Not only am I not all mad, I’m also not all Italian. I’m actually first generation Australian, born of Italian migrant parents.

That was a source of great confusion for me growing up. In fact, even as a young adult I remember feeling like I didn’t fit anywhere, either culturally or socially. It didn’t help that I also have ADHD, and didn’t know it at the time. I knew I was different though. And I knew that the world, especially back then, doesn’t really embrace different. Being different was once a source of embarrassment and shame, but now I love it.

As a young adult I was the first in my generation to complete a University Degree. The dreams and goals of my grandparents had finally been realised. 

Since graduating from University over 30 years ago, I’ve worked with families and children, and gained additional qualifications and certifications along the way. I’ve been fortunate to learn from top leaders and speakers in the fields of brain development, human behaviour, life coaching, and child development.

As much as these experiences all contributed to my personal development, it was becoming a parent that brought it all home for me. My friends around me were having babies and telling me how lucky I was that I knew so much about child development. Apparently parenting was going to be easy for me. Not so. No amount of training and experience with other people’s children can prepare one for parenthood. You’ll soon find out from my articles that I didn’t get off easy. Especially as I am a Creative Dreamer, as are both my children.

Parenting neurodiverse children has added so much valued experience and understanding to my work with parents and families. It’s also brought me a deeper understanding and appreciation of myself. It’s in being a parent, and wanting to be the best parent for my children, that I’ve learnt more about Life, Relationships, Faith, and Self Acceptance.

I’ve always loved to write, it’s my way of making sense of the world, of finding meaning. On these pages are my musings, my stories, my tears and laughter and everything in between. It’s my hope that through these musings and stories you will be inspired to find the Joy, Beauty, and Meaning in all of those everyday moments that make life great. Above all, it’s my hope that you will find a place of belonging and acceptance through shared experiences.

Why the Mad Italian? This was a term coined by my husband, long before we began dating. Yep, and I married him anyway. Read more here