Maggie’s Spiritual Side

Speaks to the Hearts of Mothers

By Tammie Pike

AN INTIMATE CHAT WITH THIS WAYSHOWER REVEALS THE INNER WORK NEEDED OF US AS MOTHERS IN ORDER TO CREATE THE OUTER CHANGE OUR CHILDREN REQUIRE IN THE WORLD.

What many may not know about this incredible woman, who has been educating children and parents for over 30 years now, is that she has been rebelling against a system and society that has been supressing and stressing children, teenagers and adults for decades. It took for Maggie to be brave enough to embark on her own personal, professional and spiritual journey, in order to impact millions of others around the world.

“I have a really weird spiritual side to me,” Maggie opened up. When Maggie shared this, I was surprised and delighted as I believe that many of the greatest and most successful women in the world have a deeper spiritual connection to themselves and the Universe. Further, that such changemakers tend to believe in a Higher Power, live by the highest good for themselves and others, and most importantly trust their intuition. This spiritual backbone has enabled Maggie to use her femininity to create a thriving business that flows and will leave a legacy for decades to come.

It hasn’t been a simple path for Maggie who has overcome many challenges along her journey as a mother, grandmother and entrepreneur. She is quite honest when sharing, “There are stumbles along the way. If you’ve done your work, you’ll get back up, brush the dust off and go, ‘I’ve got this! I can, I can do this!’” Maggie believes that being a persistent Have-a-Goer, a Never-Giver-Upper, is exactly the kind of attitude that will get you where you aspire to be. It’s evident Maggie has lived life and business by this philosophy.

Fans may or may not know that Maggie was a teacher for many years. In 1998 she had, had enough of witnessing students fall apart under the stress, pressure and expectations placed on them by the society and schooling system. She was done with the structure that was failing her students. Maggie was already pushing boundaries within the educational system as a teacher, as she dared to teach differently and focused more on the student’s health and mental wellbeing. However, like so many teachers today, Maggie still felt too restricted. In a moment of clarity, Maggie knew she wanted more than anything to be able to do something that allowed her to be the most exceptional teacher.

Coming home from the training in the US, Maggie wasn’t just juggling being a single mother to four energetic boys. On top of full-time teaching, she was also working as a suicide prevention counsellor and a funeral celebrant who was constantly booked out. She was restless for change, and at that point, another of Maggie’s life-defining choices was about to be made.

It is never too late to make changes. And you are never too old to follow your dreams.

Like many women starting their own business, Maggie experienced the dreaded Imposter Syndrome, a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their skills, talents or accomplishments and has a persistent internalised fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. This was financially draining for Maggie as she wasn’t charging what she rightfully deserved for her time and services. Tenaciously, Maggie kept going. She put one foot in front of the next and kept giving her business a good go and never gave up. Each step of the way, Maggie said she was supported by her Highest Self, her intuition and the support of ‘something more’. Maggie desperately wanted to share this message with all mums, “You’ve got to trust this silent, beautiful guide within you, your Highest Self, who is constantly giving you clues. It’s the same voice that the ego so desperately wants to shut down!”

Maggie’s work is much more than parenting advice. She is creating awareness about topics that society finds taboo, such as the effects of porn on young males; how to help boys cultivate healthy and intimate relationships; how to help them cope with failure and recover from the effects of a society that places unnecessary stress on them. Maggie is also currently focused on creating change in the education system which has not yet been met with open arms. However, she remains passionate about bringing awareness to Australia at large on the outdatedness of the current education system, and how it is currently failing our children.

Make sure to connect with this incredible woman, who has been leading the way for many, for many years. Experience for yourself the ‘permission’ to not have to be perfect or get ‘it’ right all the time. Instead, be guided back to the reality of your humanness, your magic and the life you can create as a woman, mother and Business Owner!

It is never too late to make changes. And you are never too old to follow your dreams. Maggie Dent

Commonly known as the “queen of common sense”, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience. Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention.

Maggie is an advocate for the healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. She is a passionate, positive voice for children of all ages.

Now an in-demand writer and speaker, Maggie is a regular contributor to Fairfax’s Essential Kids website and she can often be heard on commercial and ABC radio around the country including Nova 937. She also appears on national TV programs. Maggie is the host of the ABC’s Parental As Anything podcast. She is the author of six major books, including her bestselling 2018 release Mothering Our Boys.

Maggie has also authored several smaller books and e-books, and is a prolific creator of resources for parents, adolescents, teachers, educators and others who are interested in quietly improving their lives. Maggie is the proud mother of four wonderful sons, and an enthusiastic and grateful grandmother. She lives in the South Coast region of NSW with her good bloke Steve Mountain and their dear little dog, Mr Hugo Walter Dent.

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“As a child advocate and author in the United States, I’ve long admired Maggie’s work not just for her unmistakable wit but also her insights and practical strategies that resonate with both brain science and common sense… When Maggie speaks I love to listen!”

– Dr Michael Gurian, New York Times bestselling author, including Saving Our Sons and The Stone Boys