Growing

Where the hell is my husband?!

This week Beth poses the important question: how many Airtaskers does it take to build an IKEA cupboard? As it turns out… quite a few. And it’s still not quite finished. The good news? Her twinny boys are growing beautifully (we’re talking almost off the charts x2), which feels like a reassuring little nudge that even under double load, her body knows exactly what it’s doing. Meanwhile, Lilly is knee-deep in silly-season chaos asking herself two things: Where the helly is that husband she married and where the helly is her iron? (Spoiler: she’s depleted on all fronts.) The girls also share a loving little reminder to compliment the mothers in your life. A small noticing can land like a hug — and we all need more of those. On R&R Beth’s Recommendation: A great summer read — The Paper Palace [https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-paper-palace-9780241990452] and a Recipe (sort of): Pods [https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/460811/pods-snickers-chocolate-snack-share-party-bag?srsltid=AfmBOor7ro0YAve84UeepDxarqcxHG4fNHxQYxoazFRo5vNyhW3lK1AT]. Yes, the chocolate ones in a packet snickers or mars or whatever takes your fancy. A recipe at a stretch, but deeply delicious. Lilly’s Recipe: A slow-cooked shredded beef ragu [https://www.recipetineats.com/slow-cooked-shredded-beef-ragu-pasta/] from RecipeTin Eats — perfect for boosting those iron levels. Make it here and Recommendation wise she’s suggesting a gorgeous, wholesome follow from a UK mum — @lifeatbluebell_ If you love the podcast, please recommend us to your mums group — and if you haven’t already, we’d so appreciate a rating and review. It helps more than you know. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

E112: Burnt out but laughing because, December.

This week we’re diving deeper into an ongoing growing pain with Beth - one sparked by a quote she stumbled across on Emma Morris [https://www.instagram.com/emmamorris.co?igsh=MXV0ZHJ4NjBleG45bQ==] Instagram about how burnout and motherhood [https://www.instagram.com/p/DRWJAOFEzyv/?igsh=dXZkMXRlcnUwaG9h]can collide in a big and overwhelming way. Together, the girls tease out what might be fueling the fire: * the relentless societal expectations placed on mothers * the invisible load of flurrying, scurrying, and holding everything together It’s reflective, heartfelt and deeply validating for anyone who feels stretched thin during this season. Meanwhile, Lil is feeling a little lonesome. Her husband is deep in silly-season festivities (every day and night) while she’s home picking up the pieces - and honestly, where are the Christmas parties for the mums?! R&R (Recipe & Recommendation) Beth’s Picks Recipe: A family favourite: this delicious, quick and comforting Sweet Chilli Chicken & Cashew Stir-Fry — perfect for weeknights. Try it here [https://www.quitelike.com/recipes/sweet-chilli-chicken-and-cashew-stir-fry-with-rice-rec_0100/?srsltid=AfmBOoqtHzQZRmwI8Rp2Ea8xzechyasvRASGqbxX_uY4K-v3rIGAxHMr] Recommendation: A beautiful round-up of local small businesses to shop this Christmas: Lauren Sissons Studio [https://laurensissons.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq_PG9B8G41Pf01qCBXwjjwlElaxEzagx4pOdyYEwYVVvHLOeu5&utm_source=chatgpt.com] – Art prints, wall stickers & kids card gamesRommer [https://www.rommerdesign.com/collections/kids-dinnerware?srsltid=AfmBOopyA-fkqNh8P8votDolgI57SC-YfiYge_0j0Rvc0hir2a8Nq9CA&utm_source=chatgpt.com] – Beautiful tableware for kidsKick Brick [https://kickbrick.com.au] – Construction toys for kidsMaynetic [https://maynetic.com.au] – Magnetic boards & toysMum Club [https://mumclub.com.au] – The BEST caps for mums, dads, aunties & unclesYour local bookshop – Always a perfect choiceDesign Planner Kids [https://thedesignplannerkids.com.au] – Personalised reusable colouring matsTara Treasures [https://taratreasures.com] – High-quality felt toysSound Slam [https://soundslam.com.au/pages/shop] – Card game for family funDays In The Sand [https://daysinthesand.com.au] – Bright wetsuits for kids Lil’s Picks Recipe: A delicious and versatile Beef Brisket from Boob to Food — tender, comforting and so good. Get the recipe here [https://boobtofood.com/2023-5-4-beef-brisket-2/] Recommendation: Inspired by a fortune cookie that read: “You deserve a rest. Relax and watch a movie.” So we’re passing that on to all of you — consider this your official sign to pause. Make it a Christmas movie… or don’t. Whatever tickles your pickle.

