It’s our last episode of the year, and we’re wrapping it all up with a giggle, a bit of nostalgia, and some honest reflections.

Join us as we revisit our ins and outs list for 2025 — the things we embraced, the habits we left behind, and a few goals that now feel more laughable than achievable (we’re looking at you, themed parties and a consistent exercise regime). There are plenty of light-hearted moments, but also some tender reminders of what truly anchored us this year. 

Whether you’ve been here since our first episode together or you’re tuning in for the first time, thank you for being part of this growing community. We’re so lucky to have you with us — and we can’t wait to do it all again in 2026. 

It’s Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas!

Our bodies are feeling a little cranky, a little sore, and carrying babies through this hot, hot summer is no small physical feat. If you’re feeling it too - you’re not alone.

R&R (Recipe & Recommendation)

Recommendation: Get into the water — the ocean, the pool, anywhere you can dunk your head under. A good pair of togs, a sarong, some funky jewellery and a great hat go a long way. Sink into the slowness, enjoy being by the water. You bloody deserve it doll. 

Recipe: A refreshing Mango Chia Seed Pudding — cool, nourishing and perfect for summer. Find the recipe here

Recommendation: The MCO Beauty Lip Mask — a summer staple for dry, tired lips. Shop it here

Recipe: A festive Christmas Quencher (non-alcoholic punch) — hydrating, celebratory and perfect for Christmas Eve sipping. 

Lil’s Mums text about the quencher reads: 

It starts with a lemon/sugar syrup -maybe 1 cup of sugar, juice of 2 lemons, 1 cup of water long strips of the lemon rind (use vegetable peeler) big sprigs of mint. 

Boil together till sugar dissolves. Cool leaving rind and mint in the syrup until you put the quencher together. 

Add the strained quencher base to a large tin of pineapple juice, ginger ale and soda water.

Ps while we’re talking about Lil’s Mum the naked reference quote from this weeks chat is here 

A very Merry Christmas from us to you, we’re so grateful to be in all the seasons alongside you. 

Beth’s PicksLil’s Picks

This week on Growing, we’re donning our Mrs Claus hats and chatting all things Christmas giving. We dive into what’s going into the Santa sacks for our kids - with a focus on thoughtful, practical and joy-filled ideas. If you’re still searching for inspiration, there might be a few ideas here for you too.

OUR SANTA SACK PICKS:

• Trampoline
• Air Toobz
• Backpack or lunch box for daycare
• A book refresh
• Yoto cards
• A potion kit made from bits and bobs sourced at the op shop
• New Crocs
• A dress-up box
• Schleich animal figurines
• Grimms building blocks
• Alison Lester Books 
• Togs for summer 

Share this episode with a friend who’s in the thick of festive planning - or someone who needs ideas that feel a little more intentional and a little less overwhelming.

This week Beth poses the important question: how many Airtaskers does it take to build an IKEA cupboard? As it turns out… quite a few. And it’s still not quite finished.

The good news? Her twinny boys are growing beautifully (we’re talking almost off the charts x2), which feels like a reassuring little nudge that even under double load, her body knows exactly what it’s doing.

Meanwhile, Lilly is knee-deep in silly-season chaos asking herself two things: Where the helly is that husband she married and where the helly is her iron? (Spoiler: she’s depleted on all fronts.)

The girls also share a loving little reminder to compliment the mothers in your life. A small noticing can land like a hug — and we all need more of those.

On R&R

Beth’s Recommendation: A great summer read — The Paper Palace and a Recipe (sort of): Pods. Yes, the chocolate ones in a packet snickers or mars or whatever takes your fancy. A recipe at a stretch, but deeply delicious.

Lilly’s Recipe: A slow-cooked shredded beef ragu from RecipeTin Eats — perfect for boosting those iron levels. Make it here and Recommendation wise she’s suggesting a gorgeous, wholesome follow from a UK mum — @lifeatbluebell_

If you love the podcast, please recommend us to your mums group — and if you haven’t already, we’d so appreciate a rating and review. It helps more than you know.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

This week we’re diving deeper into an ongoing growing pain with Beth - one sparked by a quote she stumbled across on Emma Morris Instagram about how burnout and motherhood can collide in a big and overwhelming way. Together, the girls tease out what might be fueling the fire:

• the relentless societal expectations placed on mothers

• the invisible load of flurrying, scurrying, and holding everything together

It’s reflective, heartfelt and deeply validating for anyone who feels stretched thin during this season.

