The Juggling Act

It can be difficult as a parent to know whether your child is meeting milestones at the right time, particularly when it comes to speech. Some children are just late starters and can take a while to utter their first word, while others seem like born broadcasters! So how do you know if you should wait or seek professional advice? Sarah and Mel share their experiences and the challenges around knowing what to do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah and Mel talk about the sweet and wacky things we find ourselves doing and saying as our kids head off to sleep each night. Psychologist Belinda Williams joins us with advice around how to let go of being perfect and accept being 'good enough'. We met the mum so obsessed with Bluey she launched a podcast about it! Dr Jodie Lowinger is in the studio to talk about how we can turn anxiety into our superpower (and help our kids). And Sarah and Mel ask whether you should feel responsible for your child’s behaviour in front of others.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all try our best to make sure we're teaching our kids to be kind and polite, but let's be honest, they're not always going to be perfect angels! We are all learning and making mistakes. But when they misbehave in front of others, or even worse, do something to a friend's child, it feels terrible. It's hard not to feel responsible for their behaviour, but in reality, there's only so much you can do - they are their own little beings! Sarah and Mel open up about their experiences and how to handle it when it happens.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Becoming a parent often means your anxiety reaches a whole new level. With newborns we worry that they’re eating and sleeping enough, growing, meeting milestones. Then they head to daycare and school and you worry that they’re being taken care of, making friends, being kind. Now, imagine being able to take those anxious feelings and make them work for you. Dr Jodie Lowinger is a clinica; psychologist and founder of The Anxiety Clinic in Sydney, and she’s just released a fascinating new book called The Mind Strength Method, which has strategies for how we can do just that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When journalist turned communications advisor Mary Bolling was pregnant and on maternity leave, she listened to A LOT of podcasts to help her feel connected to the world outside of her nappy / feed / exhaustion bubble. Her friend Kate was also a big podcast listener and when they were on mat leave with two kids each, they realised they were talking less and less about what podcasts they loved, and more and more about a certain kids TV show. That show was Bluey, and in 2019, that’s how their podcast Gotta Be Done was born. Mary joins us to explain why she loves the show so much and why that obsession is now with her for life!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That desire for perfection can start to drive you mad after a while. Trying to be the perfect mum, the perfect boss, the perfect co-worker, sister, partner, ugh! It’s just not feasible and the pressure can start to impact you physically and mentally. But it’s so hard to get off the treadmill and accept that what you do and who you are, is absolutely fine. Psychologist Belinda Williams from The Bumpy Road (and little bubba Angus) join us with some practical tips to changing our mindset and learning to accept that good enough, is enough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you often find yourself doing and saying unusual things to get your child to go to sleep? Then suddenly you've fallen into a habit of doing it and a year or two down the track you can't even remember how it started?! Sarah and Mel know the feeling all too well! In this ep, they reveal the funny and sweet things they say to their children right before they nod off.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, to celebrate International Women’s Day and this year’s theme of “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, we meet the incredible mum who is helping our girls find their place in the professional world. We chat with baby sleep consultant Maryanne Sayers about juggling sleep issues and your return to work. We get all your COVID vaccine questions about pregnancy, fertility, breastfeeding and your family, answered by Infectious Diseases physician and microbiologist Professor Peter Collignon. Hollywood star and mum-of-three Jennifer Garner chats with us about her kid’s most embarrassing public tantrum (this story is so good!) And Sarah and Mel talk about the pros and cons of getting a family pet. Two words – guinea pigs. They were not why Mel expected…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Vogue Australia, hosted by Jesinta Franklin and Remy Rippon, introducing the new 8 part podcast called Baby Steps. Baby Steps is a no-nonsense pocket fertility guide for anyone trying to have a baby. Jes and Remy talk to the experts on everything from obstetrics, fertility, miscarriage, loss and explore everything from IVF to egg freezing. Search Baby Steps Vogue Australia wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah has a family dog and Mel's kids have been begging her for one for years. She finally caved (sort of), and got them two guinea pigs. While the poo and cage cleaning is not exactly fun, she's been surprised by the difference in her kids. Sarah and Mel discuss the pros and cons of family pets and share their experiences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel like you constantly say ‘no’ to your kids? My daughter has just started telling me that’s all I say, and I feel like I’m constantly replying with ‘you’re too little to do whatever you want’. But what if you just said ‘yes’. 