60 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: fascinating and it gives such an insight into what life 61 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: was like when we were growing up. I said this 62 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: dem Mom and Dad. This afternoon. I was thinking about 63 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: the dogs you have at home, merely the crazy, NonStop 64 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: ligging dog Romeo, the little Prince. It got me thinking 65 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: about how funny Dad is about dogs and that brought 66 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: back a flood of memories. This letter is about Dad, 67 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: dogs and Fred. Sometimes more Fred than Dad, and other 68 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: times more Dad than Fred. 69 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 2: And just for some cond text, Fred was your childhood dog. 70 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, we got Fred when I was a couple of 71 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: years old. He literally was my dog. I'm getting a 72 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: bit weepy thinking about it I wrote this. I remember 73 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: Dad on the milk run. Oh, Dad used to have 74 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 1: a milk run. That's how they made money back in 75 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: the day. There was this lady that didn't care that 76 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 1: Dad had run over her puppy because she had more 77 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 1: in the house. There was the dog that used to 78 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 1: yap at Dad, and so as he drove along one 79 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: day with it chasing him, he drove towards the bins 80 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: and made the dog run into them at full speed. 81 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: I remember the German shepherd that made me run faster 82 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: than I think I've ever run in my life. I 83 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 1: was probably only eight or nine years old. As you 84 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: drive through Wyong, the road turns hard right over a 85 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: railway bridge towards the golf club. Just before the road 86 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: turns right, there's a street on the left, west street. 87 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: The second house on the left in that street had 88 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: a German shepherd in it that was usually behind a 89 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: back fence. The day I dropped the milk on the stairs, 90 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: he was on the stairs. I turned to run to 91 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: the truck, and as I jogged, I became aware that 92 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: he was following me fast. I panicked, sprinted, and hurdled 93 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: the ditch before diving into the truck. I was scared 94 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: I was going to be eaten. Dad thought it was funny. 95 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 1: I still remember the speed I ran, and I still 96 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: remember the fear. There have been very few times in 97 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: my life that I was that afraid. But the best 98 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: dog memories I have of Dad and dogs are of Fred. 99 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: Fred was my special puppy. I still love him now. 100 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: I really do hope he's in heaven waiting for me. 101 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: I miss my Fred. Dad has little time or patience 102 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: for dogs, but I really think he loved Fred too. 103 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: I still recall both of you being there for me twice, 104 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: in particular, once when Fred was kicked by the horse, 105 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 1: I thought he was going to die and cried more 106 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: tears than I knew I had. And the second time 107 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: was on Easter Sunday, possibly around nineteen ninety. Fred was 108 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: lying on the grass out the back of our house 109 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: at Kira Street. I think it was Mum who came 110 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: and woke me up. I stumbled outside and said goodbye 111 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 1: to Fred. I remember he looked up at me with 112 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: his loyal eyes, then put his head down and left us. 113 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: Fred gave our family so many terrific memories. Dad used 114 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: to call him a mongrel dog, but he loved Fred. 115 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 1: I remember when Fred barked at Alex Browning. Alex panicked 116 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: and ran and crashed through the screen doors of our 117 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,320 Speaker 1: rumper's room. I remember him ending up in the pool 118 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,880 Speaker 1: at Kira Street and he sank. I remember when Fred 119 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:18,599 Speaker 1: got hit by a car out the front of Joppa 120 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: Street and a bus on Gilda Drive. The bus broke 121 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: his pelvis. Dad picked him up, I think took him 122 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: to the vet. Fred simply kept on coming back for 123 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: more and kept chasing those cars. I remember one day 124 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: I was riding my bike down Naraney Avenue. As I 125 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: turned left into Gilda Drive past Hillary and Debbie McDonald's place. 126 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: Fred failed to preempt my change of direction. He ran 127 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: across my path. My red BMX bike tire hit his 128 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: middle and I sailed over the handlebars. Fred walked away 129 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,679 Speaker 1: seemingly okay. Although I'm sure he was a little sore. 130 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,039 Speaker 1: I lost a lot of skin. My nose was a 131 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: massive scab. As I recall, Dad would get angry about 132 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: how dumb that dog was, but we loved him. I 133 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: remember how he was always getting to fights. While there 134 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,480 Speaker 1: were several. The one I remember Bess, was between Fred 135 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 1: and a black labrador on Narani Avenue. Oh, and Dad 136 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: was involved as well. Fred and the lab became entangled 137 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: as I was coming home one afternoon. I couldn't separate them, 138 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 1: no matter how much I yelled. I don't recall exactly 139 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: what happened, but I think I ran home screaming out 140 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: for Dad. He was in the bathroom somewhat indisposed. He 141 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: heard the dogs from a couple of hundred meters away 142 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: and knew what was going on. By the time I 143 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 1: was getting home, Dad had gotten out of the bathroom 144 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: and was running down the hill towards the dogs. When 145 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: he got to the dogs, they were attached to each 146 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: other's faces, fighting to the death. Dad ran at them 147 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: and put his right foot into the labrador's midriff. The 148 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: dogs rolled down the hill still attached. Somehow he got 149 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: them separated and brought Fred home battered and bleeding. It 150 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: was around a week later that the owner of the 151 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: lab asked us if Fred was okay. He was, we 152 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: told her. She then explained that her dog had not 153 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,840 Speaker 1: eaten for a week because to a bread's teeth were 154 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: embedded in her dog's cheek. He was a tough dog. 155 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: My friend Fred was loyal. He was such a special friend. 156 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: I remember that at times he followed me to school. 