Hello Wentyl,

Hope you’re having a relaxing Easter despite the growing uncertainty of this time. It’s hard not to feel anxious about the global situation and its impact on our daily lives, isn’t it? 

There’s no doubt it’s having an impact on our kids. A teacher friend was telling me he gave out camp notices to his year 6 kids this week. The usual reaction from students is joy and excitement. But this time it was different.

“They were all like old people, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Oh, how are we going to be able to afford this?’ These are 12-year-olds and they already have the weight of the world on their shoulders."

So this weekend, we hope to give you some wonderful stories to take your mind off the price of groceries – not to mention Easter eggs – and the availability of petrol.

Mary Papadakis’ piece on the excruciating ordeal of ordering canteen lunches in 2026 perfectly reflects our changing times – the convoluted apps are a far cry from the brown paper bags with coins used for lunch orders when I was young.

She’s also written about the appalling epidemic of violence faced by school principals, the push from parents for blazers to be replaced by sporty uniforms and how frustrated teachers get at the number of kids in middle and upper primary who still can’t tie their shoelaces ... not a problem experienced by Alannah, 7, (pictured below) who's keen to teach her sister Isabelle, 5.

Darcy Fitzgerald looked at a litany of appalling childcare failures exposed in a federal report and the impact of a 10-year funding freeze that’s stopping kids with additional needs from accessing childcare. 

We also present a full national list of disability funding received by private schools and tips to make sure your child is getting their fair share, as well as a fascinating column from psychologist Clare Rowe, who laments the rise of the anxious parent.

Little wonder many of us are taking comfort in the past ... so to finish on a lighter note, I hope you enjoy my piece about living in the ‘90s. It’s my response to the viral meme: “Mum, what did you look like in the ‘90s?” Were the ‘90s the last great decade to be young? Let us know!