Practical parenting wisdom from your loving, caring, opinionated Big Sisters, Julia & Odette
Welcome
Parents, Guardians, and all adults supporting children and young adults
Why we created this space
Hey there, awesome parents and fellow life jugglers! 🌟
Allow us to introduce ourselves – the dynamic duo behind The Big Sisters Guide to Parenting! We’re on a mission to make the world a better place, one laugh, one heartfelt conversation, and one glass of wine at a time.
Between the two of us, we’ve got nine kids, two husbands, seven siblings and a dog. Yes, you read that right. That’s a lot of little (and not-so-little) humans relying on us for advice, support, and the occasional “What were you thinking?!” moment. We don’t claim to be the best big sisters, mums, or wives, but we sure as heck are doing our best!
Life is a beautiful, chaotic dance, and we’re here to share our steps with you. We wear many hats: good daughters, loving wives, loyal friends, competent cooks (most days), and all the other roles life throws our way. But here’s what we’ve learned: the best thing we can give the people around us is our time.
Our siblings often just need 10 minutes to be heard, to know someone’s really listening. As big sisters, we might get things wrong (okay, a lot of the time), but there’s something about being the older one that makes them look up to us. Maybe it’s the wisdom, or maybe it’s just that we’ve made all the mistakes first!
So here we are, sitting with our glasses of red wine, staring at to-do lists longer than all our siblings’ arms combined. And you know what we’ve realised? Sometimes, you just need to breathe. Pour another glass of wine, and remember that it will be easier tomorrow.
Join us on this wild ride as we navigate the ups and downs of parenting, sisterhood, and everything in between. Together, we’ll laugh, cry, and maybe even find a little peace in the chaos.
With love and a toast to all the amazing big sisters, mums, and multitasking superheroes out there!
The Proposal
Between us, we have nine kids, two husbands and one puppy.
We also have decades of experience in school leadership and corporate management.
We came together in the pursuit of supporting each of our kids, all of whom have different needs, aspirations, and goals.
Julia had already started Qualified Tutor, which is an organisation that supports tutors and the adults that support them. This inspired Odette to join her, with the same aspiration – to not only transform how tutoring was perceived and regulated, but help give a guiding hand to the parents that are anxiously and often frantically, searching for ways to support their own kids.
Coaching and mentoring tutors, and advising & supporting the parents in our community are the things that give us both the most joy.
Time to Get Inspired?
Find our articles, news, events, and stories below. This is a space curated just for you, as guardians and parents and all of those who support children & young adults in their development.
Want to be featured as an author or as a guest on our Learning Together: A Big Sister’s Guide to Your Child’s Educational Journey Podcast? We’d love to hear your story. Please contact Julia, here.
Tales from the Trenches
Real stories from parents, tutors, and teachers about overcoming educational challenges.
Village Voices
Expert interviews on topics like learning styles, special needs, and effective communication with teachers
Big Sister’s Advice
Practical, step-by-step guidance on understanding and supporting your child’s learning journey.
Parenting Pep Talks
Short, encouraging messages from Julia and Odette to keep you motivated and connected.
Looking for a Certified Tutor?
Discover the best certified tutors to support your child’s educational journey. Our free directory connects you with top-tier professionals dedicated to your child’s success.