157 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: He loved me and wanted to be with me. He 158 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: walked with middle Lizero that time I snuck down there 159 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: to buy Greg Chappel's cricket clinic from the newsagent. Fred 160 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: was part of our family. He really was our dog. 161 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: Thanks for bringing someone special into my life. Now. I 162 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: know that was long, and I know it was a 163 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 1: little bit self indulgent, but for I'll do better tomorrow. 164 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: I wanted. What I wanted to share was two things. 165 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: First of all, as I read the first two stories 166 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: that you asked me to read, the kids were captivated, 167 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: and then they wanted another one and another one. It 168 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 1: was a really beautiful family time. But the second thing 169 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: is just the power of story, the power of sitting 170 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: with our kids and sharing the things we grow up with. 171 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: Every now and again, the kids will look at me 172 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: and say, hey, Dad, tell us a story, And often 173 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: I don't because I can't think of one. It's really hard, 174 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: like it's taxing. What story can I think of that's 175 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: going to be useful and interesting that the children will 176 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: want to hear. But they want to hear these stories. 177 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: It gives them roots. It helps them to know where 178 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: they came from. It helps them to understand what our 179 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: childhoods were like. It helps them to relate to us 180 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: that little bit more. And sitting down and writing that 181 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: book of fifty two letters to my parents, not realizing 182 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: that Mom was going to keep them, it's suddenly given 183 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 1: us fifty two stories. In fact, there's about eight different 184 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: stories in that one letter, and it gives us conversations 185 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: for days. 186 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: When you read it the other night, I had an 187 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: AHA moment and realized that this was literally the catalyst 188 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 2: for us purchasing our very first goal. 189 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 1: That's right. 190 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 2: We went up to Gospet a few weekends later to 191 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 2: spend some time with your mum, and she was adamant 192 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 2: that we were going to he ciated by a dog. 193 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 2: And I never knew where it came from, but it 194 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 2: was that letter. 195 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: It was about a month after I sent that letter, 196 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: and we didn't realize until that's when we figured it out. 197 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 2: And you know what, Benson was literally the best thing 198 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: that happened to our family. 199 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: Having Benson, that's a big call. I think that you 200 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: and I might be the best thing that ever happened 201 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: to our family. But if you want to say, it 202 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,839 Speaker 1: was the dog that we bought several years into the 203 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: that's It. 204 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 2: Also helped me to know where you get your love 205 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 2: hate relationship with dogs, because. 206 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: My dad loved and hated all of our dogs. I know, 207 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 1: anyway self indulgent, But the take home message is spend 208 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 1: time telling stories to your kids and make a record, 209 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: keep a journal because when you look back, oh my goodness, 210 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: it's just I don't even have words for how precious 211 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: it is to have that. And I've got fifty two 212 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: of those letters. That's a lot of content to reflect 213 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: on and share stories about and invite the kids into 214 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 1: our lives. It's just so meaningful. What's your odd about 215 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 1: it tomorrow? Kylie? 216 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 2: I actually think that I don't need to see it today. 217 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 2: I think that's. 218 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: Very kind of you. I'm just wondering, did you not 219 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: spend any time with our kids this week? Are you 220 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,959 Speaker 1: just struggling to I can't believe I shouldn't say that. Actually, 221 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: with all the time that you do spend with them, 222 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: you know what I reckon? We should just highlight one 223 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: other thing. We have made a really big commitment this 224 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: year to make sure we get one weekend away with 225 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,720 Speaker 1: the kids every single month, and this month we've been 226 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: able to do it again and it's been such a treat. 227 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: We just peered down the coast to Angowie over the 228 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: last weekend and just being able to have that time. 229 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: As a result of losing our nephew Logan in November 230 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: last year, we made a commitment that we were going 231 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: to have not just a weekend away, but we were 232 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: going to have weekends away near family. We have family 233 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: on the mid north coast of New South Wales, in 234 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:53,839 Speaker 1: that sort of Yamber area and in the Bangalo area, 235 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: and by going there we were able to spend time 236 00:10:56,440 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: with family and recreate those connections and rebuild and strengthen 237 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 1: those relationships and spend a whole lot of time with 238 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:07,959 Speaker 1: our kids as well. So once again, take my message, 239 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: rituals of connection time is how kids spell love I 240 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 1: just wanted to write that in because you said that 241 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: you wanted to leave it there. But Older, Better Tomorrow 242 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: is about being intentional about the choices that we make 243 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: as parents for our families, and this is what we're 244 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: trying to do. We're trying to do it, we're trying 245 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 1: to talk about it, we're trying to model it, and 246 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: hopefully we're building better kids as a result. The Happy 247 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: Families podcast is produced by Justin Roland from Bridge Media. 248 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 1: Craig Bruce is our executive producer, and if you'd like 249 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: more info about how to make your family happier, we'd 250 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 1: love for you to visit us at happyfamilies dot com 251 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:45,040 Speaker 1: dot au. So many resources, so many opportunities to make 252 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: you family happier. Have a wonderful weekend and we'll talk 253 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 1: to you again on Monday.