Goldie Hawn webchat: Today - Monday 5 March, 1-2pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

It's not often we get Hollywood glamour gracing Mumsnet Towers but we're rolling the red carpet out on Monday lunchtime, 5 March, when we're joined by Goldie Hawn.

Her legendary Hollywood roles include Private Benjamin, The First Wives Club and Death Becomes Her. Her performance in the 1969 film, Cactus Flower, won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Goldie is visiting the UK to promote her book, 10 Mindful Minutes, and the launch of The Hawn Foundation in the UK.

The foundation has developed the MindUP programme to help children reach their full potential and aims to teach children how their minds work and how their thoughts and feelings affect their behaviour. The programme has been implemented in schools in the United States, Canada, Australia and, more recently, the UK.

Chat to Goldie live from 1-2pm on Monday 5 March, or post your question in advance here.

Thanks

Yay! Good choice! Thanks for answering!

Dear Goldie

As a neurologist I applaud the MindUp program. Do you find it useful to help children who have already developed tendencies for issues eg anxiety disorders, disruptive behaviour in autism etc? I note above you recommend starting early, so wondered if it still helps 'late arrivals'.

Yes I totally agree you have to have a healthy mind to be proactive. Mental illnesses need to be spoken about out loud publically. I'm a mother of 4 and with two of our children we experience their young minds with mental health problems daily. You really have to take one step at a time and to be proactively positive daily. Only then can you look forward to the the next week or the next month....we have got to the next year yet....but we are working through the list. I must congratulate you on being proactive talking about mental health issues. Its one of the hidden disabilities which can affect anyone so any celeb who can promote issues like these will always get my thumbs up. xx

@Looksgoodingravy

Hi Goldie

How can I make my school aware of MindUp or should they already have heard of this? What would you say to the Headteacher of my sons school to make her want to use MindUp?

Good question. And correct, knowing that all of our principles and headmasters need to buy into the idea that supporting well being in the classroom has brilliant results academically as well as their enjoyment and engagement in the classroom. All of our headmasters of our schools want better grades and test results. When a child feels happy, they are more productive and their brains are more ready for learning. This not only changes the culture of optimism in the school, but buys time for our stressed teacher to control their classroom, as well as control their own levels of stress. It's a win-win for all.

Ok, so, I'm an English teacher in France, I notcied that your programme has only been run in English speaking countries so far (ok so I'm making a presumption here about it not being in the French speaking parts of Canada), is there a reason for this other than practicality, and are there any plans to launch it in any other countries (here for example)?

Hi Goldie, :) if you culd only pass 3 bits of advice to your future generations of family, what would they be?

@champagnesupernova

Hello Goldie Thank you for coming on MN Hope Justine and Carrie have got lots of biscuits in

Two questions but they are related -
What is the best piece of advice you've been given?
And what is the best piece you have given yourself?

Also desperately want to ask a shallow question like "what has been your best Hollywood moment so far?" but trying to restrain myself

THANK YOU

The best piece of advice I've ever been given was by my father - he said 'Go, never stop appreciating a good glass of water.' And the best piece of advice I've given myself? Always appreciate a good glass of water.

spelling mistake while posting the fabulous Goldie

Goldie, Do you agree that the ideas have to start with the parents and teachers?

I see so many parents giving their kids a hard time - i don't mean abuse - i mean constant whinging and generally being a pain in the arse to their children and stressing them out totally - not letting them just get on with it (hope i've explained that ok).

I wonder if this is a new phenomenon as infant survival rates and other more pressing matters have lessened.

Champgnesupernova - great minds!

@palegirl

Dear Goldie

As a neurologist I applaud the MindUp program. Do you find it useful to help children who have already developed tendencies for issues eg anxiety disorders, disruptive behaviour in autism etc? I note above you recommend starting early, so wondered if it still helps 'late arrivals'.

This is actually a very important question, and one that needs to be researched, we have found it helpful with some cases of ADHD and autism, but a longitudinal study should be done at some point, to see if these methods will be helpful to some of these challenged children, even adults.

Apologies, it looks like it was a "his people met your people" type meeting. However it was enough to give him this.

"We are going to have another meeting to discuss how she might be able to help and influence education here."

the BBC quotes Gove in a piece titled "Goldie Hawn talks to Tories about setting up schools."

