I'm an "older" (on the outside, not on the inside) mum who has been married to the same wonderful man since I was 20 years old. We are "empty nesters" at the moment, as our 26-year-old daughter has been married for over 2 years, and our long-term foster son (who lived with us between the ages of 6 and 16) has also moved on. 

I've been involved with playgroup for over 20 years through our church, and am co-ordinator of the 4 big groups, so still have a lot to do with preschoolers. I have recommended this site to my lovely playgroup mums .... I wish it had been around for me at that stage.

I am a trained teacher, though much of my teaching has not been full-time as I reverted to supply teaching once my daughter was born. I've always done some after-school tutoring for children aged 5 - 14 yrs, and at the moment teach 20 kids a week in my home. I have been a teacher of religious education in public schools since my daughter was 2. In Australia we have the freedom and legal right to do so, and I love this.

We have fostered lots and lots of children, mostly pre-teens on a short-term basis, over the years, but are not involved in that at the moment.

I love volunteer work with kids and families - playgroup, netball coaching, holiday club leading etc. I see kids as a gift to be cherished and nurtured, yet realise how tough that is when we all have to juggle other demands and pressures.