I have the privilege to conduct workshops at the Human Repair Shop. They did a Q&A style interview with me and have kindly allowed me to share it with you.

What’s your name, where were you born?

Susanne North. Born in Bonn, Germany. I migrated to Australia in 1995 due to my marriage to a man from Coogee. 

What are you passionate about?

Connecting people and enabling them to feel good about themselves and find joy and meaning in everything they do. Working with children and teaching them resilience, self-regulation and mindfulness skills.  

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to become the General Manager of a luxury European Hotel.  

What inspired you to become a parenting coach?

I had three little ones under three years of age. My entire support network and family were in Germany, and my husband was always travelling. Although they were the happiest times (and I often wish them back), it was also challenging and sometimes very lonely.  

At times, I was really stuck, and I had no idea what I was doing. So, I upskilled myself and trained in Early Childhood Education within the Rudolf-Steiner framework. I also became certified in many parenting programs that helped me to grow as a person, be the best parent I could be and support other mothers who were struggling.  

What is your philosophy or approach to creating harmony within a family?

Simplicity and Mindfulness. Simplifying family life to reduce overwhelm and unnecessary stress. When we simplify our lives, we create opportunities for meaningful connections, making positive memories, and being present to each other. When we bring more awareness and compassion to our parenting, we create powerful and loving bonds with each other. That’s half the battle, and everything else falls into place.  

What is a common stressor for families?

Lack of time. Too many activities. Too many external stimuli. Overwhelm. Society puts a lot of pressure on parents to ensure that their children succeed with the result that we are going on overdrive.  

The question is, however, what defines success? Someone who has it all yet suffers from poor mental health, or someone who is a kind, compassionate person who is resilient and healthy. The lack of time prevents us from having meaningful connections with our children and a disconnect to ourselves.  

Our bodies and minds experience continuous stress, which results in children having temper tantrums, poor mental health and parents feeling absolutely depleted. This can have a profound effect on our relationships with each other and our mental health. We run around on autopilot and miss life as it passes by.  

What specific areas of parenting/family coaching do you specialise in?

I offer a multifaceted and holistic approach from the disciplines of Positive Psychology, Mindfulness Practice, Neuroscience and Developmental Psychology that aims to support parents in raising resilient and well-adjusted children whilst also understanding the importance of looking after their own mental wellbeing.  

Mindfulness practice is at the core of all my coaching as it provides a framework that informs our parenting skills, our interactions with each other, our general wellbeing and approach to life.  

What are the most important things to you in life?

My family. My health. Being in nature. Water – Oceans, rivers, lakes. My books. Spirituality. My bike.  

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Being good enough is enough. Dial down the self-criticism and self-judgment. Trust yourself and have a go at things without worrying too much about the repercussions or the future.  

If you could choose one song to play every time you walked into a room, what would you choose and why?

I love music. Contemporary, classic, anything from the 80’s, Dire Straits and Supertramp. A song to play every time I walk into a room? This is really cheesy, but I love Nana Mouskouri’s Good Morning Sunshine song in German. It is the ultimate ‘Good Mood Song’, greeting every day with sunshine and joy – a sense of new beginnings and evoking many family memories in Germany.  

Best book you have read and why?

That’s a really tough question, as I love books. Here is my shortlist: Non-Fiction: Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson, The Awakened Women by Dr Tererai Trent. Fiction: Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner, German fairytales 

Who do you most admire in life? Why?

Sr Mary Shanahan MSC, OAM. Sr Shanahan is a Sister with the French Order of the Sacred Heart. Sr. Mary is in her 90s and one of the wisest women I have ever met. She is non-judgmental, kind, compassionate, an advocate for women and a discerning thinker with an incredible sense of equanimity and perspective. 

Published with thanks to Human Repair Shop – and now for a little Nana Mouskouri!