'Yes' you can do whatever you want. Would it make life easier or would you ultimately raise spoilt brats? Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez star in a new film just released on Netflix called 'Yes Day' and the mum-of-three caught up with us about the hard ‘no’s’ in her house, what she regrets saying ‘yes’ to and the epic public tantrum her daughter had.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covid vaccine arrived in Australia mid Feb, with frontline health and quarantine workers, as well as those in aged care first in line. But what about if you’re pregnant, or trying for a baby? Will kids ever get it? How do they know what the long term effects will be? So many questions! Luckily we got Professor Peter Collingnon - an Infectious Diseases physician and microbiologist - to join us to answer some of those questions – as best he can – and give us all some peace of mind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those first few days, weeks, even years with a baby can be a real struggle if they’re not good sleepers. It can also be incredibly confusing as a first-time parent to know what to do! Routines, baby-led weaning, swaddles – what do all these things even mean?! Then when you’ve got to go back to work, ugh, it feels like you’ll never be able to manage. Well, help is here! Today we're joined by Maryanne Sayers, a certified baby sleep consultant, with some much-needed advice to help the whole family sleep better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of conversations about girls at the moment and whether or not enough has been done to give them equality in the workforce during their lifetime - especially today, International Women's Day. Today's guest says that she wants her daughter to grow up in a world where she has choices about where she works and what she does, but feels there are still not enough role models for them, particularly in professions dominated by men. Kate Bushell is the CEO & Founder of Girls of Impact and is helping girls realise they can be whatever they want at any age, and has some brilliant advice for parents of girls.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah and Mel chat swimming lessons - how hard do you push if they’re really hating it or can we just teach them ourselves? Lady J / Julia Morris shares her nice-but-not-very-bright life advice and reveals how she lets go of the working mum guilt. We meet a single mum who has packed up her house and hit the road with her two kids on an outback adventure in an old campervan. Bondi Rescue is back, and we catch up with new dad Beardy about juggling fatherhood and saving lives. And Sarah and Mel get real about yelling, working and the guilt that sometimes consumes us from both.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ugh guilt. We all know it's such a wasted emotion but sometimes it's really difficult to keep in check - especially if you've spent the morning yelling at the kids to leave the house. Mel and Sarah get candid about the struggles of getting to work, that dreadful feeling when you've had one of 'those' mornings' then have to switch into work mode, and how we can try to stop with the self-flagellation and be kinder to ourselves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I didn’t know this, but Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach was shut down for the first time since WWII in March last year due to Covid. But it’s now back in business, and that means the team from Bondi Rescue are back. I can’t believe the show is in its 16th season, and during that time there have been a lot of changes – on and off the screen. One of the biggest changes this year involves Daniel McLaughlin AKA Beardy, who has been promoted to head lifeguard alongside Hoppo AND welcomed a new baby six months ago. The new dad joins us to talk about juggling a new baby and saving lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During Victoria’s lockdown, single mum Carol Owen realised that her lockdown life looked pretty much the same as her normal life. So she decided to do something about it. During the second lockdown, Carol and her two boys, Wesley and Monty, packed up their South Gippsland home, put their things in storage and set off in a 1992 campervan - affectionately nicknamed the Wocomo Turtle - and hit the road. Carol joins us to share why they headed off on the adventure of a lifetime and how she made it happen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She is the queen of TV – and Instagram. If you don’t follow her, you need to, stat. She’s hilaire. And she makes life look super easy, and super fun. Julia Morris is the host of I’m A Celeb (as well as a million other credits to her name), and now she’s dishing out nice-but-not-very bright life advice on everything from parenting to work, in a new audiobook on Audible, called 'Julia Morris makes it easy'. Lady J joins us to share the story behind her part comedy memoir part self-help piss take, the age of her daughters she's found the most challenging, and how she manages to ditch the working mum guilt.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living in a country surrounded by water, with backyard pools, lakes, rivers and dams everywhere, it's so important that our kids learn to swim. But sometimes it can become a chore if your child really hates the water. Sarah and Mel talk about whether you should push it, or give them a break and maybe teach them yourself when they're ready.