The Juggling Act

I’ve been dragging my kids to swimming lessons since they were only a few months old. We had breaks here and there when it all becomes too much – and too expensive – but now they both love the water. I know that’s not the case with every child, so how can we make sure our kids are water confident without the headache – and the drain on the bank account? Today’s guest is an Australian Olympic Gold medallist in swimming and the mum of four – they lost their son Jack in 2011 at 9 months old after he was born prematurely. Brooke Hanson has joined now joined forces with Child’s Farm and has some fantastic tips around making sure the whole family enjoys the water this summer and reveals how she stays positive after such a heartbreaking loss.

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Well a couple of weeks ago The Amazing Race Australia host Beau Ryan told us this season, set only in Australia, was the toughest one yet. He was right. It’s been hard watching the contestants battle the extreme weather conditions, and for the mums on the show, Jude and Shannon, it’s been even more difficult because their relationship was tested to the limits in the most surprising way.

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As women, we spend so much of our lives disliking things about ourselves. Our bodies, our looks, our laugh, the list goes on… So when Mel's 8-year-old daughter started telling her the things she didn’t like about herself, she thought, 'nooooo, you’re too little! Stay innocent for longer please!' Sadly she’s not the only one. Alarming research has found that more than half of all Aussie girls between 8-9, don’t like their body. That’s just heartbreaking. Luckily today’s guests are here to help. Author Kasey Edwards has teamed up with her husband Dr Christopher Scanlon to write Raising Girls Who Like Themselves, and they join us to share all their advice.

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One of Mel's favourite reality TV shows is The Amazing Race. She loves travelling and watching how the contestants handle the stress of a foreign country. But this year, the show is going to look very different. There are no language barriers, no cultural challenges, because this year - thanks to Covid - the race will be held in Australia only. The show’s host, former rugby league player and dad of two, Beau Ryan is also back – fresh off a trip caravanning with the entire family! He joins us to share his top tips for travelling with kids and actually enjoying it, why this is the toughest season of The Amazing Race Australia so far and he gives a surprising response to whether he wants more kids!

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This week, Sarah and Mel talk about the things you need to think about when choosing a daycare (see we are helpful sometimes!). We’re joined by an Indonesian-American mum living in Melbourne to talk about raising culturally aware children. Teacher and author Sharon Witt shares her experience around choosing the right school for your child and urges parents to speak up if something isn’t working. Candice Warner is in the studio and opens up about how she’s going to talk to her three daughters about the stories written about her in the media. And Mel explains to Sarah why your second child starting school is so much harder than the first!

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When your first child starts school, you worry about the logistical stuff - can they open their lunchbox, put their shoes back on, wipe their bottom. Second time around it's a different story. You know what's ahead of you. You know how much and how quickly they change. It feels like they go from being babies to little people overnight and that can be really, really hard to process - especially if they're your youngest! 

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At the end of last year, we were glued to our screens watching former Ironwoman and Reading Eggs ambassador Candice Warner absolutely smash it on SAS Australia and show the country just how tough she is. Now the mum of three gorgeous girls Ivy, Indi and Isla, is back to chat with us about another testing time, back to school, how SAS Australia changed her for the better, and how she's going to talk to her girls about stories written about her in the media.

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Choosing a school for your child can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if you live in a major city where there is so much choice. Today’s guest is the author of Starting Secondary School and Surviving High School. She’s also a secondary educator and motivational speaker to teens and their parents around the country. She joins us to share her wisdom around all things schooling.

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As an Indonesian American woman living in Melbourne, Via Tendon found herself in plenty of situations where she was ‘the token Asian’ and didn't fit in. Now as a mum to six-month-old Maya, she’s passionate about giving a voice to ALL children – not just the majority – and firmly believes ‘we can only be what we see’. Via started a business during Covid (yep, with a newborn) called Metta Play which make bilingual affirmation and yoga cards, designed to help kids learn cultural awareness, mindfulness and another language through play. She joins us to chat about the challenge of starting a business during a pandemic, having a baby with your family stuck overseas and raising culturally aware children.

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It can be a very emotional time when you first leave your child at daycare, it feels very unnatural to leave your child with strangers. So you need to feel confident that you've chosen the right one for you and your family. Sarah and Mel share the things they looked for and their experience with the daycare system - good and bad.

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