#116: Our relationship with play

In this episode Annabelle and Em get into quite a heavy topic, sparked by recent events, and therefore start this episode with a trigger warning. They discuss their own responses to the Bondi stabbing attack and how they have been processing this and feeling that strong, yet invisible thread, that connects Mothers to one another. This conversation leads into the anxieties and intrusive thoughts that Motherhood can bring, and Annbelle and Em share vulnerable stories about their own experiences with this.

In this episode Annabelle and Em explore the feelings we go through as parents as our children move through the different ages and stages. We discuss the fears we have about where our children are at, what's "normal," our parenting styles and more. We digress to share our own stories on how our children have said hurtful things or began swearing and discuss how we have handled these situations. If you ever wonder if what your child is doing right now will determine who they will be for the rest of their life this episode is for you!

In this episode Annabelle & Em discuss when you have the desire or knowing that you want to have another child, but your partner is done. Annabelle talks about her knowing that she feels there is another little soul who is destined to be part of the family, but her partner, is done with 2. Em chats about her transition to 3, the joys and ease-fullness, despite not being “easy”. The girls also talk about how it’s hard on the parent who doesn’t feel done & how they are the ones who really have to do the “work” in processing this. Interesting topic for anyone who is going through this - you’re not alone!

In the episode Annabelle and Em chat about labels! This topic came about due to the many conversations Em has had recently with parents about their children. These conversations had a similar theme of parents being told their child has a hard time following instructions, listening, staying still and so on. So we are asking the question are labels helpful or limiting? And is the child just 3 or is there something else going on? We unpack this and delve into so much more, as we go off on other interesting tangents (as always!)

In this episode Annabelle and Em talk about play! They share their own experiences and how play has helped their relationship with their children, but also with their partners and themselves. They discuss how differently boys and girls play and how this is a factor in how much they choose to play with their own children. They want to be the fun Mum, but they also want to just lay on the couch, do you relate?

In this episode Annabelle and Em talk about their relationships and how they have shifted since having children but also in the last few years (since the first episode they did on this topic). They dicuss how they navigate the common problems most relationships have, including the "who has it harder" argument, how to become better communicators, the changing seasons and how it’s a commitment to work on the relationship. They also discuss things they’ve personally done to strengthen their bonds & how to become a better team.

In this episode Emily shares a current theme that has been present in her community over the past few months- resilience. She talks about the two examples of where resilience has been a topic of conversation. This involves the heat wave we have had in Perth and how this has impacted the We Are Nature Network programs and has meant diving into the philosophy of programs, and how the changes in weather influences resilience building. This discussion also involves a topic that was brough up in the VIP SEED membership, where a question was asked about competitive children. Emily shares her own experience of dealing with competitive children and how she dealt with this while tying in the topic of resilience.

We are backkkkkk!!!!! We are kicking off a new season with a little bit about what has been going on in our personal lives, and for Annabelle that's becoming a kindy mumma! In this episode we talk about the feelings that have come up from having a child start kindy, dealing with school refusal, being flexible with the approach to starting school to remove the pressure, and stepping into this new era of motherhood.

In this episode we chat with Bec, mumma to Audrey, who goes by her nickname Bug. Bec birthed Bug almost ten years ago at home after switching from the private hospital setting which didn't feel right! Bec's biggest inspiration and advocates for instinctual undisturbed birth were animals, in being a zookeeper at the time. This story is shared with so much trust in the birth process and how simple it was really be, which makes sense when you hear Bec's experience holding space for a Giraffes birth! Bec is now a photographer inspired to share more stories visually on the beauty and power of women and mothers and you can find her here @wild.flow.her Bec is offering 10% off a shoot with her from the podcast release date (26th June) for 10 days. Book in with her within 10 days with a deposit!

In this episode we chat with sovereign woman, Karis, mumma to two girls and all round goddess! Karis had a midwife led, textbook birth with her first daughter, but as soon as she heard about free birth she knew this was the path for her and her second daughter! Her freebirth had many events that would likely have been pathologized and become emergencies had she birthed in the system, but Karis had full trust in her body and her baby.