The Juggling Act

I love being the mum of a boy. There, I’ve said it. I’m just a little bit obsessed with how affectionate and loving he is.  Every night since he was born, I whisper as I kiss him goodnight ‘you’re my kind, gentle, respectful little boy, and I love you’. Look he’s 5 now and he looks at me like I’m mad but still says ‘give me a hug mumma'. After going through a messy marriage breakdown, that’s exact...

Picture this. You've just run out of bread for school lunches in the morning, the kids are happily watching TV and the shop is just down the road. Is it okay to duck out and leave them alone? There are so many variables to take into consideration when making that decision - their age, how long for you'll be gone for, whether they can call for help or ask a neighbour if they need it. Sarah and Mel...

This week, Sarah and I talked about why we get Imposter Syndrome when we start a new role.  We’re joined by dad-of-three and all-round Juggling Act fav Jimmy Rees on how his little family is managing during lockdown (yup it involves lots of silly videos and his wife is not impressed…) Former Bachelor winner Snezana Wood calls in and opens up about how her life behind closed doors is VERY different...

Co-sleeping, it's often one of those things you think you'll never do PK (pre-kids), but then end up doing at some stage. Sarah has started sleeping in the same bed as her toddler, because it's just easier to get him to sleep - and stay asleep! So does it really matter, or should she find a way to stop?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year has been rough on everyone, but particularly our kids. Bushfires, a global pandemic, homeschooling, lockdown… and no end in sight. As a result, Smiling Mind  - who help provide support and advice around children’s mental health - have been inundated with requests from teachers, parents and carers throughout COVID-19 on what they can do to help. We're joined by Smiling Mind CEO and Clinic...

Bachelor success story Snez and Sam Wood have now been in lockdown with three kids – twice. But if there socials and workout videos are anything to go by, they’re having the time of their lives – as always! Snez joins us and admits that Instagram is far from their reality and opens up about the joys and challenges of having three girls.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jimmy Giggle is one of our favourite guests on The Juggling Act, so I thought it was high time we checked back in with him to see how he’s managing in Melbourne with three small boys during Covid. He’s been churning out hilarious videos on Tik Tok and Instagram, reminding us all that we’re not alone on this crazy parenting journey - including one of my favourites about the things parents say, but...

With the recent Covid restructuring at my workplace, I was moved under a new manager. She gave me my first big project, and I was so stressed that she was going to suddenly discover that I sucked at my job and was a total fraud! Classic Imposter Syndrome, doubting myself even though I'd been in the job for more than four years. So why do we get it and how can we stop?   See omnystudio.com/listener...

This week, we chatted about whether you can ever ‘own’ a baby name? We’re joined by a mum who outsourced someone to homeschool her kids so she could keep working… Googlebox star Isabelle Silbury calls in to share her gorgeous engagement news and shares her advice on introducing kids to a new partner… Dr Sam Hay is in the studio with some tips on dealing with sensitive, itchy skin in kids (winter b...

Toilet training your first child can be an overwhelming task. What age should you start? How do you know if they are ready? How do you do it? What about overnight? It's a lot for you to get your head around as a parent, let alone your child. Join Mel and Sarah as they share their experiences - what worked, what didn't and when they started.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hand sanitiser has become one of those things we don’t leave the house with… keys, wallet, phone, sanitiser. Good to go! But man it can be drying on your skin in winter (especially our little ones) and with the frequency we’re using it.  Winter is a tough time on kid’s sensitive skin in general. Heating, warm baths, it’s all an itchy recipe for disaster. Dr Sam Hay joins us for a chat and some adv...

Just a few weeks ago, Googlebox star and single mum Isabelle Silbery revealed she was engaged to her new boyfriend Alex after he proposed with a ring his mum gave him when he was 18. After she went through a traumatic breakup late last year, they started dating - but then COVID struck. Instead of putting her new love on hold, she decided to self-isolate with him - after five dates. She joins us to...

