Manchester City remain on track to qualify for next season's Champions League after winning at Everton with two late goals. An uninspiring contest looked to be heading for a drab draw before being brought to life with six minutes remaining when young full-back Nico O'Reilly stole in from close range to convert Matheus Nunes' cutback. Substitute Mateo Kovacic added a second in injury time on the stretch as Pep Guardiola's men climbed to fourth in the table, four points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, who face neighbours Fulham on Sunday. The first half was often flat and made for a poor spectacle, with Everton's best chance going the way of centre-back James Tarkowski, who rose highest to James Garner's corner and flicked a header against the post. On the stroke of half-time, City could have gone ahead with a rapid break forward but Kevin de Bruyne saw his goalbound strike brilliantly cleared off the line by Jake O'Brien's diving header. Savinho's low drive was kept out by Jordan Pickford's sharp save in the second period, before City had the final say. City have competed in Europe's elite club competition for 14 consecutive seasons - but with the clock on 84 minutes at Goodison Park, that sequence was under real threat. Then came the rally for a monumental victory in the context of their season. They host in-form Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday and the result there may well go a long way to ensuring City's status in the top echelon of the European club game next season. Guardiola's side have dominated English football by winning four titles in a row - the only club to achieve that feat - but their long stranglehold on the trophy is about to end, and will do so as early as Sunday if Arsenal lose to Ipswich and Liverpool beat Leicester. City have had a long injury list to contend with this season and there was a real lack of quality on show in the final third at Goodison Park, with youngster O'Reilly and Kovacic needed to bail them out. Ilkay Gundogan made Pickford work with a rasping strike straight at the goalkeeper, but the 34-year-old was on the periphery of the game and has made little impact since returning to the club from Barcelona. De Bruyne was the star man against Crystal Palace last time out but the 33-year-old is into his final few games as a City player before he leaves the club this summer. The Belgian has suffered injuries and his waning influence was often evident against Everton with miskicks and miscued passes in the final third. But they left Goodison Park for the final time having won their last eight Premier League games here against Everton and stretching their top-flight run to five unbeaten games at the right time of the campaign. Everton, in the midst of a run where they face five of the league's top six, looked to be heading for another excellent result but for City's late show. The Toffees picked up an impressive late win at Nottingham Forest last Saturday, but were on the receiving end of two goals in the dying minutes here. David Moyes suffered just his third defeat since returning as boss in January, but has now gone 16 games without winning against City. His team had their chances, having frustrated their opponents for long periods. Jarrad Branthwaite's looped header was clawed out by Stefan Ortega and Abdoulaye Doucoure's strike from the angle was pushed away by the City stand-in goalkeeper. Tarkowski came closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts when hitting the woodwork, but the defender hobbled off in the opening period with an apparent hamstring injury. The centre-back has started 111 consecutive games for Everton, three short of the outfield record held by Wayne Bridge, and he only has a week to recover before their next game at Chelsea on Saturday.

The journey to effective coparenting goes beyond practical arrangements alone; it also challenges deep-rooted cultural values and expectations. As society continues to evolve, so does the potential for parents to collaborate across the divides of separation for the benefit of their children and the community at large. Challenges with coparenting in some cultures stem from a complex interplay of cultural norms, societal expectations, religious values, gender roles, judicial systems, behaviours, and communication patterns. Understanding cultural and societal factors helps create supportive environments where parents can prioritise their children’s well-being. Respectful and effective collaboration in coparenting benefits both children and parents. Healthy relationships Positive coparenting provides children with a valuable example of how to maintain respectful and constructive relationships, even in challenging circumstances. When parents demonstrate healthy communication, mutual respect, and effective conflict resolution, children learn that differences can be managed without hostility or resentment. When children observe their parents’ positive behaviour, they are more likely to become empathetic and emotionally regulated, which helps them form healthy and respectful relationships as adults in their own personal lives. When children observe that their parents can cooperate peacefully after their separation or divorce, it gives them a sense of stability, knowing that their parents can still support each other despite the situation. This reassuring environment reduces anxiety, distress, and potential behavioural issues, leaving children feeling secure and emotionally stable. Consistent rules and boundaries When separated or divorced parents maintain consistent rules, expectations, and discipline across their different homes, children benefit from a stable and predictable environment irrespective of their routines. Consistency helps children feel secure because they know what to expect from both parents, which helps reduce confusion and manipulation. It also helps them become more responsible, accountable, and emotionally secure. Stronger parent/ child relationships When parents support each other’s roles, children develop healthier, more secure relationships with both parents, which further reduces loyalty conflicts and helps children feel loved and connected. This can also boost children’s trust and emotional well-being. Positive coparenting reduces conflict and stress between parents, making daily parenting smoother and more manageable. This creates a calmer environment for children and allows parents to be more emotionally supportive. Better communication Positive coparenting encourages open, respectful, and purposeful communication between parents. When parents are committed to working together, they are more likely to manage conflicts constructively rather than through hostility or by playing the blame game. Effective coparenting communication fosters mutual understanding and helps parents make informed decisions. It also models healthy conflict resolution, teaching children how to manage disagreements with respect and calm. Boost positive mental health Positive coparenting improves emotional well-being by reducing conflict and promoting respectful communication, which lowers stress and helps parents manage parenting, maintain healthy routines, and support personal growth. Sharing responsibilities and making decisions collaboratively can reduce feelings of overwhelm and the pressure of parenting alone. Emotionally healthy parents bring patience, responsiveness, and consistency to parenting, reinforcing family bonds and fostering a nurturing environment for everyone. Parents are more likely to enjoy their time with their children, feel fulfilled in their role, and maintain a more positive relationship even after a separation or divorce.

