Feeding Kids Without the Pressure

Feeding Kids Without the Pressure

Feeding kids can feel surprisingly loaded. From fussy eating and food refusal to lunchbox pressure, hidden veggies, dessert negotiations and the endless question of whether your child is eating “enough”, mealtimes can quickly become one of the most stressful parts of parenting. In this episode of Things Nobody Tells You, we’re joined by paediatric feeding specialist Mandy Adno for a reassuring and practical conversation about feeding kids without the pressure. Mandy unpacks why fussy eating is so common, what neophobia actually means, and why so much of feeding is about more than the food on the plate. Together, we explore the pressure parents often feel at mealtimes, the division of responsibility between parent and child, sensory preferences, food exposure, lunchbox comparison, meal planning, treats, dessert and knowing when fussy eating may need extra support. This episode is for any parent who has ever counted mouthfuls, negotiated “just one more bite”, hidden vegetables in pasta sauce, worried about what comes home in the lunchbox, or quietly wondered if something feels off. Because feeding is never just about food. It’s about bodies, confidence, connection, trust and taking the pressure off everyone at the table.

The Updates Impacting Family Health In NSW

Navigating healthcare as a parent can feel overwhelming. The endless questions, the waiting lists, the late-night uncertainty about whether something is urgent, and the pressure of knowing when to seek help. In this episode, Emmy sits down with Ryan Park, NSW Minister for Health, for an honest and practical conversation about the changes helping families access care more easily. From urgent care clinics that can help families avoid unnecessary emergency department visits, to virtual care options available in the middle of the night, they unpack what parents need to know when they are trying to make the right call for their child. They also discuss ADHD reforms and the shift towards more support through GPs, the needle-free flu vaccine for children who are terrified of needles and the growing focus on making healthcare more accessible for families. The conversation also explores birth trauma, the new Chief Midwife role and why so many women still feel unheard during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Ryan also shares more about the Raise It program, which empowers patients and families to speak up when something does not feel right, as well as changes allowing pharmacies to treat uncomplicated UTIs, helping women access care faster and more easily. This is an informative conversation for any parent trying to navigate the health system, advocate for their child and access care without the overwhelm. Ryan’s message is clear: trust your gut, know your options and use the resources available to you. Healthdirect: 1800 022 222

Matrescense: The Motherhood Brain Upgrade

Becoming a mother is a complete neurological transformation that nobody prepares you for. In this episode, Emmy sits down with Nadine Richardson, Author and Founder of She Births for an honest conversation about matrescence, the term describing maternal adolescence and the profound changes that happen across pregnancy and the first two years postpartum. This isn't just about identity shifts or lifestyle adjustments. They unpack the science behind what's happening in your body and brain, from the hormones driving the transformation to why "baby brain" is actually a brain upgrade. They discuss the importance of creating the right environment during this vulnerable time, why your birth experience matters so deeply and how partners go through their own transformation (patrescence). They talk about the practical side of care, boundaries and proper postpartum support and why lying horizontal matters more than you think. And perhaps most importantly, they explore how to hold the paradox of grief and joy, exhaustion and love, the disappearing of your old self and the becoming of someone new. This is a grounding conversation for anyone navigating early motherhood, preparing for birth, or ready to understand why this transformation feels so overwhelming and so sacred at the same time.

Periods, Puberty and Hormones

Periods, puberty and the cyclical nature of being a woman - these are conversations many of us didn't grow up having. No shame-free chats, no honoring of what our bodies were doing, just a textbook at school and maybe a book from mum if you were lucky. In this episode, Emmy sits down with Anna Maria - naturopath, herbalist doula, and mum to four girls - for a deeply honest conversation about raising daughters who understand their bodies, their cycles and their power. From menarche (the first period) to the monthly rhythm of hormones, energy and cravings - they unpack what nobody tells you about the foundations of women's health. They talk about the shame so many of us carry from our own first period, how that ripples into how we parent and why changing the narrative starts with us. They dive into the cyclical nature of the menstrual cycle - the rise and fall of energy, the need for rest, the cravings that aren't weakness but wisdom and why honouring that rhythm changes everything. They also explore how to talk to your daughter (and sons) about periods without awkwardness, why leaving the bathroom door open matters and how small shifts in language can build pride instead of shame. This is a grounding, empowering conversation for anyone raising girls, navigating their own cycle, or ready to heal the parts of themselves that were never honoured.

Primary School Unfiltered: The Friendship Years

School is more than just classrooms and homework - it's friendships, inclusion, self-worth, extracurriculars, parent politics, and the relentless juggle of getting three kids to five different places while remembering which one needs their library book. In this episode, Emmy sits down with Kiindred’s own resident mum, Julia, for a deeply honest conversation about navigating primary school life across kindy to year six. From the early days when everyone's invited to birthday parties, to the gut-punch moment when your child is the one left out - they unpack the stuff nobody prepares you for. They talk about friendships and how they can make or break whether your kid wants to go to school, the impact COVID had on social development for that whole cohort and why some kids fly under the radar while others collect certificates every assembly. They also dive into the pressure of after-school activities, the guilt around not doing enough (or doing too much) and how to build a healthy relationship with your child's teacher without becoming that parent. With real talk on masking, neurodivergence, the comparison trap between siblings, why the school report card doesn't always reflect effort, and the importance of raising kids who can see things from someone else's perspective - this is a grounding, relatable conversation for anyone in the thick of primary school life.