Episoder
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On this, the final episode of series four of the For All Mum Kind podcast, I continue my chat with teacher, Montessori and respectful parent and mum of four Gemma Daly. This conversation is all about play and I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
Gemma has taken the knowledge she gained from being in the teaching profession and turned it into a successful YouTube channel called The Hidden Gem. Her tips and techniques on how to play with your child and how to turn the ordinary into interesting are utterly invaluable. It may be something as simple as putting pom-poms on a fire guard, but these are all things to spark your child’s imagination and stimulate the learning process.
Gemma introduced me to the idea of ‘schemas’. The little simple repetitive actions and urges that you may notice your baby doing, that are actually the building blocks to the much larger milestones of life. Have you ever watched a baby repetitively take something in and out of a box? This is the schema of learning about volume and it is the reason why as an adult we can pour milk into a cup of tea without spilling it.
We talk about toys and which toys are best to invigorate the creative process. It’s not always the most flashiest toy that may stand out of the shelf that is best for your smallie. Active toys make passive learners, and passive toys make active learners. In fact the best thing we can actually give our children is the space to move around and explore in.
We discuss the concept of Gross Motor Development and Gemma tells me why she is not stressing about the triplets hitting arbitrary milestones and allowing them to develop at their natural pace. Did you know that a baby can’t actually sit up by themselves until they are able to crawl? Gemma is a hive of information and this episode is full of gems for parents to pick up.
And finally we chat about the work of Maria Montessori and how we should follow our child’s natural interests and that each child is like a kernel of popcorn - they may be in the same pot, but they will all pop at different times.
To follow Gemma please check out her Instagram and YouTube channel:
https://www.instagram.com/the.way.we.play/
https://www.youtube.com/thehiddengem
Thank you for listening to season four of the Four All Mum Kind Podcast. I would like to thank all of my guests who took the time to speak with me. My sponsor The Gardiner Family Apothecary for their support throughout the recording of the show., my family and you the listener for all your kind messages. If you would like to continue the conversation, please follow me on Instagram at ForAllMumKind where I would love to hear from you.
https://www.instagram.com/forallmumkind/
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
This week on the podcast I chat with teacher, Montessori and respectful parent, mum of four Gemma Daly.
2020 for Gemma was the best and worst year of her life. She gave birth to triplets and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Gemma shares with me her path to pregnancy. Following two miscarriages and an irregular monthly cycle Gemma took it upon herself to have a fertility investigation. She had her son Oscar but trying to conceive now was more difficult. After the investigation she learned that she had low AMH level, low egg count and was recommended for IVF.
However, Gemma conceived naturally and it turned out she was pregnant with… triplets!
Pregnancy was scary for Gemma for so many reasons. She was offered a selective reduction, which she declined. At 27 weeks Gemma was admitted to hospital and at 30+5 weeks the triplets, Sebastian, Ashton and Hendrix were born.
Giving birth in the pandemic has been difficult but the extended hospital stay with no visitors, followed by the boys needing care in the NICU was a very tough time for Gemma. One of the unexpected challenges that Gemma faced was how hard it was to feel connected to the babies, the shock of seeing them in the NICU and the impossibility of holding them all at the one time.
There was an expectation on Gemma to be bouncing out of the bed and walking to the NICU but after a tough pregnancy and section she needed more support. Once Gemma was discharged she continued to express milk and bring it to the hospital daily. She felt that although they were in the NICU, the one thing she could do was feed them. 7 out of 8 feeds a day were from Gemma, the other feed was supplied by donor milk.
One by one Sebastian, Ashton and Hendrix came home and settled into a family of six. Gemma opens her heart in this episode to share the ups and down of her pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey. In fact we got on so well that I decided to split the podcast into two, so look out for a further episode next week where I chat to her about her love of Montessori and respectful parenting.
To follow Gemma please check out her Instagram and YouTube channel:
https://www.instagram.com/the.way.we.play/
https://www.youtube.com/thehiddengem
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
Manglende episoder?
