Things Nobody Tells You

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.

Perimenopause. The word alone can make you feel like you're losing your mind - wondering if it's stress, relationship issues, or just you being 'crazy.' But what if the brain fog, the rage, the dryness, the exhaustion, and the overwhelming mental load aren't about you at all - but about a hormonal shift nobody prepared you for? In this episode, Emmy sits down with her OG crew - the friends she's known since high school - for the most honest, unfiltered conversation about perimenopause you'll ever hear. From dry vaginas to joint pain, hair loss, anxiety spikes, and the internal rage that comes out of nowhere, nothing is off limits. Together, they unpack what it's really like navigating this phase while raising kids, managing relationships, working full-time, and trying to remember what you walked into the room for. They talk about the stuff nobody tells you - that your cycle might go wild, your libido might tank, your skin might change overnight, and you might cry at a bird ad on TV. They also dig into the lack of education, the dismissive doctors, the self-doubt, and why so many women are told they're "too young" when they know something's not right. With raw stories about single parenting through perimenopause, long-distance friendships, the pressure to do it all, sexual wellness, pelvic floor physio, HRT patches, and why pleasure matters just as much as everything else - this is a grounding, laugh-out-loud, cry-in-your-wine kind of conversation. Real talk. Real women. Real bloody perimenopause.

Milestones are everywhere - the apps, the books, the comments at playgroup. But what happens when your child's timeline looks completely different? When sitting up takes months of therapy, or walking is still a work in progress at two? In this episode, Emmy sits down with Christa, mum to gorgeous Frankie - a little one born with Down syndrome who has already navigated heart surgery, feeding tubes, and a development path that doesn't fit the textbook. Together, they unpack what it's really like to parent outside the milestones, the weight of comparison, and why sometimes an innocent question can trigger what Christa calls a "milestone meltdown." They talk about reality of advocating for your child in spaces that weren't built with them in mind. From daycare to dance classes, keyword signing to crawling at two, this is a raw and grounding conversation about pressure, isolation, community and why you don't owe anyone an explanation. With reflections on finding your people, letting go of control, the power of inclusive environments, and why checking in on a parent navigating extra needs can mean everything - this one's for anyone who’s ever worried their child is “behind” or felt unseen in the early years. Real, honest, and full of heart.

Big feelings in little bodies can feel huge for parents too – especially when you’ve got a child who’s extra sensitive, struggles with drop-offs or seems to fall apart the second they’re back in your arms. In this episode of Things Nobody Tells You, Emmy sits down with clinical psychologist and mum of three, Jacquie Ward, to unpack what’s really going on for our highly sensitive kids – and why it’s not about “bad behaviour” or you doing it wrong. They chat about why sensitivity is a biological trait (not a parenting fail), what’s normal clinginess versus separation anxiety, and how to think differently about tantrums, meltdowns and those impossible transitions out the door. Jacquie also shares how our own nervous system, stress levels and upbringing shape the way we respond to our kids, and why getting support for you can be just as powerful as a strategy for them. This is a grounded, honest conversation for any parent who’s ever wondered, “Is this normal… or is it just us?”

Crying is one of the most primal sounds in parenting - and also one of the hardest to sit with. From that first night home to the peak of the witching hours, it can feel like your job is to stop the crying, fix the problem, and prove you've got this. But what if we've misunderstood what crying actually means? In this episode, Emmy sits down with Genevieve Muir, a social worker, parenting educator, author, and mum of four - to unpack the truth about baby cries. Not just the physical needs like hunger or sleep, but the emotional release, the developmental leaps, and the moments when your baby is simply having a cry because that's how they lower their cortisol. Together, they explore why crying makes us feel so distressed, what to expect during that brutal 6-8 week peak, why some babies settle better when you put them down and how every child teaches you something completely different. They also talk about the stuff that actually helps in those early weeks: self-compassion over self-care, tapping out instead of competing over who's more tired or the power of saying no to visitors. With real talk on parenting styles that don't fit, the myth of the 'good baby,' and why your baby's cortisol drops just hearing your voice - this is a grounding, honest conversation for anyone in the thick of those early days. You don't need to fix every cry. You just need to keep showing up.