The Juggling Act

Earlier in the year we spoke with Steve Biddulph who said that kids these days are mentally a few years ahead of their actual age. And man am I noticing it with my 8yo daughter! It’s why tweens are now the new teens, according to our next guest. Amanda Stokes is an educator, mother to 3 and the Founder of Raising Strong Daughters.  Her new book ‘The Tween Mother’s Tool Book: Raising Strong Daughters’ is out now and she joins us with some advice (praise be).

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When I watched the totally heartbreaking Oscar-nominated film 'Lion' starring Nicole Kidman four years ago, my daughter was four. As a mum with a child pretty much the same age, my heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched 5-year-old Saroo go missing. I just couldn’t imagine how my child would survive, so tiny and all alone on the streets of India. I also couldn’t imagine not seeing her again. But this story has a happy ending and an incredible woman behind it. Sue Brierley was living in Tasmania at the time and adopted Saroo a few months after he went missing. Sue has now written a book called 'Lioness' about her tragic upbringing and what it's like to have Nicole Kidman play you on film!

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As adults our mobiles are pretty much attached to our hands, and our kids are watching! It seems kids are getting their own phone younger and younger, but do they really need them? Sarah and Mel talk about what age it's appropriate to give a child a mobile phone and what things you need to take into account.

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This week, we caught up with mum-of-two and filmmaker Tahyna MacManus who opens up about suffering three miscarriages, including one during the making of her doco Misunderstandings of Miscarriage. Psychologist Belinda Williams joins us with some practical tips for making sure you don’t take your bad day in the office home with you. We have a laugh with author of The Treehouse series Andy Griffith about encouraging a love of reading in our kids. Let's talk about sex with mum Siobhan Fitzgerald who started an erotic fiction website while breastfeeding her second baby, and Sarah and Mel get real about why mums need to stop apologising at work for having children.

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Do you ever feel like you're constantly apologising for things? Sorry I was late this morning, sorry I forgot his book week costume, sorry she has packaged food in her lunch box today, sorry I have to leave early because my kid has a temperature...sorry, sorry, SORRY! Mums are some of the most efficient people in the workplace, so why are we constantly apologising for having children?

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We’re spicing things up on the pod today, meeting a mum who started an erotic fiction website while breastfeeding her second child. Siobhan Fitzgerald started The Good Bits with her friend Carol who she met through her son’s daycare. She joins us to talk about how she got in the mood to start a new business and shares her tips for reigniting the fire (when you're covered in other people's bodily fluids - and not in a good way).

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Today's guest is one of the country’s most loved children’s authors. Andy Griffiths Is the writer of the bestselling Treehouse series which is now in its 10th year! The next book in the series, The 130-Storey Treehouse, has just come out and Andy joins us to talk about his love of all things silly and why kids can't get enough of his books.

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Burnout for a working mum, is so common. Especially with the year that we’ve had. And it can be hard to transition from work stress into mum mode, without taking it out on your kids. Don't worry, we've got some help! Psychologist Belinda Williams from The Bumpy Road joins us with some practical tips to shaking off a bad day.  

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October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and one mum who knows that heartbreak all too well is Australian actress and filmmaker Tahyna MacManus (nee Tozzi).  She’s attempting to open up a conversation that normalises pregnancy loss with her new documentary 'Misunderstandings of Miscarriage', which follows her on her four-year experience of pregnancy and miscarriage with her husband, Studio 10 host Tristan MacManus.  

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This week, Sarah asks whether it’s okay to cut your kid’s hair at home… I have strong feelings about this one! In a rare interview about his daughter Ruby, Rove McManus opens up about how she's changed his view of the world and his favourite book character voice (it's not what you'd expect!) The Project host Gorgi Coglan talks about why women can totally juggle family and be driven in their career. We had a very funny poo joke filled chat with former AFL star Dale ‘Daisy’ Thomas, and best-selling author Joanne Fedler opens up about losing your identity as a mother – and wow does she have a way with words.  

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