Navigating Parenthood

In a day and age when we’re so connected it sometimes feels like we’re moving further apart. And if you think your tweens are growing at an alarming rate, it’s probably because they are! But there are plenty of ways to stay connected to your kids and make sure that family time is quality time. Join Dylan Lewis once more as he chats with Dave McCormack and Robbie Buck about the pressure to spend one-on-one time with your kids in a large family and what they do to maintain and strengthen family connections. In this final episode of Navigating Parenthood: Growing Great Tweens, brought to you by HCF we find out what it takes to make lasting memories and connect as a family. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As much as we tell our kids they can be or do anything, external messages may slip in. Gender stereotypes we thought we’d retired long ago are still reinforced in popular culture, online or even the playground and teaching our tweens to recognise these gendered norms is the first step. How can we raise this next generation differently and how do we teach our tweens that no one is built for any one box? Join host, Dylan Lewis, for an insightful chat with Meshel Laurie and Sean Szeps, who are each raising fraternal twins. They talk role models, toys and how to have those tricky gender-identity discussions with your kids. On this episode of Navigating Parenthood: Growing Great Tweens, brought to you by HCF we look at the gender stereotypes still impacting our kids. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Making friends isn’t always an easy thing. Throw in transitioning from primary school to high school, social media and external pressures and those friendships become more important than ever. But how do we teach kids to not only be good friends but what to expect from their peers in return. When does peer influence become peer pressure? Join host Dylan Lewis as he speaks to Pia Miranda and George Georgievski, two parents of tweens who know navigating young friendships all too well, to find out when to respect your child’s friendship choices and if it’s ever okay to meddle. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood: Growing Great Tweens, brought to you by HCF, we discuss the difference between primary school and high school friends as well as friendship advice for your tween at home. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With so much learning, socialising and gaming done online, there is a fine line both parents and their tweens walk when navigating the world of tech and kids. Technology is an integral part of their lives and with that comes a lot of benefits. But how do we keep our kids safe online and protect their privacy, while allowing them to prosper both scholarly and socially? Listen to Dylan Lewis chat through tweens, gaming and technology with Dr Catriona Wallace and Mark Serrels, 2 experts (and parents) in the field, to find out what tech rules are worth ditching and how to raise savvy children in a very connected world. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood: Growing Great Tweens, brought to you by HCF, we discuss the benefits of kids gaming online and how parents can get in on the action too. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tween years are such a transformative time for kids. As they begin to find their place in the world, they’re also navigating that jump from primary school to high school and all the challenges that come with it. So how do we prepare children for the future? Is it as simple as raising resilient kids and letting them tackle these next stages head on? Host and tween-dad Dylan Lewis chats with Lauren Patterson and Susie Maroney about building mental strength in their tweens, resilience and when it’s best to let your little ones tackle tricky situations on their own. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood: Growing Great Tweens, brought to you by HCF, we find out what it takes to be mentally strong not only as a tween, but as a parent of tweens too! Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating preadolescence is scary enough but when questions arise around cultural identity or gender identity, things can get pretty overwhelming for our tweens. How do you parent a child who doesn’t feel at home in their own body? Or a kid dealing with prejudices and peer pressure on the playground? And how do we arm tweens with the self-confidence to find or even change their identity. Dylan Lewis chats with Carolyn Tate, a mum of 3, whose eldest son started their transitioning journey when he was 12 years old after experiencing gender dysphoria. We also hear from Andy Saunders, a father of 2 and foster father of 2, whose relationship with his grandfather shaped the way he’s shared his Aboriginal heritage with his own kids. In this first episode of Navigating Parenthood: Growing Great Tweens, brought to you by HCF, we talk about gender identity and diversity, as well as the importance of culture in shaping our young people. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming soon, our fourth and most recent season, Growing Great Tweens, where dad and host Dylan Lewis discusses the experience of raising today’s tweens with other parents. Speaking with familiar voices, like Susie Maroney, Robbie Buck and Pia Miranda, he tackles issues faced by many families, from raising mentally strong kids and navigating the online universe, to how to foster family connection and recognise the identity biases faced by children in preadolescence. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life teaches us many things along the way, leaving us with valuable advice we can pass on to our kids, as well as other parents around us. Parenting is never easy, but looking back helps us celebrate successes and unpack how we’d do things differently. Jessica Rowe chats with parents at the top end of their parenting journey, with grown-up kids who have left the nest. She talks to a working mum juggling her career and now-adult kids, as well as two dads who became long-term foster parents. They reflect how they’ve done their best working through all of life’s surprises and what they know for sure about parenting. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Imperfect Parents, brought to you by HCF, we hear the insights and tips from parents who’ve faced unique challenges of their own. Hosted by Jessica Rowe Featured expert: Lydia Black from PSYCH2U For more help with your and your family’s mental health, head to HCF’s mental health support resources. Need help? If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, visit the government’s information about foster care. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For health concerns, speak to your doctor. HCF doesn't endorse any statements or opinions made during the podcast. This podcast contains general health information and shouldn't be relied on as medical advice. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For some, the first parenting challenge is actually having children – maybe it hasn’t been a possibility till later in life. Many women are delaying having a family well into their 30s and beyond so they can focus on other areas of their lives. And some might not find their life partner before their ideal fertility years. So, what happens when a woman decides to go it alone? Jessica Rowe chats with a woman who always wanted children but at the age of almost 40, her relationship fell apart. She was faced with a life-changing decision: to have a baby alone, or face the possibility that she may never have children. Fast forward to the present day and she’s now a happy and thriving single mum running her own business. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Imperfect Parents, brought to you by HCF, we learn about the challenges women face when going it alone on the parenting front and how to find support to carry the mental load. Hosted by Jessica Rowe Featured expert: Lydia Black from PSYCH2U For more help with your and your family’s mental health, head to HCF’s mental health support resources. Need help? If you’re considering becoming a single mum through a donor, visit advocacy group Solo Mums By Choice, and raisingchildren.net.au’s information for single parents. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For health concerns, speak to your doctor. HCF doesn't endorse any statements or opinions made during the podcast. This podcast contains general health information and shouldn't be relied on as medical advice. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Single-parent and blended families are just some of the many types of modern families. Raising a child can be difficult under any circumstance, but even more so if you’re going it alone. It can be hard and lonely. And how do you reach a place with your ex-partner that’s positive for your whole crew? Jessica Rowe chats with a parent who’s found a great co-parenting balance with her ex-partner, but their path has not been without its challenges. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Imperfect Parents, brought to you by HCF, we learn about the struggles parents go through after separation, how to protect your kids from the break-up shrapnel and go on to thrive. Hosted by Jessica Rowe Featured expert: Lydia Black from PSYCH2U For more help with your and your family’s mental health, head to HCF’s mental health support resources. Need help? If you need help after a relationship breakdown, visit raisingchildren.net.au on helping children adjust after separation or divorce, co-parenting and blended families. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For health concerns, speak to your doctor. HCF doesn't endorse any statements or opinions made during the podcast. This podcast contains general health information and shouldn't be relied on as medical advice. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you embark on family life, you hope to head down the safe and predictable road – healthy kids and partner, a job with enough income to live comfortably, and good mental health. But sometimes life can catch you unaware with a thunderbolt from the blue. Jessica Rowe chats with a mum about how her life took a very different turn to the one she had imagined. After a tough pregnancy with her first child, she was put on bed rest for the second half of her next pregnancy with twins. But not long after they were born, her partner was diagnosed with a brain tumour and she had to develop self-care strategies to cope. Life would never be the same. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Imperfect Parents, brought to you by HCF, we learn how to parent in times of unforeseen change, stress and upheaval. Hosted by Jessica Rowe Featured expert: Lydia Black from PSYCH2U For more help with your and your family’s mental health, head to HCF’s mental health support resources. Need help? If you need to create your own self-care strategies, read raisingchildren.net.au’s article on looking after yourself. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For health concerns, speak to your doctor. HCF doesn't endorse any statements or opinions made during the podcast. This podcast contains general health information and shouldn't be relied on as medical advice. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology has changed the way we all live – and the benefits can be felt across all ages and life stages. But how do you keep your kids safe online? How do you manage the right balance of screen time for kids? And how do you have the hard conversations about what’s out there and face up to the reality inappropriate material is so easy to come by. Jessica Rowe chats with a mum about her children’s own online experiences and how she managed a confronting situation that could have seen her daughter compromised in an unimaginably distressing way. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Imperfect Parents, brought to you by HCF, we learn how to teach your kids to be safe in the online community. Hosted by Jessica Rowe Featured expert: Lydia Black from PSYCH2U For more help with your and your family’s mental health, head to HCF’s mental health support resources. Need help? Read more on safety online from at eSafetyKids and the government’s online safety resource site. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For health concerns, speak to your doctor. HCF doesn't endorse any statements or opinions made during the podcast. This podcast contains general health information and shouldn't be relied on as medical advice. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every new day brings a new challenge in the life of a busy parent. While you try to smile your way through it, there are times when you can’t keep your cool, you think you’re failing, or when work is too much. Jessica Rowe chats with a parent about how she wrote her own parenting rulebook when it comes to juggling the work-life balance, dividing duties in the home, and balancing the mental load. She’s not tied down by the traditional expectations of how to parent, she chose her own path and changed course many times to fit in with her family’s needs and ultimate happiness. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Imperfect Parents, brought to you by HCF, we learn how to deal with the pressure of a busy life by changing the rules. Hosted by Jessica Rowe Featured expert: Lydia Black from PSYCH2U For more help with your and your family’s mental health, head to HCF’s mental health support resources. Need help? Visit raisingchildren.net.au for tips on work-life balance as a family. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For health concerns, speak to your doctor. HCF doesn't endorse any statements or opinions made during the podcast. This podcast contains general health information and shouldn't be relied on as medical advice. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE PODCAST PARENTS NEED Being a parent can be the greatest and the hardest thing you’ll ever do. In Navigating Parenthood, brought to you by HCF, parents and experts share their stories – the joys and stress, the advice and the insight. In the first two seasons of our podcast series, we explore the most challenging periods of any parent’s life: from taking those first baby steps in season one, to staying in step with our teens in season two. In season three, Imperfect Parents, our host Jessica Rowe talks to parents themselves about the struggles and juggles of raising happy health kids. We explore work-life balance, the challenge of co-parenting and separation, managing device time and what to do when the unexpected happens along your parenting journey. If this sounds familiar, listen in to our podcast where parents and our psychologist Lydia Black share their experiences, tips and insights for dealing with the complex pressures of parenting. Listen to the episodes below, or through your phone or tablet. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our bonus episode, in partnership with Netball Australia, host Cath Cox chats to three parents from Australia’s netball community about navigating the tough times of 2020 – what challenges have they faced this year and how can we look after our children’s mental health, as well as our own? Just like netball’s elite athletes, children need support to navigate change and uncertainty. Parents Allison, Emma and Shari have lived very different experiences throughout 2020, yet all share a common goal, to improve the mental wellbeing of their family. From dealing with childhood cancer and single parenthood, to being on the frontline of the healthcare and education industries as an essential worker, these parents have diverse stories to share and helpful insights. In this bonus episode of Navigating Parenthood – Talking to parents, brought to you by HCF, we hear the stories of parenthood from 2020 and provide practical advice, tools and tips for parents to support their children’s and their own mental wellbeing. Hosted by Catherine Cox, former Aussie Diamond captain and world champion, Channel Nine netball commentator and mum. Featured expert: Kirrilie Smout, clinical psychologist from Calm Kid Central and director of Developing Minds Psychology. Need help? Head to Calm Kid Central for online resources and access to online psychologists to help children aged 4-11 manage their ‘big feelings’. Visit the parent portal at Reach Out for further resources. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. For health concerns, speak to your doctor. HCF doesn't endorse any statements or opinions made during the podcast. This podcast contains general health information and shouldn't be relied on as medical advice. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you know how to start a conversation about eating issues? Could you spot the signs of bullying in your child? Emilia was seven when her eating disorder began. Now 16, she tells how she suffered silently through years of bullying and cripplingly low self-esteem. Developing a healthy body image is all part of growing up. Throw bullying into the mix and teens face all kinds of challenges from the playground to the wild world of online communication. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Talking to teens, brought to you by HCF, Emilia and her dad Tim help us learn how to talk about a teenager’s experience of eating disorders and bullying. Hosted by Rebecca Sparrow Featured expert: Mitch Doyle from Butterfly Foundation Need help? Read more on eating disorders at Butterfly Foundation or call 1800 33 4673. Learn how to understand the signs of eating disorders. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s normal for teenagers to be moody from time to time, but how do we spot the signs of true depression in our teens? At 12, Matt was living a seemingly normal suburban childhood. But on the inside, he questioned his self-worth, his self-image and whether it’d even matter if he was alive at all. Matt’s depression led to a suicide attempt that means he’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Now as a 19-year-old, he gives motivational talks to help teens and parents discuss mental health. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Talking to teens, brought to you by HCF, we learn how to talk about the teenage experience of depression. Hosted by Rebecca Sparrow Featured expert: Helen, social worker Need help? To know more about how to help a teen with depression go to Beyond Blue or call 1300 22 4636. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we help our teens navigate this major topic and time in their lives? Barney, 16, and Ella, 17, are teenagers with insightful views on sex, consent and relationships, from what dating looks like in 2020 to the biggest gaps in their sex education. Relationships and sex aren’t topics that most parents really tackle head on with their kids. These conversations are awkward for teens, and awkward for parents. But is dancing around these issues doing more harm than not addressing them? In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Talking to teens, brought to you by HCF, we learn how to talk about teen relationships, and all the physical and emotional complexities that come with them. Hosted by Rebecca Sparrow Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Study and exam stress can affect any student, and teenagers are experts at hiding their worries. So how do parents know when to offer help, and what should that help even look like? By the time Genevieve reached year 12, she was used to being on top of things: vice captain and sports captain of her school – a self-described high achiever. But in the middle of the HSC exam for her best subject, with her heart racing and everyone around her scribbling, she looked down at her paper, stood up and walked out. Gen had her first panic attack. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Talking to teens, brought to you by HCF, we learn how to talk about the teenage experience of stress and study. Hosted by Rebecca Sparrow Featured expert: Jackie Hallan from Reach Out Need help? Read more on stress and study from Reach Out. If you feel depressed or anxious, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when your child unexpectedly has to face the worst of life’s challenges? There are hundreds of parenting books out there, but there are some things you can never prepare your kids for. Grace was 10 when her father died. Since then, she’s had to process her own grief, as well as manage the feelings of people around her. Because as Grace says, people don’t know how to talk about death. In this episode of Navigating Parenthood – Talking to teens, brought to you by HCF, we hear from Grace and her mum Julie on how to talk about the teenage experience of grief and resilience, and what happens when your family unit changes forever. Hosted by Rebecca Sparrow Need help? GriefLine and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement offer online support, information and telephone counselling services. Support the show: https://www.hcf.com.au/podcast/navigating-parenthood See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.