About Mary Willow

Founder, author, mentor

After 35 years of working as a nurse, midwife and early childhood teacher I saw a great need for a one-on-one service to provide education and mentoring for parents. In response, I founded a parent support service, Plum Parenting, and since 2007 have developed unique skills and methods which are proving to be enormously helpful to parents, whānau/extended family, caregivers, teachers and all professionals in the field of child support. 

These 20 years of experience have culminated in my book Breaking Through - How to Rescue Childhood and Heal the Parent-Child Relationship, to be released on June 1st 2026 by Bateman Books New Zealand.

Updates will be published to this website and the Plum Parenting Facebook and Instagram pages.

Experience & qualifications

• Parent Mentoring since 2007

• Lecturing on Child Development and Parenting Topics

• Teaching in Kindergartens and Early Childhood Programs

• Facilitating Playgroups

• Co-ordinating Parent Education Programs

• Teaching Prenatal Programs

• Midwifery: involved in legalising midwifery in Canada and creating a pioneering community midwifery service

• General Nursing in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada.

• Management of Therapeutic and Medical Clinics

• Parenting