Back
49 days ago

The Supermarket Tantrum

Mel W from Restorying Journey

It happened in the middle of the supermarket.
My child wanted the blue lollipop, not the red one. Then — the tears, the screams, the looks from strangers. 😔

For a moment, I felt my own body tense — embarrassed, frustrated, helpless.
Then I took a deep breath. 🌬️
I knelt down and whispered, “You’re safe. I can see you’re really upset.”
He kept crying… but softer. His little body started to melt in my arms.
In that moment, I realised: he wasn’t trying to make a scene — he was overwhelmed.
And what he needed most wasn’t control or correction — it was connection. 🤍
Later, we talked about it. We named the feelings, and he told me, “I was mad because I really wanted that blue one.” Simple words, but powerful honesty.
Parenting isn’t about perfection. It’s about staying calm enough to show our children what safety feels like — even when the world is watching. 🌱

Image
More messages from your neighbours
3 hours ago

Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”

We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?

Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.

Image
Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
  • 39.4% Yes
    39.4% Complete
  • 33.3% Maybe?
    33.3% Complete
  • 27.3% No
    27.3% Complete
165 votes
6 days ago

Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?

(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

Image
7 days ago

Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.

Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔

Image
Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
  • 72.7% We work hard, we deserve a break!
    72.7% Complete
  • 15.9% Hmm, maybe?
    15.9% Complete
  • 11.4% Yes!
    11.4% Complete
1275 votes