E111: Motherhood - Easier Said Than Done

Motherhood: Easier Said Than Done. This week, Beth is feeling the weight of motherhood - and the never-ending list of shoulds. You know the ones: we should rest, we should drink water, we should move our bodies, we should nourish our bodies, we should look after ourselves… and yet the how feels completely out of reach. It’s one of those big, honest chats about the gap between what we know and what we can actually manage in the thick of motherhood. She also shares her sweet little glimmer of taking her daughter to the cinemas for the first time… where there is now (wait for it) a kids’ playground inside the cinema. Has society lost the plot entirely or is this an absolute hack? Hard to say, we’re not sure either.  Meanwhile, Lil is her own growing pain this week. She’s in a full shame spiral about her phone addiction and has bought herself a brick… but she’s so addicted she can’t seem to activate said brick. Make of that what you will. Lil’s Recommendation She’s obsessed with Avocado Zinc — specifically the tinted SPF and the blush for an easy, lazy-girl, put-together moment. It’s on sale — treat yourself Shop Avocado Zinc here [https://avocadozinc.com.au/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23095269310&gbraid=0AAAAABnvLfzdSb_6DLf3T9eA6TmM_t2Jt&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxJXJBhD_ARIsAH_JGjjDWfUAetCO_tdsFGbMpvPkHK0SLyfFV8X_TVufWaTaaLmC9n1WL14aAunCEALw_wcB] Lil’s Recipe A bold but life-changing avocado toast upgrade: add pickles (and goat’s cheese, and butter). She knows it’s a big ask — but it’s worth every bite. Beth’s Recommendation + Recipe A two-for-one delight: packet mix muffins. Any box from the supermarket will do — fun with a toddler, low-pressure, and absolutely in alignment with our current energy levels. Also to circle back to a previous R&R of Lil’s Beth now has her very own Tineco mop and she’s absolutely sold — you can be to if you want to jump on the bandwagon Tineco [https://au.tineco.com/collections/on-sale?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22881572371&gbraid=0AAAABA_KIUUqdbbF3YlQYlam-DiuwrBM0&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxJXJBhD_ARIsAH_JGjhIO_bFKO9oL1OKM9-1qqzSuaIV_dw-qKw4jsJUurrE6YxYgRUwTggaAqvhEALw_wcB] .

E110: Grandparents taking annual leave?! Access Denied

This week’s episode is full of feelings, fears, laughter and the kind of friendship that carries you through the chaos of motherhood. Lil’s growing pain hits deep: her parents will be away when her second baby is due, and it’s unearthed a much bigger emotional wobble - that age-old fear of expanding your family and wondering how everyone will cope with the shift. Beth gently holds space, offering reassurance, validation and the reminder that worry often shows up when we’re standing on the edge of something beautiful. Beth’s growing pain is a little more tick tick boom -  quite literally. ’Tis the season for paralysis ticks, and an unexpected trip to emergency threw her week off. All is well now, but the girls chat through what happened, what to look for, and share the NSW Health Tick Fact Sheet for fellow Aussie parents - you can read it here [https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/tick-bite.aspx]. And if, like Lil, you need to level up your first-aid kit (sadly tick off not included), check out Rhythm First Aid [https://rhythmfirstaid.com.au] for family-friendly kits and resources. R&R (Recipe & Recommendation) Beth’s Recipe: A gift from her mum and the perfect silly-season starter: Confit tomato and ricotta crostini [https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/confit-tomato-ricotta-crostini/93b211e4-d74e-4eae-abe2-3c81a0034ab4]. Fresh, quick, delicious. Beth’s Recommendation: A beauty fave for daily wear: the Maybelline foundation [https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/129546/maybelline-superstay-skin-tint-foundation-02] (it’s on sale, so treat yourself). Lil’s Reverse Recommendation: Skip the movie Regretting You (trust us). Instead, grab popcorn + Malteasers and sit outside the cinema catching up with a girlfriend — infinitely better. Lil’s Recipe: This delicious, crispy potato “salad” — flavourful, easy and so satisfying. Watch it here [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNlSpOloYHS/?igsh=NnlvazZoYnNlaTM=].

E109: Two Hot Mess Mums

Don’t mind Lil’s dulcet, slightly sultry tones this week — she’s sick as a dog and tries not to complain about it *too* much. Beth’s throwing her hat in the ring for the Hot-Mess Mum Award after dropping a few too many mental-load balls (don’t even get us started on the drama that is the Centrelink portal). It’s honest, funny, and full of the small moments that make motherhood both ridiculous and relatable. Lil’s R&R Recommendation: Eau Bags [https://eaubags.com/collections/perfectly-imperfect]— the perfect blend of chic and practical. Recipe: Lil’s Yiros Wrap Shopping List — coming to @growingthepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/growingthepodcast] this week! Beth’s R&R Recipe: Chewy choc-chip cookies [https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies] — simple, sweet, and guaranteed to lift your mood. Recommendation: Twoobs Shoes [https://twoobs.com/products/the-bff-just-black?variant=50092388516121&country=AU¤cy=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=22562597183&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22566167647&gbraid=0AAAAADSL14UdgKUFyFS2aogF4Mqs94ag7&gclid=CjwKCAiAt8bIBhBpEiwAzH1w6SRi8qWmnDdiP6wnajf0vgXUO63S_9H8VfL9JUbKhkiF5ZMxaK0q-xoChHwQAvD_BwE] — comfy, sustainable, and perfect for mum-life on the go.  This episode is proudly brought to you by Looma Collective — the Aussie brand creating beautiful, practical essentials for little ones. Everything they produce is designed to make everyday moments calmer, comfier and more sustainable. Use code GROWING20 for 20% off and thank us later.  Explore the full range here [https://www.looma.com.au] Follow along on Instagram @looma.collective [https://www.instagram.com/looma.collective]