Some parents move through life with an openness that invites both depth and honesty. Kyra is one of them. Living close to the ocean with her daughter Mars, her days are shaped by water, nature, work, and family life intertwined. In her words, she shares moments of humour, vulnerability, and reflection that reveal what it means to raise a child with awareness, softness, and strength.

Name / age / age of your kid

My name is Kyra Andrijich, I’m 35, and I share my world with my daughter, Mars Love, who is two and a bit, almost three. We always felt that with a big, powerful name like Mars - the god of war - we needed to soften it with something gentle. So love felt right.

What was your Wildride?

The first thing that comes to mind is my pregnancy. Oddly enough, even though I was sick and nauseous for most of it, it also somehow felt like the smoothest wild ride I’ve ever taken. I kept working all the way through, (and crazily expanded my little business with a newborn too but that’s another story). I work in the ocean, so there was something magical about being heavily pregnant in the water. The weightlessness, the quiet, the freedom… it all just held me. I remember stepping off the boat and back onto land, and only then would I waddle again. 

Tell us something about your hobbies, things you do with your kids, or a favorite daily moment

We live in a tiny town beside the World Heritage listed Ningaloo reef in Western Australia, so our life is naturally slow and simple. At least we try to keep it that way when Leon and I aren’t working. We’re often camping, and spend so much time on the water. Sandcastles at the beach, little hikes (always with my Wildride strapped on), and Mars loves coming on the stand-up paddle board with me. She’s even been known to fall asleep in my lap while we’re gliding along.

The last thing your child said that made you laugh

She truly cracks me up daily. Are Tiny Teddies a worldwide thing? Those little teddy-shaped cookies?
Well, Mars bit the ears off one and then shouted at it, “CAN YOU HEAR ME?!” Hilarious.

Best lifehack for kids

Teach them to take a deep breath. When the moment feels a little too big, we try to guide Mars to pause and breathe… just a few slow, deep breaths to soften the edges. It doesn’t always work (does anything with toddlers always work?), but we keep trying. And the sweetest part is watching her do it on her own sometimes, tiny shoulders rising and falling as she tries to calm herself. Seeing her reach for that tool without being asked feels like such a win.

Parent lies to get things done

Ooooh, I always say I won’t lie to her and then catch myself doing the classic parent “white lies” more often than I’d like to admit. Like freezing Greek yoghurt and confidently announcing it’s ice cream. And I’m not sure if it technically counts as a lie, but one of my favourite tricks is offering two fun choices that get the same result. If she’s suddenly laying on the supermarket floor, I’ll ask, “Would you like to hop like a bunny this way, or walk like a robot?” and off we go. It’s toddler magic.

Your go-to song for a fun walk or ride with your kid?

Well… my Spotify Wrapped just informed me that my “listening age” is 74 because I mostly listen to music from the late 60s haha. But lately, our favourite bop has been ’Monster Mash’. And most nights before bed we have a dance party, we love ’Shake Your Sillies Out’ the Lenny Pearse toddler techno version. It’s chaotic and perfect.

One thing you always carry since becoming a parent 

My camera. I love documenting our life. Not just on the phone, but properly. Mars already shows an interest in photography, and I can’t wait to buy her first real camera when she turns three. Every year I make photo books of our little life, and they always arrive just before Mother’s Day. I order four... one for her great grandma, one for each of her grandma’s, and one for us. It’s become a little family tradition I love.

Your best tip for lunch on the go

Snack boxes. For both Mars and I. Hummus, crackers and every fruit we can get our hands on. (We are both absolute fruit bats) 

What’s in your bag?

Aside from the obvious toddler snacks, water bottle, and spare knickers (for Mars, not me, although having both wouldn’t hurt *laughing*). I have suncream just in case we end up at the beach, often some shells we’ve handpicked. I always have our Wildride carrier on hand for those moments when her tiny legs suddenly “stop working” on the walk home, or when I need to dash into the shops with zero time. I also carry an ETTO tea tree balm that has become our family miracle balm. Her grazed knees. My dry lips... Even since the newborn days, of nappy rash and cradle cap, it’s been my most used everyday remedy.

Aside from those essentials, I like to keep a few magic tricks up my sleeve. I rotate between a Go Fish card deck and mini magnetic tiles to keep her entertained. Plus there’s always a secret sheet of stickers reserved for emergencies only (even if the “emergency” is me finishing a coffee with a friend). And my favourite thing in my bag? A camera. I love being able to catch the sweet, in-between moments of our day.

If you had a day off just for yourself, how would you spend it?

I’m lucky because I genuinely love my work in the ocean. That itself feels like a break for me. So it’s rare to have time that isn’t mothering or working. If I do get a window, I love booking a massage or lying on the beach without an umbrella for once. Although, let’s be honest… the last few times I’ve left Mars with Leon, I’ve ended up at my friends’ houses holding their babies anyway. Some habits die hard.

Something that surprised you most about parenthood

Honestly? The anxiety. I thought I was a pretty grounded person, so experiencing postnatal anxiety threw me completely. It didn’t arrive straight away, it hit around six months. One of my best friends went through child loss, and the world felt unbearably heavy. I felt a lot of guilt for being so lucky and still feeling so anxious. I’m grateful my partner was my rock through the whole thing. Calm, supportive, and steady. Online therapy helped, and time helped even more. Two years on, I wouldn’t say I have anxiety that interrupts my daily life anymore… just the kind that I think every parent carries (right?) tucked somewhere between all the love and fear…

One piece of advice you’d give to a new parent

If you’re one of the 80% of new mums who experience unwanted intrusive thoughts, please know this: it’s normal. It’s common. You are not alone. Talk about it with friends, with your partner, with a helpline if you need. You were born to do this. Trust your intuition, and lead with love.

You are not alone. Trust your intuition, and lead with love.

Your favorite spot for a mini adventure with your kid

Mars is getting to know the wildlife near our favourite camping spots. She’s convinced the bats are talking to her, and she firmly believes the local wallabies are her friends. It’s pretty special to watch the world from her view like that.

Your number one trick to get your child to fall asleep

Mars is still a little boob monster. I’ve been lucky with breastfeeding not that it’s always been easy but if I’m honest, a big part of why we’re still feeding is because I’m far too lazy to try anything except feeding her to sleep. It works, so… here we are.