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah and Mel talk about how quickly girls seem to be losing their innocence before they become aware of their body and how they look to other people. We are joined by a travel expert to find out how to holiday with a large family and still enjoy it. Author and social researcher Maggie Hamilton joins us to talk about whether we’re raising our children to live isolated lives. Lisa Wipfli stops by for a chat to share her tips on getting out the door and to school on time without losing your mind. And Sarah asks about an issue many parents face – car sickness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Car sickness in children can make it very tough to go anywhere, especially right now when road trips are really are our only option! For some parents, even short trips can be a nightmare with kids. So how do you handle it? Sarah and Mel share their experiences in today's ep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The kids have been back at school for a couple of weeks now and we are slowly getting used to making lunchboxes again (god how boring is it, and washing all the bits is the pits!). But it can still be super stressful to get the kids out the door, especially with many companies transitioning back into the office. We are joined on the pod today by Lisa Wipfli who shares three kids with Nova Sydney brekkie host Wipa. She shares her tips on getting ready and out the door in the morning, and opens up about the stress of giving birth at the start of the pandemic, just as Wipa and his brekkie team were being tested for Covid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living through a pandemic this past year has taught us all easily we can get by without seeing anyone. Literally, everything we want or need is available on our smartphones. But that also means we’re missing out on social interactions, and for some people, that could mean loneliness slowly creeping into their lives. So what does that mean for our children, growing up with all this technology and less face to face time? We’re joined today by acclaimed social researcher Maggie Hamilton who has a new book out called When We Become Strangers, to talk about whether we’re raising out children to lead isolated lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mel is one of four and knowing what she knows now about travelling with kids, she's not sure why they ever went on holidays! Mum-of-six, yup, SIX, Rebecca Mason, was working for her family’s travel agency Mr Chocolate’s Travel when Covid hit and everything came to a screeching halt. So she took her travel experience and wrote a book - especially for large families - called The Expert’s Guide to Large Family Travel. Rebecca us to share her wisdom and tips to travelling with a large family - and having fun.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we're younger we're so blissfully unaware. We haven't started noticing our looks, or what other people think of us. We have this beautiful innocence, and then slowly it's moulded out of us. We become self-conscious, that little voice in our head starts chiming in with negative comments and we become more aware of other people's judgement. And it seems to be happening younger and younger. Mel and Sarah talk about why this is happening and what we can do about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we meet Sam Bloom, the incredible mum behind the new Naomi Watts film Penguin Bloom. We chat with a mum who still suffers from anxiety and grief three years after nearly losing her twins. Blogger Victoria Vanstone reveals how to say goodbye to the people pleaser in you and how she finally put down the wine glass for good. And Sarah opens up about how to handle her toddler telling lies!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Porky pies, fibs, tall tales. When kids reach the stage where they start telling lies, it can be funny but also embarrassing. So how should you handle a lying child? Sarah and Mel share their experiences, with plenty of laughs along the way (mostly at their expense).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all seen the mummy wine time memes and had a LOL. But what happens when that stress release gets out of control and you can't get up and parent the next day? Originally from the UK, mum-of-three Victoria Vanstone been writing about motherhood and her sobriety journey for the past couple of years, and she joins us to share her story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Diana Nicolls was ten weeks pregnant, she found out she had Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome - a rare pregnancy where twins share one placenta and a network of blood vessels. Her complicated pregnancy took a huge toll on her mentally and physically, and the grief and anxiety still lingers three years later. Diana, who is also a personal trainer and marathon runner, has now released a book about her experience called 30 Weeks and 1 Day and she joins us to share her story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Sam Bloom headed off on a family holiday to Thailand with her three sons, she never could have imagined what would happen. The young mum and keen outdoorswoman fell off a rooftop and broke her vertebrae in two places, as her children looked on. Paralysed from the waist down, she was left questioning who she was as a woman and a mother, and spent long months battling depression. Then a year later her children brought