Meanwhile, Lil is feeling a little lonesome. Her husband is deep in silly-season festivities (every day and night) while she’s home picking up the pieces - and honestly, where are the Christmas parties for the mums?!

R&R (Recipe & Recommendation)

Beth’s Picks

Recipe:

A family favourite: this delicious, quick and comforting Sweet Chilli Chicken & Cashew Stir-Fry — perfect for weeknights. Try it here

Recommendation:

A beautiful round-up of local small businesses to shop this Christmas:

Lauren Sissons Studio – Art prints, wall stickers & kids card gamesRommer – Beautiful tableware for kidsKick Brick – Construction toys for kidsMaynetic – Magnetic boards & toysMum Club – The BEST caps for mums, dads, aunties & unclesYour local bookshop – Always a perfect choiceDesign Planner Kids – Personalised reusable colouring matsTara Treasures – High-quality felt toysSound Slam – Card game for family funDays In The Sand – Bright wetsuits for kids

Lil’s Picks

Recipe:

A delicious and versatile Beef Brisket from Boob to Food — tender, comforting and so good. Get the recipe here

Recommendation:

Inspired by a fortune cookie that read: “You deserve a rest. Relax and watch a movie.” So we’re passing that on to all of you — consider this your official sign to pause. Make it a Christmas movie… or don’t. Whatever tickles your pickle.

Motherhood: Easier Said Than Done.

This week, Beth is feeling the weight of motherhood - and the never-ending list of shoulds.

You know the ones: we should rest, we should drink water, we should move our bodies, we should nourish our bodies, we should look after ourselves… and yet the how feels completely out of reach. It’s one of those big, honest chats about the gap between what we know and what we can actually manage in the thick of motherhood.

She also shares her sweet little glimmer of taking her daughter to the cinemas for the first time… where there is now (wait for it) a kids’ playground inside the cinema. Has society lost the plot entirely or is this an absolute hack? Hard to say, we’re not sure either. 

Meanwhile, Lil is her own growing pain this week. She’s in a full shame spiral about her phone addiction and has bought herself a brick… but she’s so addicted she can’t seem to activate said brick. Make of that what you will.

Lil’s Recommendation

She’s obsessed with Avocado Zinc — specifically the tinted SPF and the blush for an easy, lazy-girl, put-together moment. It’s on sale — treat yourself Shop Avocado Zinc here

Lil’s Recipe

A bold but life-changing avocado toast upgrade: add pickles (and goat’s cheese, and butter). She knows it’s a big ask — but it’s worth every bite.

Beth’s Recommendation + Recipe

A two-for-one delight: packet mix muffins.

Any box from the supermarket will do — fun with a toddler, low-pressure, and absolutely in alignment with our current energy levels.

Also to circle back to a previous R&R of Lil’s Beth now has her very own Tineco mop and she’s absolutely sold — you can be to if you want to jump on the bandwagon Tineco . 

This week’s episode is full of feelings, fears, laughter and the kind of friendship that carries you through the chaos of motherhood.

Lil’s growing pain hits deep: her parents will be away when her second baby is due, and it’s unearthed a much bigger emotional wobble - that age-old fear of expanding your family and wondering how everyone will cope with the shift. Beth gently holds space, offering reassurance, validation and the reminder that worry often shows up when we’re standing on the edge of something beautiful.

Beth’s growing pain is a little more tick tick boom -  quite literally. ’Tis the season for paralysis ticks, and an unexpected trip to emergency threw her week off. All is well now, but the girls chat through what happened, what to look for, and share the NSW Health Tick Fact Sheet for fellow Aussie parents - you can read it here.