@PoohBearsHole

I have no question.

Well I do but I don't think it will get picked

Its my birthday, can Goldie say Happy Birthday?

Please?

P.s Private Benjamin, quite possibly my most favourite film ever. I thought it was the naughtiest film when I was a child but loved it, I loved it as a teenager and I loved it when I left school, I loved it at university and then when I moved to London on my own and can't believe I introduced it to my husband who had never ever seen it!!!!!! So fancied the French bloke.

And The Duchess and Dirtwater Fox...........
And The First Wives Club - kickass. Totally Kickass.

And I guess the question most asked, why haven't you and Kurt ever married? Is this part of the success to your relationship?

Actually MN Towers, can I just come and sit on the doorstep? (Or your autograph )

Happy Happy Birthday!

Hi Goldie!!!

I genuinely don't feel qualified to ask much about what seems to be excelent work in the area of children's mental growth, and so probably would ask something blindingly obvious! However, I'll take the plunge and ask how you interested in supporting this sort of thing?

Also, because I am a bit of a film buff, and am more than a little starstruck at the moment, can I ask you if there's any film, past or present, that you wish you had been in?

Finally thank you for making me laugh so much in Overboard, Private Benjamin, and Death Becomes Her - you certainly have contributed to my positive mental health over the years!

afternoon Ms Hawn

Mindfulness can to some degree stand for 'that which is remembered'.
Given that your second marriage produced two beautiful children, and given that you are also promoting a book (co-written with Wendy Holden) about helping children be stress-free and happy, can you describe how you ensured your children would not receive the fall-out that can stem from a failed relationship?

how you became interested, even! starstruckness has affected my ability to type....

I have I say I haven't ever participated in the Q&A's as there's never really been anything (or anyone) that's interested me, but I remember watching Private Benjamin as a kid and thinking finally a girl who doesn't fall over and need a man to save her, she can do the job by herself, I never understood all those other film when it was only ok when a man came along to sort it all out! I wish I could pass this attitude into my dd as she seems to think that she can't do things cos he's a girl ().

I think this kind of positivity has been a long time coming in the education system.

How do you respond to the cynics?

Goldie, would you feel compelled to intervene if you saw/heard a parent or other adult speaking to a child in an unneccesary way?

@TrinityRhino

I love you goldie.

What's the one best thing I can do to help my girls heal? They are 11,6 and 5 and lost their dad aug 2009.
And, if I can cheekily ask you another, what one thing could I do to help with my depression?

Thanks, you're fab

Sweetheart, you can help your girls heal by focusing on yourself and healing yourself. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of. Sadness happens, life isn't fair! However, if you're sad too long, you become depressed and this is something you don't want for your children. Developing a philosophy about life and death is important to do with your family and sharing and talking about it will help. Nothing should be kept under the rug. I would advise, with a full heart, for you to make your own journal of gratitude. ever day write 5 things that you are grateful for. Research has shown that this exercise alone can change how your brain processes things, and has actually gotten clinically depressed people out of their beds and into the world.

Ooh Goldie answered my question!

Thank you. That is great advice.
hopes that Goldie might also really want to answer my superficial question too

Thanks Goldie- great to hear.

Hope the team give you some chocolate chip biscuits :)

She's a girl not he's a girl (damn iPhone and fat fingers!)

Oh Wow, I'm swooning at work now as you answered my question, think I'll go for a lie down now and thank you

@scottishmummy

how did you warn kate how to avoid the casting couch and predatory males in la la land?

do you think one can teach happiness like a set of skills?can it really be reduced to components that ones hopes to imbue?

why did you name the charity after yourself, as opposed to supporting established uk charities?

Happiness can be taught. We're born with a set point of happiness. We now through research and study have found that our thoughts and behaviours can actually enhance our set point growing the ability to feel more optimistic and happier. Sounds rather scientific, and it is, but just by intending to be happy is a great start.

The Hawn foundation was founded in 2003. It is not singularly in the UK, it is in Australia, US, Canada, South America and now moving into Hong Kong. The Hawn foundation incubates programmes to enhance the well-being of our children, Mind Up for schools after school programmes and medical settings. Thank you for asking.