It’s no secret that working mums have been struggling. It’s been a shitty, shitty year on so many levels with the additional pressure of working from home and in a lot of cases, homeschooling. And while research has found that men have been helping out more at home, it’s still mums that traditionally take on the bulk of the household management. That workload sometimes feels like it’s impossible t...

Choosing a name for your baby can be equal parts exciting and stressful! You've got to find one that both you and your partner agree on, that doesn't clash with their surname and that other kids can't make up a terrible nickname from when they start school. So what happens when someone else wants to use 'your' name? Can you ever 'own' a baby name?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

This week, we chatted about whether it's good for siblings to share a bedroom (if you have a choice!). We’re joined by Getaway host Charli Robinson who opens up about her breastfeeding struggles (while breastfeeding her two-week old bubba - total boss!). Blissed out new mum Jennifer Hawkins stops by and reveals how she handles those really tough days… Psychologist Belinda Williams gives us some ti...

So today is a very important day – RED NOSE DAY. In Australia, nine babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every day. That's more than 3000 babies every year. Just devastating. But to provide some hope and support, we have Red Nose Australia. Founded in 1977 by parents who wanted to find out why their babies died suddenly and unexpectedly, and then educate parents and health professionals about how...

A colleague was telling me recently that she’s basically the man in their relationship because she’s working at home from 2-10pm each day, and misses out on bedtime. And her husband is struggling. He never realised how hard it was to go to work and then come home to your other job. It can be tough when your partner doesn’t step up and help share the mental load – especially when you’re both workin...

 In October last year, Jennifer Hawkins gave birth to her first child after a two year fertility battle, stage four endometriosis diagnosis and a heartbreaking miscarriage. Ten months on and they’re understandably smitten. Jen joins us and opens up about how overwhelming it can be as a first-time mum and her biggest hopes for Frankie when she grows up.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Breastfeeding - an incredible bonding experience if you and your bub can do it, a stressful situation if you can't. It’s just not as easy as you think it’s going to be when you first become a mum but not enough people talk about it. Today we're joined by Charli Robinson, TV presenter and mum of 18-month toddler Kensington and two-week-old newborn Theadora, who gets real about her breastfeeding str...

I was so worried about moving my second child into a room with the older sibling. I thought they'd just muck around and never go to sleep! While that did happen briefly, they now struggle to sleep in a room without the other. I also grew up sharing a room with my sister, so it's all I know. So if you have a choice, are siblings better off in the same room? When is the right time to transition and...

This week, we chatted about whether it’s okay to let your child watch a screen while they eat – is it practical or totally wrong? We’re joined by writer Annaliese Dent who tried Kate Middleton’s ‘no shouting’ rule with her kids. Hilarious! Mum of four Sophie –Gwidolin stops by to help us get our fitness journey started, while PR queen and single mum Tory Archbold reveals how she’s helping inspire...

I've been reading a lot about helping children calm down during a tantrum. Teaching them to name their feelings, letting them know you understand how they feel, then when they're out the other side having a conversation about what they could do differently next time. All sounds great in theory right?! But while I'm piling on the empathy, I'm struggling to teach them to respect boundaries - and me....

I take my hat off to any working parent, but I know first-hand the additional pressures you face when you’re flying solo. Tory Archbold is one of those parents. A public relations powerhouse who launched her impressive PR business Torstar, 20 years ago, she’s amassed a seriously impressive client list, including Zara, Topshop and Victoria’s secret, all while raising her daughter on her own. But be...

I’ve been trying to work out more at home, and I did a routine last night by Sophie Guidolin (along with all of her adorable kids) on Body+Soul. Phwoar, that one hurt! Sophie is a fitness entrepreneur, author of 9 recipe books and mum-of-four, including twin girls. That is a LOT of juggling. I caught up with the queen of multi-tasking who reveals the simple way she keeps all the balls in the air....

It’s a common issue I hear from other friends with kids, trying to curbing the shouting. Not just us, but the kids yelling at each other as well. The bickering never ends! It’s something writer Annaliese Dent knows all too well. So when she stumbled across the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s strict ‘no shouting’ rule after a particularly shouty moment between her kids, she decided to give it a go....