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I was delighted to invite broadcaster, sea swimmer and mom to Roddy & Pixie, Paula MacSweeney to the podcast. Paula was an absolute delight and we could have easily talked for hours - if we didn’t both have two ticking time bombs asleep in the room next door.
I found Paula to be just like her radio and online persona, a truly positive and generous person, and despite discussing some difficult topics on this episode, Paula does it with a touch of humour and a sense of “what will be, will be” something that we can all learn from.
Once deciding to get pregnant, Paula became pregnant quite quickly. The pregnancy she really enjoyed and although she had morning sickness she feels that was part of the course. Paula had tried hypnobirthing in advance of giving birth but Roddy had other intentions and remained breached, resulting in a caesarean section birth.
During Paula’s second pregnancy an early scan indicated that something was wrong. After an examination she was told her pregnancy was ectopic and would require surgery. Although devastated, Paula knew she had to do this for her health and even when the resulting procedure meant that she lost a fallopian tube, Paula didn’t let it bring her down. Two cycles later Paula was pregnant again with baby Pixie. I cannot commend Paula enough for her acceptance, clarity and openness around the subject of pregnancy loss and ectopic pregnancy.
We discuss Paula’s love of breastfeeding, or her “superpower” as she calls it. A negative of online that Paula shares is when she shares snippets of her breastfeeding journey, this almost always results in a flurry of messages from keyboard warriors who like to tell her how she is mothering all wrong. We talk about the pandemic and how it has changed her family unit for the better. And also about Paula’s love of sea swimming and how it has taught her to accept her body and that true self care is more about getting a good night’s sleep than having your hair and nails done.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it and don’t forget to follow Paula on her Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/paulamacsweeney/
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
This episode is all about skin. Our own skin, our children's skin and how our skin changes through pregnancy and postpartum. I sit down with two amazing women to discuss how we should care for our body’s largest organ.
The first is dermatology nurse specialist and mum of two Selene Daly. Selene is a skin expert but also a realist. Her understanding, experience and practically of skincare is second to none.
Selene was a dermatology nurse before having children, but it wasn’t until she had her own family that she truly understood the impact of caring for an infant/child with a skin condition.
If you take away anything for this episode, it is for you and your family to wear sunscreen everyday from March to October. Selene shares some of the frightening statistics around skin cancer in Ireland and how the greatest habit we can give our children is a robust sunscreen regime:
Hat, Sunglasses, Sunscreen.
Mum of three Joanna Gardiner is the CEO and current custodian of her family’s long running business The Gardiner Family Apothecary, which has been making award winning skincare products in Ireland for over 87 years. As a mum Joanna saw the need for easy to use, yet effective products for children with sensitive skin and with the help of her father developed the Elave range.
As a CEO Joanna sees the benefits that flexible and remote working offers families and how industry leaders like Joanna can influence industries to change work practices. She herself felt like she missed out on some aspects of her children’s upbringing and is now looking to address that for her employees.
We also discuss the history of the Gardiner Family Apothecary and how it grew from one man in a van to the company it is now and where she sees it in the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Joanna for her support of this season of For All Mum Kind.
You can follow Selene and her store on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/selenedaly/
And you can discover more about The Gardiner Family Apothecary here:
https://www.instagram.com/gardiner_family_apothecary1934/
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
*Trigger Warning - This episode contains conversations about parental and sibling loss that some may find upsetting*
This week I am joined by an award winning entrepreneur, owner of Love Cherish Boutique and she's a mum to Ned & Molly, Maeve Dennehy.
Speaking to Maeve was like speaking to an old friend, her charm, wit, sincerity and openness created an episode with moments of hilarity, sincerity and sadness.
Maeve shares her path to motherhood, how her sister Karen’s cancer treatment spurred her to look into her own fertility and subsequently needing fertility treatment. Maeve discusses her fertility cycles, conceiving Ned and then how she went on to conceive Molly naturally. Maeve offers some sage advice to anyone undergoing fertility treatment.
