Fitness influencer and entrepreneur Kayla Itsines has sparked a major conversation online after sharing a candid and relatable story about handling a dispute between her two young children.
A Sibling Squabble Erupts
The 34-year-old mother took to Instagram to explain how a simple toy turned into a teachable moment for her six-year-old daughter, Arna, and her two-year-old son, Jax. The conflict began when Jax repeatedly tried to take a toy from his older sister.
Kayla described watching as Arna firmly told her brother to 'stop' on multiple occasions. 'Not once during all this did she turn to me,' Kayla noted, highlighting her daughter's initial attempts to resolve the situation independently.
A Firm Intervention and a Surprising Reaction
When Jax laughed and continued his behaviour, the situation escalated. 'Before I could do anything, Arna turned around and shoved him so hard he fell to the floor,' Kayla recounted. The toddler, shocked, immediately looked to his mother for sympathy and began to cry.
Seeing her daughter become upset and start to defend her actions, Kayla stepped in. Instead of scolding Arna for pushing, she got down to her son's level. 'I looked at him dead in the eyes, and I said firmly and slowly: "She said stop. Listen the first time,"' she told her followers.
She then turned her attention to Arna, whose 'face dropped' in anticipation of being told off. In a powerful moment, Kayla assured her daughter, "Arna, you said stop. He didn't stop. You did NOTHING wrong. You stood up for yourself, and you will NEVER get in trouble for that."
Powerful Advice for Other Parents
Kayla's revealing post included strong advice for other parents who might dismiss such behaviour due to a child's age. 'To anyone who is about to say "he's only little… he doesn't understand". I'm not waiting for him to "grow up" to learn that lesson,' she stated firmly.
She concluded with a clear message: "If you have kids, you make sure you teach them that STOP means STOP."
The post was met with overwhelming praise from her followers, with many commending her approach. One fan called the lesson 'so powerful,' while others shared that they teach their own children the same values.
Kayla, who is worth an estimated $176 million according to the Financial Review 2025 Young Rich List, shares her son Jax with her husband, Jae Woodroffe, whom she married in December 2023. She shares custody of her daughter Arna with her ex-partner, Tobi Pearce.
