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Working out who you are once you become a parent can be challenging - but imagine trying to work out who you are as a person while grappling with your gender identity at the same time. That's what Michelle Sheppard went through when she came out as transgender. In a world that has little time or empathy for trans-adults, she had to navigate parenting two young daughters without any mentors or community support. Michelle explains how she decided to involve her daughters in any changes taking place, and why that made all the difference.

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Separation can be painful and chaotic, particularly when young children are involved. Lucy Kippist separated from her husband three years ago when her children were two and five. Over those years she did a number of things that has helped her get to a place of calm and safety today. Lucy shares the things that helped her navigate a very difficult time. Lucy is the Community Manager at Mums & Co.

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Women have given birth through different challenging times in history, with those challenges changing the way they experience pregnancy and labour. Since the very beginning of the pandemic Hannah Dahlen, a Professor of Midwifery at Western Sydney University, has been part of a research team documenting how this particular challenging time - life with the threat of serious illness and the repercussions of that threat - has been impacting the experience of pregnancy and birth today. Hannah explains how the physical and social impacts of the virus on expectant mums.

More information on the current survey:

Are you currently pregnant OR have given birth since May 2021 (during the latest surge in COVID-19 in Australia) AND are you willing to share your experience by completing this survey.

Hannah Dahlen and her research team are conducting a research project (through Western Sydney University) into women’s experiences of being pregnant, giving birth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. We distributed a survey in 2020 but the 2021/2022 surge in cases has also had a significant impact on women and their families which we want to capture. It takes approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. You can go back in on the same device to the same place in the survey so it does not need to be done in one sitting. Follow the link and add your voice to this study OR pass this on through your social media networks. 

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They say that knowledge is power, so knowing all you can about birth before you experience it is a good idea. At least that's what motivated Dr Stephen Tong to write The Birth Book , after seeing women head into the birthing suite with less preparation than what they'd put in to their own wedding. Stephen talks about how knowing more leads to less fear, and why epidurals have been given a bad reputation.

Links to more information:
https://www.proftong.com.au/
https://www.thebirthbook.org/ 

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Modern family life can be crazy. There are so many things to fit into a day. Jodi Wilson was still breastfeeding her youngest of four children when she agreed to travel around Australia. She thought that was just what the family needed to find some calm among the chaos. What followed was an intense eight months of getting rid of 'stuff', buying a second-hand caravan, and preparing to set out for an adventure that would change their lives. Jodi Wilson's book Practicing Simplicity, Small steps and brave choices for a life less distracted documents the two-and-a-half years they spent on the road. Jodi talks about the greatest lessons she learnt along the way.

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When former Australian of the Year Grace Tame recently refused to smile in a photo opportunity with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, people were outraged. Journalist Peter van Onselen wrote an article describing her behaviour as rude. Amy Remeikis is a political journalist for The Guardian and has just released a book, On Reckoning, that describes what it has been like as a survivor of sexual assault to report on the Government's response to claims of harassment in Parliament House. Amy talks about why we don't need to raise our girls to polite, and why we need to include boys in the conversation.

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Feminists in the past have fought for women to have the right to choose how they conduct themselves in a world that has always told them what to do.  Bodily autonomy being one of those choices. What we wear and do with our bodies is up to us. So why does this all seem to change when it comes to pregnancy and birth?  Clementine Ford is a feminist, author and mother. She talks about how everything from pregnancy, to birth and breastfeeding is influenced by ideas on what a woman 'should' do. 

Clementine's latest book is called How We Love.

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Disappointment is a part of life, but it's fair to say that many kids have had their fair share of it over the last two years. Lucy Bell is an author who wants to help kids see the brighter side of life. Her book You Can Live on the Bright Side has everything you need to help your kids choose a path to a more optimistic future. Lucy explains how brains can learn to look on the bright side, and gives us some tips on how to teach that.

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Maternity wear has come a long way in the last ten years. Or has it? Dr Catriona Fisk is a dress historian who did her PHD in the history of maternity wear. Her research goes all the way back to the 1700s, and offers insights into the ways women adapted fashion to fit their bodies - and how they themselves fit in society. Cartriona offers up some surprising information - particularly about how the corset was used for pregnant women.

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If you have a child about to start school, or who is going back after the holidays, you may be feeling a bit uncertain about the first weeks and months ahead. Parents have been told they will need to give their kids Rapid Antigen Tests, but many still haven't heard from their schools as to when these will be available. Many still fear that the directive to keep kids home if they have any symptoms equates to more weeks in isolation and time off work. Gabbie Stroud is a former primary school teacher and the author of several books about teaching and the school community. She explains why some schools are struggling to be ready for the first day, and how we as parents can manage this uncertain time for our kids.

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