About Elaine Halligan
It’s lovely to welcome you, I’m Elaine. I’m a parenting coach, an author and a speaker. But first and foremost, I’m a mother. And it’s my parenting journey that led to where I am today.
I was in my late twenties when I had my first child.
When Sam reached the “terrible twos” things did indeed turn rather terrible and it felt like my world had been turned upside down. I never for one second thought that I would be shouting at my beautiful baby. And yet somehow I became “shouty Mummy”, resorting to using those tried and tested (and not particularly effective) techniques such as nagging, repeating, reminding and reprimanding.
In all honesty , I didn’t always enjoy being a mum in those early days. I found it bewildering and complicated. Too often I finished each day exhausted and overwhelmed, with an immense feeling of guilt that I was “getting it wrong”. Sam was impulsive, sensitive and intense, always in trouble at nursery and often labeled “the naughty one”. By the age of 7 our beautiful boy had been excluded from 3 schools and written off by everyone around him.
The New Approach
It was at this point I gave up my career in the city and met my former business partner Melissa Hood, the founder of The Parent Practice, and she was a transformative figure in our lives. Melissa became my parenting coach and our salvation as she trained me in positive parenting techniques, teaching me new skills about children and psychology. I knew instantly I had discovered my calling. By transforming myself and my approach, I was able to change our son, unlocking a world of positive parenting and simultaneously discovering a new and inspiring sense of purpose.
“Elaine, I can’t thank you enough for all your support. In hindsight, the ADHD diagnosis should have been obvious to all. Sadly, I think there are a lot of parents, like us, that just keep coping as best they can at such a high cost to their families. The Parent Practice has changed our lives though. So a big Thank you for being part of our lives.”
The transformation…
The results of the changes we made were revolutionary. Sam re-entered education, finishing school as Head Boy and is now a budding entrepreneur. Melissa and I worked together for 12 wonderful years, sharing powerful tools and techniques with thousands of parents all over the world to help them to create harmony in their own homes.
As the business recalibrated post COVID 19, I feel truly blessed to have the privilege of being able to continue the Parent Practice legacy, as Melissa pursues her studies and charitable parenting work in Sydney.
I’m not Wonder Woman or Super Nanny.
I’m not Mary Poppins or Nanny McPhee, I’m just me (and in essence, I’m probably you) and that’s what makes me different.
I’ve been in your shoes, I’ve been at the end of my tether wondering why my child is different and what I can do to support him. I’ve learned first hand the skills it takes not just to survive the struggle but to get to the other side and change the story.
It is my mission to create a happier future generation by sharing parenting strategies that will have an authentic impact, transforming challenging children into confident and contented children with my personal style and a positive approach.
CHANGING YOUR PARENTING STORY starts here.
“When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh
