Strong-willed, stubborn, defiant, opinionated, headstrong.

This is how I like to think of myself for recording a podcast during a heatwave.

But it could also be some of the words you use to describe your child. If so, this episode is for you!

Some children are naturally headstrong. They can be a force of nature, and some days parenting them can feel impossible… especially if they inherited these character traits from you! In this episode, I’m going to give you seven tips, to help you overcome some of the challenges you face day-to-day.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

00:00 - Podcasting in a heatwave

00:56 - Parenting in a war zone

05:48 - Common traits of headstrong children

08:36 - How to reframe a situation

13:45 - How to empower by giving our kids choices

17:12 - Strong-willed children learn from experience

18:54 - Communicate regularly

21:19 - Family values

23:30 - Be quick to apologise

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you suffer from parental guilt?

Do you often guilt yourself into doing things you know you shouldn’t do?

Does this guilt manifest in material stuff like toys and treats?

You don’t need to feel embarrassed, we’ve all been there. It’s so easy to feel that guilt, and then we do whatever it takes to make that guilt disappear.

If you think your parental guilt is getting better of you, I’m here to help.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

00:31 - The dictionary defines guilt as…

03:22 - You can flex the rules

04:34 - How we can check ourselves

07:03 - Ask yourself these two questions

09:51 - Shifting from guilt to reason

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is a massive treat, as I am joined by Sophie David, a play guru, influencer and now author of Read, Write, Play: 100 Easy Ways to Make Phonics Fun for Children Aged 3-7.

In this conversation, Sophie explains how she implements all of the information and resources on her website, to create a fun learning environment for her kids, from phonics and reading to homework, screen time, and more!

As Mary Poppins once sang:

In every job that must be done

There is an element of fun

You find the fun and snap!

The job's a game

The same applies to our kids’ education, and it begins at home, with us. Learning is as fun as we choose to make it, and our job as parents is to unlock the curiosity in our children and help them want to learn.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, and enjoy the conversation…

Additional Resources:

Little Happy Learners: https://www.littlehappylearners.co.uk/ 

Sophie’s book, available now: https://geni.us/readwriteplay 

Connect with Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlehappylearners/ 

Highlights from this episode:

03:10 - Sophie’s journey

09:00 - You are your baby’s best friend

15:16 - Monkey see monkey do

20:26 - There is no normal

26:28- Phonics is not just about ABC

32:38 - Managing screen time

37:48 - Learning is experiential

41:50 - Mum, businesswoman, funlover, and author

45:27 - Where do we start?

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaving your child with someone else is one of the hardest things a parent will do.

What if they need me and I’m not there?

Am I just being a bad parent?

What if they don’t like the babysitter?

These are all rational concerns, but they shouldn’t stop you because, as we’ve discussed before, you cannot look after your children if you don’t look after yourselves.

That’s why in this bucket emptying episode, I’m going to share four rational fears you might have when you leave your kids in someone else’s care, and what you can do to overcome them.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, take the next 46 minutes to relax, and enjoy the conversation…

Read Dr. Maryhan’s article in Bubble Life, as mentioned in this episode, Navigating Separation Anxiety: https://joinbubble.com/for-parents/navigating-separation-anxiety-expert-tips-from-dr-maryhan_29690.html 

Highlights from this episode:

01:09 - Common myths are getting in your way!

02:43 - Are you being selfish?

05:23 - What if something goes wrong?

07:58 - What if they feel abandoned?

11:4 - What if my child doesn't get on with this? 

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your brain always on?

You’re brushing your teeth, but also mentally planning meals, remembering the pickup times and wondering if you’ve RSVP’d to the latest birthday party?

Parenting is tough, and the burnout is real. I’m here to tell you not to be ashamed about that, but to talk about it, because every parent out there is feeling it!

To talk more about this invisible load, and the impact it can have on your life, work, mental and physical health,,I’m joined by Rania Robinson, the CEO of Quiet Storm, a mum of two children and she also happens to be my sister, so trust me when I tell you she knows a thing or two about juggling that invisible load!

We had an amazing chat about the ups and downs of balancing parenthood with a career, and why it can feel like being a mum and an employee simply doesn’t co-exist.

We also discuss how gender roles can pile more pressure on you as a mum because, let’s face it, you’re probably the one who keeps track of everything… and everyone!

