Parenting is a rollercoaster, and for Brisbane mum Tegan, raising three energetic girls aged 4 to 9 as a solo parent comes with plenty of twists and turns.

She describes her life as a "24-hour comedy show," embracing the chaos with a positive outlook. But even with optimism, every parent needs support, especially while becoming a solo parent family.

Recognising this, Tegan turned to Triple P, completing Triple P Online twice and attending free seminars at her children's school. The expert guidance and accessible resources made a world of difference.

"Life is expensive! The cost of raising kids adds to the pressure, so free support is a real blessing," said Tegan.

"It's reassuring to know I can access expert parenting advice without worrying about the cost."

Building resilience and emotional wellbeing

One of the biggest challenges was supporting her daughters through a separation. Thanks to Triple P, she gained the confidence and resources to help them manage their emotions.

"I now feel they can better handle the social and mental hurdles that life throws their way," said Tegan.

"Triple P helped me understand that home is a safe space for children to express their emotions. If they're not allowed to process their feelings at home, they may act out in public or other less ideal situations," she explained.

By embracing expert guidance and focusing on positive parenting strategies, Tegan has strengthened her connection with her girls, ensuring they feel secure, supported, and ready to take on life's challenges.

Kids thrive on consistency

One of Tegan's favourite Triple P strategies is establishing routines.

"Triple P Online recommends having routines for kids as structure and certainty help to manage a child's anxiety and behaviours.

"As a single, working mum, I loved this strategy!" said Tegan.

"I can see how implementing routines has helped me and my kids in their day-to-day lives.

"For instance, I work full-time, so I get up very early and home late. I take my 4-year-old on the bus with me. It works well, as we're in a good, daily routine, and they know what's happening.

"I also love watching their resilience grow, as we juggle work, school and life! I am so proud of my girls," said Tegan.

Planning ahead

A Triple P tip that stood out to Tegan was how to have enjoyable outings with the kids.

"I liked Triple P's advice around preparing children to go places, such as going to a local shopping centre. We've all seen kids have meltdowns, so I feel this advice was very useful," said Tegan.

"I learnt how to tell my kids what to expect when we go out and to talk through the plan beforehand, so they feel comfortable. This approach really does help. They're more likely to cooperate when you ask them to listen or do something."

Tegan's top parenting tip: stay calm

"It's really important that we, as parents, stay calm for our kids," said Tegan.

"With Triple P, I learnt strategies on how to be calm, and I now feel more confident in handling challenging situations.

"I am also more consistent in my parenting, which has helped my girls know what is acceptable and what is not," said Tegan.

"Being consistent makes things way less stressful, too. I recommend giving Triple P a go!"

Triple P Online provides proven strategies to help you confidently handle challenging behaviour and grow strong relationships.

If you're going through a separation or divorce, learn how to support your child and their emotions with our free online program, Family Transitions Triple P Online.