Originally from Germany, I have been living in Australia for the past 10 years.

I am a passionate mum of three wonderful kids, and face the challenges of this fast-paced and screen-dominated world that my kids are growing up in. But I think it’s important to allow them to slow down, live in the moment, and have time to play with their friends without rushing from one activity (or screen) to the next, and creating those childhood memories that they will never forget.

During the covid lockdowns, my kids started writing little notes to their friends. We would go for evening walks dropping them into their letterboxes. They had so much fun writing, drawing, and embellishing those little notes.

It reminded me of myself as a child filling in friendship books.

So, one evening, I sat down trying to find Australian friendship books. I couldn’t find any. I started asking my Australian friends and realised that the tradition of passing friendship books around your childhood friends doesn’t exist here as it does in Europe.

My own friendship books still accompany me to this day, and remind me of my happy childhood and those special friendships - some of them close friends to this day.

I think every child should have a friendship book! Growing up in this global world with my children being first-generation Aussies you never know where they will end up.