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa, take the next 46 minutes to relax, and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

00:54 - Taking control of your own destiny

07:38 - A thankless role

12:26 - Heartbreaking

22:05 - Gender differences and family dynamics

28:16 - Resentment building

32:29 - Navigating mumspeak

37:08 - Mad mum moments

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a moment most parents dread, but it’s inevitable for all of us… when your child tells you, for the first time, that have a boyfriend or girlfriend.

And for many of us, this might be much sooner than we’d expect. Not teenagers, but while they’re still in primary school.

When this happens, it’s so important to deal with it head on, and I’m here to tell you exactly how to do this. And, if you find this bucket emptying episode useful, listen out for an episode coming very soon where I dive into the topic of sex education and relationships in far more detail.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

01:05 - Going down the rabbit hole

03:06 - Be curious and interested

06:07 - Where are they getting their information?

08:38 - Correct the knowledge gaps

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I am revisiting a classic episode from last year about what to do when expecting your child - however we find ourselves embarking on the journey to parenting.

It's also supremely relevant for all the other stages of our children's lives as they reach them -as these are another birth - walking, talking, preschool, school, university, first job, leaving home...

My six pointers will help keep you grounded and sane.

Here are the highlights: 

(01:14) Parents-to-Be consume information by the barrel load 

(05:13) Read about different milestones, not just birth 

(08:02) Parenting isn’t black and white 

(11:12) It’s always messier than you expect! 

(14:16) Don’t fall into this parenting trap... 

(16:46) The right time to have difficult conversations with partners 

(20:36) Make sure communication with co-parents is open and often 

(23:17) Different do what they see, not what we say 

(26:32) Self-care is critical 

(30:22) Every child develops and adapts uniquely 

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you have entitled kids?

Are you at a loss about what to do with them?

In this bucket emptying episode, I give you some practical advice to help you tackle entitlement in your children, because we both know all kids are kind at heart, so let’s bring that out in bundles!

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

00:30 - Our kids have more than we did

03:41 - Agency versus contribution

08:21 - Acts of service

10:36 - An important caveat

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

💚  mentioned in the episodes

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the great Ru Paul would say, “if you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love someone else?”

As parents, we instinctively put our children and family before ourselves, but that’s not always the best thing! In this episode I discuss the importance of self care, and why neglecting your own needs could be bad… not just for you, but for everyone.

And joining me to discuss this is a super special guest, Tina Lond-Caulk, otherwise known as the Nutrition Guru. She is a bestselling author and speaker with over 20 years of experience as a clinical nutritionist.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy the conversation…

Connect with Tina:

The Nutrition Guru Website: https://www.thenutritionguru.co.uk/ 

Tina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenutritionguru/

Tina on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTTPdaxsREbzkRKtl29OnXg

The Nutrition Guru on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenutritionguru

Mentioned in this episode:

Sensate: https://www.getsensate.com/?variant=40503515250777

Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/

Highlights from this episode:

01:24 - Mamma Mia!

05:01 -The building blocks of self care

09:44 - Food is medicine

14:23 - Optimal versus recommended

19:00 - For the coffee lovers

23:56 - Placing ourselves at the bottom of the list

29:30 - Habit stacking

36:46 - Gina Ford, Get in the Bin!

41:06 - Dealing with fussy eaters

44:45 - Go nuts

50:05 - The science of alcohol

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

💚  mentioned in the episodes

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Confession time: I have put my kids’ artwork in the bin.

Let’s face it, we can’t keep everything they do, and not everything they do will be successful or, in your opinion, praise-worthy.

But praise isn’t just about the outcome; it’s not about winning or losing. Praise, when used at the right time and in the right way, can be super powerful at building confident, resilient children.

In this bucket emptying episode, I’m going to share five ways that you can give praise that will nurture skills, build character, and help you raise children who don’t fear failure and feel supported to try anything.

So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy the conversation…

Highlights from this episode:

00:29 - Hacks

02:43 - A whole splodge of nothing

05:36 - Be specific

06:49 - Effort over outcome

11:01 - Celebrate the small wins

13:26 - Hone in on skills

💚 Join our campaign One Million Moments to reduce the number of children struggling with mental health challenges from 17% to 10% by 2025 - https://onemillionmoments.org/

💚 Let’s grow our village together, please share with at least one friend

💚  mentioned in the episodes

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.