Check in on your mates. Check in on your kids.

To my fellow parents who’ve been brave enough to let their kids go to boarding school and the parents whose babies are just starting big school— I see you. I feel you. I was and I am you.

Sending my boys away was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Nothing prepares you for that drop-off. That drive home. The silence in the ute. The empty rooms. The tears that still come, even now.

And the hole they leave behind on the farm… because let’s be honest — our kids aren’t just our kids, they’re our helpers, our sidekicks, our extra hands, our shadows. That void is real.

I don’t regret the life skills they’ve gained. I don’t regret the way their eyes have been opened to the world beyond the gate. Those experiences matter — and they’ve grown because of them.

But loving the growth doesn’t make the pain disappear.

The distance makes everything harder.

The worry feels heavier.

And the trust we place in schools to look after our children is enormous — it should never be taken lightly.

And here’s the hard truth that no one likes to say out loud…

Not every child gets treated the same.

Favourites exist.

Different rules for different kids still happen.

And yes — sometimes money, status, and family names change outcomes.

There, I said it. The elephant in the room.

I’ve seen the best teachers — absolute gold-standard humans who change kids’ lives for the better. My own family has incredible educators in it, and my boys have had some amazing ones too.

But I’ve also seen the other side — where issues are brushed off, “one in all in” rules become excuses, and real problems get passed along instead of dealt with. Where bullying isn’t always handled properly. Where kids get labelled instead of protected.

And that’s something I still struggle with.

So, this is your reminder today:

Check on your mates.

Check on your kids.

Trust your gut.

If your heart says something isn’t right — don’t ignore it.

If your child says it’s not okay — it’s not okay.

Stand up. Speak up. Advocate. Even when it’s uncomfortable.

Because the same rubbish happens in the adult world too — and we don’t fix it by staying quiet.

From one rural mum to another — loving our kids sometimes means letting them go, and sometimes it means standing in front of them like a shield.

Both take strength.

Both take courage.

Both matter.

You’re not weak for struggling.

You’re not dramatic for caring.

And you’re not alone in this.

Check in on your mates.

Check in on your kids.

And don’t ever feel bad for being the mum who fights for them.

Cheers, your mate Katie – A mum of two teenage farm boys who loves them more than life itself.