Raising with the village

#17 - Phil - The Other Half of the Village: A Chef, a Dad, and the Honest Truth About Hospitality Parenting

The Other Half of the Village: A Chef, a Dad, and the Honest Truth About Hospitality Parenting If you listened to last week's episode with Hollie, you'll know the reality of parenting when your life runs opposite to everyone else's. This week, we hear from the other side of that story. Phil is a chef. His days start when most people's are ending. His weekends look nothing like yours. And his version of fatherhood has been built around late nights, long shifts, and a schedule that leaves very little room for the ordinary rhythms of family life. In this conversation, Phil opens up about what it really means to be a present dad in the hospitality industry — the solo parenting days, the exhaustion, the joy, and the quiet weight of doing it all while the rest of the world is asleep. We also get into some bigger questions. Could he imagine having more children with this life set up? And what do we really think about people who choose not to have children at all — and does our judgement change depending on who's making that choice? This is a rich, honest, and at times unexpected conversation. One that goes beyond the kitchen and into the heart of what modern fatherhood can look like. In this episode we talk about: * What a typical day looks like as a chef and a dad * Parenting solo when schedules don't align * Becoming a father and how it changed his perspective * Whether having more children is possible — or desirable — with this lifestyle * The societal pressure around parenthood choices, and the gender divide in how we judge them If this episode resonated with you, share it with a parent who might need to hear it — or leave a review. It means the world and helps this village grow. 💛 Raising with the Village This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.  New episodes every Thursday! 🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/ [https://raisingwith.co.uk/] 📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage [https://www.instagram.com/raisingwiththevillage] 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms. If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

#16 - Hollie - Raising a Child When You Work Nights, Weekends and Opposite Schedules

What happens when both parents work when everyone else is at home? In this episode of Raising with the Village, I’m joined by Hollie to talk about the reality of raising a child while working nights, weekends, and opposite shifts in the hospitality industry. When your family life runs against the rhythm of society, parenting can look very different. Nursery pick-ups, mealtimes, weekends, holidays, even time with your partner — everything takes more planning, more sacrifice, and often comes with a level of loneliness that many people don’t see. Hollie shares what it’s like to parent as a couple when you’re often simply passing each other, how their relationship has adapted, how they protect connection as partners, and the silent exhaustion that can come with feeling like a solo parent, even within a two-parent household. This is an honest and important conversation about invisible labour, shift work, modern family life, and a side of parenting we don’t talk about nearly enough. In This Episode We Cover *  Parenting while working nights, weekends and irregular hours  *  What it means to raise a child on opposite shifts  *  The hidden loneliness of parenting in hospitality  *  Feeling like a solo parent while co-parenting  *  Protecting your relationship when you barely see each other  *  The emotional and practical realities of shift work family life  *  Why non-traditional working families deserve more visibility  Why This Episode Matters This episode shines a light on a reality many families live, but few talk about openly. Whether you work in hospitality, healthcare, emergency services, retail, aviation, or any job involving shift work, this conversation may feel deeply familiar. And if you don’t — this episode offers an important window into a version of parenting many people don’t often see. Mentioned in This Episode *  Life as a hospitality family  *  Parenting on opposite schedules  *  Relationship resilience after becoming parents  *  The invisible mental load of non-traditional family life  Connect with Raising with the Village 🌿 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk [https://raisingwith.co.uk] 📷 Instagram: https://instagram.com/raisingwiththevillage 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ [https://podcasts.apple.com/] 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ [https://open.spotify.com/] If this episode resonated with you, please follow, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. 💛 Raising with the Village This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.  New episodes every Thursday! 🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/ [https://raisingwith.co.uk/] 📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage [https://www.instagram.com/raisingwiththevillage] 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms. If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

#15 - Siobhan - Unexpected Birth Abroad: Navigating Premature Birth & New Motherhood (Part 2)

What would you do if your baby arrived early… while you were on holiday, in a country where you don’t speak the language? In this powerful two-part story, Siobhan shares her experience of going into labour at just 32 weeks while abroad in France—completely unprepared for what was about to happen. From the shock of a premature birth in a foreign healthcare system, to time spent in the NICU, and the emotional rollercoaster that followed, this is an honest and eye-opening account of how quickly plans can change—and how resilience takes over when it has to. In Part 1, we follow the unexpected lead-up to labour and the birth itself. In Part 2, we explore the practical and emotional realities of life after NICU, navigating early parenthood abroad, and what it really means to care for a premature baby far from home. 💬 In this episode, we cover: *  Premature birth at 32 weeks while travelling abroad  *  Navigating a foreign healthcare system without speaking the language  *  NICU experience away from home  *  The transition from NICU to maternity ward  *  The emotional impact of unexpected birth experiences  *  Practical challenges of early parenthood in another country  *  Preparing (or not!) for a baby arriving early  ✈️ Travelling While Pregnant or With Young Children If you’re pregnant or travelling with little ones, this episode highlights just how important preparation can be. Some key things to consider: * Travel insurance when pregnant: Make sure your policy covers pregnancy-related complications, premature birth, and neonatal care. Not all standard policies include this.  * Essential documents to carry:  *  Maternity notes / pregnancy records  *  Passport + copies  *  European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) or equivalent  *  Emergency contact details  *  Birth preferences (if later in pregnancy)  * Before you travel:  *  Check airline policies for pregnant passengers  *  Know where the nearest hospital is at your destination  *  Discuss travel plans with your midwife or doctor  🩺 Additional Topics Mentioned * Group B Strep (GBS): A common bacteria that some women carry without symptoms, but which can be passed to babies during birth. Awareness and testing can be important, especially in premature deliveries. * 👉 Learn more:  https://www.gbss.org.uk 🤍 Final Thoughts This story is a reminder that birth doesn’t always go to plan—and sometimes, the most unexpected journeys become the most defining ones. 💛 Raising with the Village This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.  New episodes every Thursday! 🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/ [https://raisingwith.co.uk/] 📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage [https://www.instagram.com/raisingwiththevillage] 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms. If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

