Parenting in a Pandemic

In the final episode of Parenting in a Pandemic, Liz and Fi discuss life resembling something of what it was and how we piece things back together, whilst living alongside Covid-19. Joined by guest and GP, Anjalee, we discuss what it means for our children at school and what's on the horizon for the next few years. How do we prioritise our own mental health whilst parenting and how to educate our family about vaccines and the importance of maintaining good hygiene. We reflect on the...

In a recent study, (Invisible Household Labor and Ramifications for Adjustment: Mothers as Captains of Households) published Tuesday in the journal Sex Roles, the paper offers original data to illustrate the widespread phenomenon of invisible labour — and its depressing impact on women's emotional and psychological well-being. "Do [mothers] disproportionately feel like they're running their ship on their own?" said Suniya S. Luthar, co-author of the study and foundation professor of psyc...

A lot has happened during the last year, and Covid has been only one of these landscape changing events. The murder of George Floyd triggered a surge in dialogue about racism and disabled people in England found themselves forced to sign do not resuscitate orders when admitted to hospital. We speak to Nada, a powerhouse of a community campaigner, about Black Lives Matter, social justice, young people and activism and how she navigated all these conversations with her own family. Ex...

Last year saw a dramatic increase of couples seeking therapy as a consequence of new strains on relationships with psychologists and relationship experts suggested that the pandemic has no doubt made people reconsider their relationships, especially as quarantine began to highlight longstanding issues.This week we talk to Lisa Bruton, a psychotherapist for individuals, families and couples to discuss why it's been so much harder to keep things healthy and how we can ensure that we look after ...

In this weeks episode, we talk to Roz Ward; Safe Schools Coalition (Australia) co-founder & LGBTI activist based in Melbourne. We discuss the journey of Safe Schools, why it was founded and the issues it's faced - from Government backlash to personal attack and how it's shaped the education system in Australia. Fi & Liz discuss how it's impacted her personally now she's a parent and her hopes for the future for the LGBTI community and society as a whole.

This week, Liz & Fi talk with Jen; a languages teacher, artist & creator who Emigrated to Switzerland during 2020. We discuss moving in a pandemic, whilst pregnant with her third child, and starting over - the cultural differences, the importance of connections & language exposure. Jen and her family live in Zurich, Switzerland having moved from Bristol in 2020. We cover the unexpected, the planned and leaving life to fate when a pandemic has other ideas as well as how ...

The cost of childcare in Britain has risen 5 per cent in the last 12 months according to a report by Coram Family and Childcare Trust, which produces a comprehensive annual survey of the industry. The spiralling cost is now double the rate of inflation and families are on average paying £131.61 a week or just over £6,800 a year for a part-time nursery place (25 hours a week).Liz and Fi discuss how childcare costs are crippling families, contributing to household poverty and affecting th...

**Trigger warning** Domestic Violence/Domestic Abuse/Coercive Control/Sexual Violence/Rape*******Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse with 1 woman in 4 experiencing domestic abuse over the course of her lifetime.2020 was challenging for many people, but for those suffering from domestic abuse, life became more isolated than ever before. ONS reported in November 2020 that ‘There has generally been an increase in demand for domestic abuse victim service...

This week, Liz & Fi talk with Shona - a mother of two small children, marketing graduate and founder of Berkshire Mummies; a lifestyle, family outdoor venturing hub and creative space for everything in and around Berkshire designed for parents, grandparents and carers. She is passionate creating a community designed to support & inspire others to get outside and make memories. We talk about her enthusiasm behind the brand, the challenges that Covid brought her and her visio...

For many of us, 2020 was a year of bubbles, zoom & online food shopping, but what about those who weren't able or didn't want to open up the doors any more than was possible. Government guidelines strongly advised that clinically extremely vulnerable people should have stayed at home at all times, apart from going out to exercise or attend a medical appointment - but what was the reality of that for a young family?We talk to Lucy, who shielded for most of 2020 to protect her family, ...