Just ask Justine

Stay at home Mum does NOT equal servant!

Justine Davies Belinda wants some tips on how to stop her friends treating her like a doormat.

Just ask Justine

How do you create the ideal work/life balance?

Justine Davies Just Ask Justine: JD wants some tips on how to combine work and children and keep everyone happy.

Scared of adoption

Justine Davies How important is biology? Does it really make a difference to the way that you bond with your baby?

Just ask Justine

Help! My friend feeds my kid junk

Justine Davies I sometimes take my daughter to McDonalds – but when I do it’s a treat. I don’t want her eating fast food for lunch twice a week.

Just ask Justine

Who's best for families - Labor or Liberal?

Justine Davies If I have a baby next year will I be financially better off by voting for Kevin Rudd or Tony Abbott?

Just ask Justine

I’m too scared to have IVF – help!

Justine Davies DH and I have one child and we have been trying to fall pregnant again for the last three years. We’ve run through the series of “natural” therapies such as acupuncture, diet, herbal additives and so on and now we are looking down the barrel of giving IVF a go.

Just ask Justine

Co-sleeping with baby – and dog?

Justine Davies My husband and I are expecting our first baby in a couple of months. We are going to co-sleep with her for at least the first six months as I believe that is the most natural and best way for her to feel safe and to bond with us. However our beloved family dog also sleeps on our bed. What should we do?

Just ask Justine

I don't trust my friend's husband

Justine Davies My daughter is eight and one of her best little friends at school lives just a few streets away and often comes over to our house after school for a play. The friend’s mother is lovely too and often invites my daughter over to their house to play as well. I do let her go sometimes, but often find myself making excuses, because for some unexplainable reason I just don’t trust her husband. What should I do?

Just ask Justine

I want my kids to be vegetarian

Justine Davies I have recently decided to become a vegetarian (ethical reasons, not health). I’ve been unhappy about the whole eating meat thing for a while now so it’s a decision that I’m very comfortable with. Ideally I’d like my whole family to become vegetarian as well, but my husband won’t have a bar of it. What do I do?

How to get rid of an unwanted "friend"

Justine Davies A friend from daycare is treating me like an unpaid nanny for her son. How do I get her to back off without being nasty?

Just ask Justine

We don't want kids at our party

Justine Davies DH's 40th birthday party will be dressy, catered formal party. We sent out the invites with a “no children” request, but my friend is really offended.

Just ask Justine

Public or Private Hospital for the birth: WDYT?

Justine Davies I could be several thousand dollars out of pocket by going private – money that I could otherwise use for my maternity leave. Is it really worth that cost or should I think about going public instead?

Just ask Justine

Could my son be gay?

Justine Davies He has always been a very gentle kid and prefers playing with his sister’s dolls house and dress ups than kicking a ball. DH worries that he will get picked on at school as he gets older.

Just ask Justine

Piercing my three-year-old's ears?

Justine Davies Apart from the risk of infection, which is a risk at any age, there is also a higher risk with young children that they could tear their earlobe.

Just ask Justine

Is 22 too young to be a Mum?

Justine Davies DH isn’t sure. He thinks we should buy a house first and he also worries that none of our friends have kids yet or are probably even close to starting a family.

Just ask Justine

Private to public: should my son change schools?

Justine Davies DH says if he wants to go to the public school he can, but I’m resisting the idea. Not that the state school is bad, but I think that he’d get a better education at the private school.

Just ask Justine

Should I hire a nanny or a 'manny'?

Justine Davies My issue is that out of the potential nannies that I’ve interviewed, the one that I like the most is a male! I don’t know whether having a “Manny” is a good idea?

Just ask Justine

Sex, Birth & Videotape

Justine Davies My hubby recently bought a new digital video recorder so that we can record our daughter’s development over the years on film. All good. He’s now decided though that he also wants to videotape the birth.

Just ask Justine

Eeeek – I don't want their son living with us!

Justine Davies A couple of months ago friends asked us if we would be guardian for their son if something happened to them

Just ask Justine

I’m a single mum with a new boyfriend. Should I let him sleep over?

Justine Davies It’s a tricky predicament – the roles of sex goddess and Mum aren’t all that easy to combine.

Just ask Justine

I'm 'accidentally' pregnant

Justine Davies I have a problem that I hope your members can help me with. I guess you could call it a “miscommunication” – and now I don’t know what to do.