#14 - Siobhan - Unexpected Birth Abroad: Navigating Premature Birth & New Motherhood (Part 1)

What would you do if your baby arrived early… while you were on holiday, in a country where you don’t speak the language? In this powerful two-part story, Siobhan shares her experience of going into labour at just 32 weeks while abroad in France—completely unprepared for what was about to happen. From the shock of a premature birth in a foreign healthcare system, to time spent in the NICU, and the emotional rollercoaster that followed, this is an honest and eye-opening account of how quickly plans can change—and how resilience takes over when it has to. In Part 1, we follow the unexpected lead-up to labour and the birth itself. In Part 2, we explore the practical and emotional realities of life after NICU, navigating early parenthood abroad, and what it really means to care for a premature baby far from home. 💬 In this episode, we cover: *  Premature birth at 32 weeks while travelling abroad  *  Navigating a foreign healthcare system without speaking the language  *  NICU experience away from home  *  The transition from NICU to maternity ward  *  The emotional impact of unexpected birth experiences  *  Practical challenges of early parenthood in another country  *  Preparing (or not!) for a baby arriving early  ✈️ Travelling While Pregnant or With Young Children If you’re pregnant or travelling with little ones, this episode highlights just how important preparation can be. Some key things to consider: * Travel insurance when pregnant: Make sure your policy covers pregnancy-related complications, premature birth, and neonatal care. Not all standard policies include this.  * Essential documents to carry:  *  Maternity notes / pregnancy records  *  Passport + copies  *  European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) or equivalent  *  Emergency contact details  *  Birth preferences (if later in pregnancy)  * Before you travel:  *  Check airline policies for pregnant passengers  *  Know where the nearest hospital is at your destination  *  Discuss travel plans with your midwife or doctor  🩺 Additional Topics Mentioned * Group B Strep (GBS): A common bacteria that some women carry without symptoms, but which can be passed to babies during birth. Awareness and testing can be important, especially in premature deliveries. * 👉 Learn more:  https://www.gbss.org.uk 🤍 Final Thoughts This story is a reminder that birth doesn’t always go to plan—and sometimes, the most unexpected journeys become the most defining ones. 💛 Raising with the Village This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.  New episodes every Thursday! 🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/ [https://raisingwith.co.uk/] 📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage [https://www.instagram.com/raisingwiththevillage] 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms. If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

#13 - Elliott - Single Dad, Divorce & Starting Over: One Man’s Journey Through Fatherhood

What does it really look like to become a father before you feel ready — and then be given the chance to grow into that role over time? In this episode, Elliott shares his deeply personal journey through fatherhood, divorce, and starting again. Becoming a dad in his twenties to two daughters, Elliott reflects on a time in his life that didn’t go as planned — yet one where he built a strong, loving bond with his children. As his marriage came to an end, he found himself navigating life as a single dad — balancing parenting, dating, and rebuilding his sense of self. Years later, Elliott entered a new chapter. In his forties, he became a father again, this time to two sons, bringing with him a new perspective, greater intention, and a deeper understanding of what it means to show up for his family. This is an honest and thoughtful conversation about growth, second chances, and the evolving nature of fatherhood. In this episode, we explore: * Becoming a dad at a young age * Building a strong relationship with your children after separation * The realities of being a single dad * Dating and rebuilding after divorce * Fatherhood later in life * Growth, perspective, and second chances Resources for single fathers and dads navigating divorce: * Gingerbread  Support, advice, and community for single parents in the UK  👉 https://www.gingerbread.org.uk [https://www.gingerbread.org.uk] * Families Need Fathers  Guidance and support for maintaining strong relationships with your children after separation  👉 https://fnf.org.uk [https://fnf.org.uk] * Dad.info  Practical advice on parenting, relationships, and mental health for dads  👉 https://www.dad.info [https://www.dad.info] Listen & Follow: If this episode resonated with you, please follow, share, and leave a review — it helps these stories reach more parents who might need them. And if you have a story you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you. 💛 Raising with the Village This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.  New episodes every Thursday! 🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/ [https://raisingwith.co.uk/] 📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage [https://www.instagram.com/raisingwiththevillage] 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms. If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.