I am a Mother to two boys; Adam and Liam aged aged 7 and 4 years. I grew up on a farm in Ireland, have been married to Jerry and lived in the Southend area for the last 14 years. I have successfully used relaxation techniques and positive affirmations both personally and professionally as an Occupational Therapist.

Adam suffered from croup as a baby. When he was 3¾ yrs old he again suffered another episode of croup. I sensed he was worrying about not being able to breathe and this was worsening his croup symptoms, which very quickly became a vicious circle. This resulted in a visit from the Paramedics. Weeks later he still didn’t want to sleep alone, and if he coughed at all he became nervous and upset. I heard about Relax Kids and with Christmas approaching…a letter from Father Christmas with an Advent Calendar and a Relax Kids ‘Magical Meditation for Superheroes’ CD arrived!!! We listened to a few relaxation tracks from the CD together and then he listened to the CD as he was going to sleep. This made a huge improvement to all our lives; within days Adam was sleeping in his own bed and generally felt much happier.

I have been an OT for 16 years and I’ve worked with numerous people who suffer with adult anxiety and low self esteem issues. I use relaxation techniques and positive affirmations as a very rewarding and powerful treatment approach. Over the years, Clients have often asked, “Why wasn’t I taught these skills at school?” As a Mum, I was relieved to find a child friendly product that followed a similar approach which I could use instantly.

When Adam started school he initially found the lunchtime hour lonely and had a little cry on the first day. Since then he’s had a Star Card in his lunch box and this reminds him he is “A…happy/super/helpful/loving/friendly.... Star”, which he loves and helps him to feel more confident. Liam, aged 2, liked the DVD relaxations and we both enjoyed curling up on the sofa and having some quiet time together.

Personally, I feel in today’s society children are under pressure from an early age and are required to achieve many goals. Although some of these are necessary, a balance is important and the Relax Kids classes and products can help obtain and nurture a healthier approach to life. I know my own sons and friend’s children have benefited greatly from learning and incorporating relaxation skills into their lives. It has helped them feel more secure, confident and enabled them to develop positive ways to cope with challenging situations. I find relaxing with my children fun and feel it’s enhancing to our relationship and our general well-being.