home a wounded baby magpie and her life changed. Her incredible story is now a film starring Naomi Watts, and Sam opens up about how this little bird called 'Penguin', helped her heal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we catch up with one-half of the parents competing on The Amazing Race after a cancer battle and losing their business. Finance expert Effie Zahos shares the best way to save for your child’s education. Author Dr Susie O’Brien joins the pod to tell us why we should all strive to be half-arsed parents. (so here for this). Actress Zoe Naylor opens up about the 'healing' of her second birth. And the gorgeous Taryn Brumfitt shares her top tips to change your mindset when you’re having one of those ‘meh’ days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is one of our absolute favs. She oozes body confidence and positivity, but it wasn’t always that way… Taryn Brumfitt was on the cusp of getting plastic surgery after her third child when she realised the example she was setting for her daughter. So instead, she posted a nude picture on social media showing how much her body has changed between her bodybuilding days and now. It quickly went viral with more than 3.6 million people viewing and sharing it - including Ashton Kutcher! She then founded The Body Image movement and released a fantastic film called Embrace. Now she’s getting behind the Cupid’s Undie Run which raises funds and awareness for The Children’s Tumour Foundation and Neuroblastoma, and is encouraging everyone to embrace their body, strip down to the knickers and help raise money for this brilliant cause.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aussie actor Zoe Naylor has two beautiful children with fellow actor Aaron Jeffries, and now she's stepping behind the camera. Zoe has opened up about the trauma of her first birth, and how her second a few years back was the complete opposite and actually ended up being a ‘healing’ experience. This prompted her to produce a film called Birth Time, and embark on a mission to find out why an increasing number of women are emerging from their births physically and emotionally traumatised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ah being a parent, full of love and wonder, while simultaneously being exhausting and stressful. But we are creating all that stress ourselves? Today’s guest says we need to let all that pressure to be perfect go, and just go back to basics. Dr Susie O'Brien is a journalist and columnist with a PhD in Education, and she has a new book out, The Secret of Half-Arsed Parenting - Raising kids with half the guilt and twice the joy. She joins us to (hopefully!) share some of those secrets…See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m a words not numbers person, so thinking about finances and planning for the future does hurt my head a bit. One thing I did do when my kids were born, was start an education fund. But I have often wondered whether it’s the best way to save for their schooling. Today’s guest is one of Australia’s leading personal finance commentators, and the author of Ditch the Debt and Get Rich (yes please!). Mum-of-two Effie Zahos joins us to share her advice on saving for schooling and where families go wrong when it comes to finances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year was tough, but for firefighter Deb and former NRL player Shane it was particularly tough. Shane was diagnosed with prostate cancer and Deb lost her gym during Covid. With Shane’s health improving, they decided they were ready to make the most of life and compete in the race of a lifetime – The Amazing Race Australia. They join us and reveal the hardest thing about the race, why they did it and how much the prize money would change their lives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we chat with Beau Ryan who reveals his top tip for travelling with kids and actually enjoying it. We get some incredible tips on raising girls who like themselves (in a world that tells them they're flawed). We meet the mums competing in The Amazing Race Australia and find out why they entered. Former Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson opens up about how she keeps smiling after a heartbreaking loss. And Sarah and Mel chat managing conflicting opinions around social distancing with families and friends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rules around what we can and can't do and with how many people has been nothing short of confusing! It's also been interesting to see how different family and friends have reacted to covid restrictions - some are very strict, some a bit more laid back. So how do you navigating varying opinions around what should or shouldn't be done without falling out with family or friends? Sarah and Mel share their experiences and how to navigate this complicated world we find ourselves in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Sarah and Mel talk about getting your sex life after having a baby. It's not always the first thing on your mind, let’s be honest! Career expert Katrine Tully shares her tips for bouncing back after redundancy. Author Ashley Audrain shares the highs and lows of giving up your day job to become a full-time mum. We are joined by podcast host and writer Annaliese Dent who shares her theory as to why mums are so obsessed with Netflix series Bridgerton. Only one reason we are... And Sarah and Mel talk about the struggle of explaining border closures to kids and why we can’t see family whenever we want.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.