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Letters From HomeAuthor: Amanda Ferrari
Welcome to Letters from Home, a podcast dedicated to Australian boarding families. Hosted by Amanda Ferrari, the show explores all aspects of boarding life - from packing for the first time to life as a boarder & beyond. Amanda interviews graduates who share how boarding shaped their lives, with families about their journey to and through boarding school, speaks with schools about their unique programs, & hosts an annual "Nailing Homesickness" miniseries to help new boarders. Our podcast is essential listening for boarding families and staff, we welcome your feedback, reviews, & ratings. Language: en-au Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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After the Drop-Off - What Term 1 Really Feels Like (and Why It’s Normal) & What to Expect for Term 2: with Kirsty Wiggins
Episode 19
Thursday, 23 April, 2026
Over the next few weeks, while we’re out on the road for our face-to-face Boarding Schools Expo events, we’re opening up the vault and sharing some of our favourite past episodes with you - conversations that still hold so much value for families researching, preparing for, or living through the boarding school journey.This week’s past episode is a really special one.Many of you will remember the beautiful conversation I recorded with my friend Kirsty Wiggins early last year about the grief that can come with the boarding school drop-off. It struck such a chord with listeners because it gave language to feelings so many parents carry quietly - the sadness, the worry, the ache of sending a child away, even when you know it is the right thing to do.This follow-up conversation was recorded at the end of Term 1 last year, and that is exactly why it feels so timely to revisit now. By this point in the year, the dust has settled a little and the reality of boarding life has started to show itself. Kirsty speaks with such warmth, honesty and generosity about what that first term can really feel like for kids and parents alike.We talk about how exhausting that first term can be, the pressure of new routines and expectations, the challenge of living in a busy shared environment, and the way some children come home carrying more than they can easily express. There is so much gold here, especially for families who are new to boarding school and still making sense of what their child might be feeling.It is practical, reassuring and deeply real.If you are looking for a conversation that reminds you to go softly, stay connected, and be that soft place to land, this one is well worth your time.
