20 Questions With... Lisa

1. How old were you when your first child was born? 30
2. What gender/age are your children? Boy 13 years old, Boy 9 years old.
3. Will you be having more children? No
4. Where do you live? Morley Perth
5. Why is where you live good for your family? Extremely Central, we are 20mins from anywhere we like to go (excluding long distance trips)
6. How would you describe your parenting style? Relaxed with a control freak edge
7. If people saw you in the street, how would they describe you? Unapproachable
8. What’s the best piece of parenting advice you got? Have discipline locked in before they are 2 years old or you will have left it too late.
9. If you met someone else with children the same age as yours, what would you be talking about? The impact of the internet on children.
10. What is the stupidest thing anyone said to you as a parent? My four year old was called a bully for a playground indiscretion, he was 4.
11. Can you share your favourite restaurant for families?  Fasta Pasta
12. What is one sentence you never thought you’d say? Turn that s@#t down – my parents said it and I had hoped I would be cooler than that, but really techno – that’s not music.
13. Tell us something quirky about your children.  At ages 12 and 8 on our last family holiday they both packed their teddy bears. 
14. What is the best thing about being a parent? The ability to love something unconditionally, the cuddles, the smiles, the knowledge that I made that and that they are my life’s greatest work.  Pretty proud of how the blank canvas has developed into a beautiful piece of artwork that evolves daily.
15. What is the worst thing about being a parent? Having to play the Bad Cop and worrying about the influence other people have over your child in regard to peer pressure.
16. What did you do before you had children? Self Employed Caretaker
17. How have your own parents influenced how you parent? I parent almost exactly the same way, my Brother and I turned out pretty okay.
18. What’s one thing people might not know about you? I would love to buy and renovate homes to sell for a living.  I really enjoy a bit of DIY.
19. Describe your favourite parenting moment.  When my kids think ahead and pre-empt my next move, its refreshing that they have the ability to stay one step ahead of the thought process, its a valuable skill.
20. Where do you see yourself in five years? Celebrating my eldest child’s 18^th birthday and graduation from high school with a trip to my homeland, New Zealand, hopefully working less and more financially secure.