And if, like Lil, you need to level up your first-aid kit (sadly tick off not included), check out Rhythm First Aid for family-friendly kits and resources.

R&R (Recipe & Recommendation)

Beth’s Recipe: A gift from her mum and the perfect silly-season starter: Confit tomato and ricotta crostini. Fresh, quick, delicious.

Beth’s Recommendation: A beauty fave for daily wear: the Maybelline foundation (it’s on sale, so treat yourself).

Lil’s Reverse Recommendation: Skip the movie Regretting You (trust us). Instead, grab popcorn + Malteasers and sit outside the cinema catching up with a girlfriend — infinitely better.

Lil’s Recipe: This delicious, crispy potato “salad” — flavourful, easy and so satisfying. Watch it here.

Don’t mind Lil’s dulcet, slightly sultry tones this week — she’s sick as a dog and tries not to complain about it *too* much.

Beth’s throwing her hat in the ring for the Hot-Mess Mum Award after dropping a few too many mental-load balls (don’t even get us started on the drama that is the Centrelink portal).

It’s honest, funny, and full of the small moments that make motherhood both ridiculous and relatable.

Lil’s R&R

Recommendation: Eau Bags — the perfect blend of chic and practical.

Recipe: Lil’s Yiros Wrap Shopping List — coming to @growingthepodcast this week!

Beth’s R&R

Recipe: Chewy choc-chip cookies — simple, sweet, and guaranteed to lift your mood.

Recommendation: Twoobs Shoes — comfy, sustainable, and perfect for mum-life on the go. 

This episode is proudly brought to you by Looma Collective — the Aussie brand creating beautiful, practical essentials for little ones. Everything they produce is designed to make everyday moments calmer, comfier and more sustainable. Use code GROWING20 for 20% off and thank us later. 

Explore the full range here

Follow along on Instagram @looma.collective

The girls are sharing their glimmers - from Beth’s pregnancy fatigue finally lifting to Lil being back teaching some scrummy, nurturing classes for mums.

And as for growing pains…both are physical this week.  Beth’s pelvis is hanging on by a thread, and Lil’s got two big, itchy problems she needs to get off her chest (literally).

Plus, the girls are introducing a brand-new segment, it’s Mum’s version of Relaxing and Rejuvenating: R&R (Recipe & Recommendation) - because who doesn’t love a good rec and a quick win?

Recipe: Vegan Banana Bread — add choc chips (vegan or not), and Loco Loves are elite if you’re feeling fancy.

Recommendation: The Tineco Mop — she’s spenny but worth every cent. Wait for a sale and always follow the cleaning and care instructions.

Beth’s R&R

Recommendation: Ambra Pregnancy Undies — not sexy, but soft, practical, and so comfortable.

This episode is proudly brought to you by Looma Collective — the Aussie brand creating beautiful, practical essentials for little ones (and their parents). From bibs to bedding, everything they make is designed to make everyday moments calmer, comfier, and more sustainable.

Explore the full range at looma.com.au

Lil’s R&RFollow along on Instagram @looma.collective

This week, we sit down with the wonderful and wise Courtney Adamo — mother of five, writer, and creative who has beautifully navigated motherhood from newborn days through to tweens and teens.

This conversation feels like a big, reassuring and warm hug for both Lilly and Beth — and we hope it lands the same way for you. Together we talk about:

• The rituals and rhythms that shape family life

• How to create moments of connection and calm amidst the chaos

• Little traditions that make the everyday feel special and intentional

• The evolving seasons of motherhood — and how to meet them with grace

It’s a grounding, heart-warming chat full of wisdom and gentle reminders that family life doesn’t have to be perfect and that raising little kids is a beautiful but hard season.

You can find Courtney on Instagram @courtneyadamo

Discover her beautiful new book The Family Home — available here

Rommer is officially back — and we’re celebrating!

Their beautifully designed, practical mealtime range is made for real family life — from starting solids to snack time on the go. Growing listeners get 20% off when you use code GROWING at checkout. Valid until 31st October (excludes bundles). Shop the full range here

Tune in wherever you get your podcast, please share this episode with a friend!