Is It Just Us?

Somehow, “gentle parenting” has been twisted into “never say no” or “let your kids walk all over you.” In this episode, we dig into the real meaning behind the approach, talk about our own approaches and why it’s not about giving in, staying quiet, or avoiding boundaries. 

We’ll explore how firm limits, emotional connection, and respect go hand-in-hand and why being gentle doesn’t mean being passive.

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

Something different this week - Ready for a round of all the randomness, “Wait… is it just us, or is it just me?”.

We’re firing off rapid-fire takes on everything from parenting fails to everyday oddities - fast, fun, and totally relatable.

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

We hear it all the time “Be good", “Are you being good?” But what does that actually mean? For adults, it often shows up as restriction: staying in control, following the rules. 

For children, it’s usually about compliance - being quiet, being polite, not making a fuss. In this episode, we unpack how this vague idea of "being good" creates confusion, fuels people-pleasing, and leaves both adults and children without a clear sense of values or self-direction. What if “being good” is getting in the way of being well or being authentic in ourselves?

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

Why does something as essential as feeding your baby come loaded with so much judgement? In this episode, we’re getting honest about the shame, pressure, and unspoken rules around breast and bottle feeding. One of us breastfed, one didn’t and we were both shamed for it. 

We’re sharing our experiences, the guilt we felt (or were made to feel), and the silent comparisons that happen far too often. We also touch on the recent Karen Millen controversy and why it struck such a nerve with so many parents. 

Whether you're breast feeding, bottle-feeding, combo-feeding, or just trying to survive the newborn haze, this one’s for you. No preaching. No pressure. Just us talking about what it’s really like.

Don’t forget to subscribe, give us a rating & recommend to a friend. Email us any comments or queries on [email protected]

And if you would like support & connection as a parent - join our amazing parent space here

https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

Grey hairs, fine lines, changing bodies, and a culture that tells us to fight it every step of the way. In this episode, we’re getting real about ageing, appearance, and the quiet pressure to stay “youthful.” From the beauty industry to social media filters, we unpack why it’s so hard to just let ourselves be, and what it might look like to age on our own terms!

If you'd like to join our amazing Parent Space click the link https://hdcircle.framer.website/

Thanks so much for listening x

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

From first-day drop-offs to homework battles and everything in between, school can stir up a lot, for our kids and for us. Whether it’s worry, pride, guilt, or frustration, it’s more than just reading and writing. In this episode, we talk about why school hits so deep, what it brings up from our own pasts, and how to support our kids (and ourselves) through it all.

Thanks for listening x

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

Screens, snacks, sleep routines, every decision feels like it’s up for debate. And sometimes, it’s not just others judging us... it’s that inner critic too. In this episode, we unpack the pressure, the guilt, and the silent weight of feeling like you’re always getting it wrong. Let’s talk about how judgment shows up, and how to quiet the noise.\

Thanks so much for listening x

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

Juggling life, children, work- it’s no wonder friendships feel harder to hold onto as we get older. But no one talks about how lonely it can feel. In this episode, we dive into the reality of drifting apart, the guilt of not reaching out, and why it’s not just you if you’re missing the closeness and the craic you once had!

Thank you so ,much for listening x

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

We all want our children to grow up resilient, able to handle life’s curveballs without falling apart. But what is resilience, really? And is it something we can actively teach, or does it just happen through experience?

In this episode, we unpack what resilience actually looks like in children (it's not just “bouncing back”) and explore the subtle, everyday ways parents shape it, through connection, co-regulation, and even in the messiest moments.We also reflect on our own childhoods and ask: were we taught resilience, or did we learn it in a different way?

Join us as we navigate the difference between “toughening up” and truly supporting emotional strength, and why helping our children feel safe might just be the real key to resilience.

Oh and...Debbie and Hayley have been very busy lately! Find out what they have been up to here

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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

We all know play is important, but what if you don’t have the time… or simply don’t enjoy it? In this episode, we’re getting honest about the guilt that creeps in when play feels like a chore. We talk about why it’s so common to feel disconnected from play as a parent, what it means if you just don’t like it, and how to find playful connection in ways that actually work for you, too.

Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here

Hayley and Debbie offer therapy, parent support, courses and webinars and school support. Contact them on their websites below.

https://debbiecullinane.ie/

https://www.hayley-rice.com/

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