Then, when that baby becomes a toddler, and another little one arrives, the foundations shift again, creating an entirely new rhythm.
Rachel Fulton and Will Buckley found the birth of their second son to be a smoother experience, thanks in part to a program for new parents.
Family Foundations, a research-backed initiative, aims to strengthen families during the crucial early years of a child’s life, providing essential support to navigate the challenges of raising young children.
The program is designed to be flexible for mothers, fathers, grandparents and other relatives involved in raising children, whether they live together or co-parent from separate homes.
It consists of 10 sessions that focus on developing skills to manage daily stress and maintain strong family relationships.
Participants, such as Ms Fulton and Mr Buckley, parents of Miles, 2, and Owen, four months, have found it to be transformative.
“It’s polished some of the tools that we already had and given us new ones,” Ms Fulton said.
“Two kids is hard, and we’ve had to have some discussions, and we’ve been able to use some of what we’ve learned to have our hard discussions.”
Mr Buckley agreed, noting the valuable coping skills that promoted mutual support.
“It’s made me think more consciously about what we do and say in front of our children and how we approach our two-year-old when he’s misbehaving,” he said.
Pennsylvania State University developed the Family Foundations program, which has been customised for Australian families by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne.
In Shepparton, the program is delivered by The Bridge Youth Service and is aimed at those expecting a baby or with children under 12 months of age.
“This program is open to parents and caregivers of all ages, extending our support beyond the youth demographic we typically serve,” program lead Stephen Hunter said.
“Our mission is to help parents and caregivers strengthen their relationships as a parenting team, laying a solid foundation for raising children in a nurturing and happy environment.”
One of the program’s standout features is its accessibility.
It is offered free of charge and provides flexible delivery options to accommodate the busy lives of families.
Ms Fulton valued the program’s supportive nature.
Even more so, she appreciated the friendly, non-judgmental atmosphere created by the facilitators, which allowed her to express her feelings, learn alongside her partner and ultimately feel better.
“Some of the things we’re learning are reassuring us that we’re doing an okay job,” she said.
For more information or to register for the Family Foundations program, contact program lead Stephen Hunter on 5831 2390 or familyfoundations@thebridge.org.au
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