This was a message that someone sent to me recently: ‘’Although we didn’t have the best of relationships when I was her apprentice, I have maintained a close relationship with my former boss. I am the one she often calls whenever she needs something to be done for her.  “It’s not always easy to oblige her due to my own busy schedule, but I have never turned her down. There were about nine of us who passed through her tutelage in those days. But I am not sure those of us who still keep in touch with her are up to three. “She was very hard on us in those days, but she is also a very kind person. Some of us who could have dropped out of the apprenticeship due to hardship (lack of transportation fare and inability to afford accommodation nearby) were accommodated in her house, without complaints. “ I was among those who eventually moved in with her. I learned a few things about her while living with her. One of such is that she does not use a bathroom that she is not satisfied with the hygienic condition. “In fact, no matter how late or tired she is from work, once she comes home and does not like the state of the bathroom, she will start washing it, just to be able to use it. “She travelled recently, and because we were communicating while she was away, she told me when she was coming back, and I promised to deliver lunch to her.  The reason I made the offer is that she lives alone now. Besides, she is not the type who likes to eat what other people cook, but she loves my food a lot. “Occasionally, I make stew and soup and send them to her. When I got to her house to deliver the food, I was not surprised when she came out of the bathroom. She told me that she was cleaning it. I didn’t have the mind to drop the food and leave, so I offered to help her. And she did not object. “I stepped into the bathroom and began to clean it. But something remarkable happened. She had already washed the bathroom halfway by the time we finished talking, and I took over, so the residue from the soapsuds had already formed a pattern on the surface of the bathtub. “But what you won’t believe is that, that pattern on the bathtub gave me an idea for the design of a fabric that a client brought to me, which I had been struggling with. I didn’t tell her what had just happened to me because I could not believe it myself, but she must have noticed that I left her place in a different state. “That design was a major boost to my brand because it brought me so much patronage from online views and referrals. When I told her about the inspiration that happened to me in her bathroom, she just laughed. “Our relationship was rocky at the beginning, but I see now that it’s because she saw something special in me and had to be very hard on me to bring out the best in me.  “I appreciate her even more now. Her prayers over my life soothe my spirit. And I am particularly grateful that I did not listen to those who advised me (in the past) to cut ties with her so that my destiny is not spiritually jeopardised. “She always tells me how very proud of me she is. And I know why. None of the other ladies who took up apprenticeship under her is doing better than me in this field. Some of them have gone into other endeavours, though.’’ From Oby… What I have found to be consistent with successful people (fulfilled and joyful) is that they maintain ties with their source (parents, relations, community, friends, teachers, benefactors, mentors, etc.). So, when people are grappling with a certain void in their lives, I do not hesitate to ask them to examine their relationship with these sources. A source is the channel through which your life has been impacted profoundly. Apart from God, who is the overall source, there are human sources through whom your life found its path. Human sources are not flawless, but anybody through whom your life has been touched positively deserves appreciation, generosity and humility from you, whenever you look back. You can’t resent or cut off a source; you should nurture and experience joy or fulfilment in the long run. Always find a way to pay it forward, too. When you can afford to look back just to appreciate or give back and not to prove a point, you have a noble spirit. And joy and fulfilment will not be far from you.