Myself and Maeve find a common ground through our fertility treatments but also the passing of our mothers. How we cherish the memories we have with our mothers. I share the analogy of the film Inside Out, how I practice not tainting memories of my mom with sadness and choose to reflect on them with happiness. Maeve believes that her daughter Molly was a blessing from her mom and her sister, that there is another lady in her life.
Being self-employed has its advantages as Maeve discusses, freedom is the key benefit for Maeve and her family. To be able to drop off and collect the kids and to be available for the kids also. Through the pandemic Maeve grew her boutique and online store, a testament to the hard work and commitment from Maeve and her team.
You can follow Maeve and her store on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lovecherishboutique/
Or visit her superb website to get all the latest gorgeous fashions:
https://www.lovecherish.com
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
**Trigger Warning - This episode contains conversations about miscarriage and parental loss that some may find upsetting**
This week I am joined by model, former Miss Ireland and mum to Sadie, Sarah Morrissey.
In this deeply personal chat Sarah shares for the first time her struggle to have a second child. Having took almost two years to conceive Sadie, Sarah had no expectations that having a second baby would happen any easier. But she did not expect it to be as difficult as it has been.
Since trying to conceive her second child, Sarah has had three miscarriages in a row and is also coping with the grief from the death of her mother. A painful and lonely time during lockdown as Sarah up until now has kept the pregnancy losses private.
We also discuss lifestyle balance and the anxiety Sarah felt as she returned to work a few weeks after Sadie’s birth. At the time she had the guilt of working as well as the guilt of turning down work. When she was working she felt when someone said “Who has her today?” what they were really saying was “Why aren’t you at home with her?”.
Sarah has shared her story of miscarriage and fertility to support the open conversation of miscarriage, to highlight the difficult path to motherhood that many women endure and the emotional, physical and emotional pain many women endure from miscarriage, fertility and returning to work. If you are affected by any of the discussions in this podcast The Miscarriage Association Of Ireland website has many resources that can help you:
https://miscarriage.ie
Hope is an important message for Sarah, she is forever hopeful for a second baby and that everything will work out in the end. And I truly believe it will for her.
You can follow Sarah on her Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorrisseymodel/
This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
This weeks podcast is with Caroline O’Connor, dietician, lactation consultant and mum of four. This episode is full of tips and tricks of how to wean your baby and also feed your fussy toddler.
As a dietician Caroline provides evidence based advice and began sharing content online as she was fed up with the amount of misinformation that was out there. I find Caroline’s advice to be honest, practical and most importantly, achievable. She shares great examples of how to provide a simple but varied diet for kids.
Weaning can be a very daunting time for parents, starting with how to introduce food variety, portion size, allergens and more. Caroline demystifies it all and offers superb advice. As each child weans differently I think there is advice here for all parents from babies to toddlers.
We discuss the benefit of carbohydrates in kids diets and its importance for brain function. Pasta for example is great for kids, its a food that kids are comfortable with and as it comes in so many shapes and colours its a great food to keep kids open to change when it comes to their food.
If you enjoyed this podcast with Caroline you can find her on Instagram where she shares great meals suggestions and advice:
https://www.instagram.com/solidstart.ie/
Her website is http://solidstart.ie and Caroline offers a range of courses also. -
Orla Harrington is one of the many mums that I’ve met through Instagram over the years. But her journey with her son Rowan was one that stood out to me. And her ‘100 Foods Before One’ idea actually influenced my own weaning journey with Peter.
In the third trimester of her pregnancy with Rowan, he was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Orla was signed off work for bed rest until week 37 when she was induced. Despite all the fear and stress caused by this, Rowan was born at 5lb 5oz and he was perfect. But this is where Orla’s post natal care began to diminish.
Breastfeeding was a part of motherhood that Orla dreamed of. She had been harvesting colostrum while pregnant and had prepared for challenges due to Rowan’s small size. However, the negativity and lack of support that she was given at the very start meant that Orla felt incredibly let down. However she was determined, and following support from a lactation consultant and a lactation counsellor, a tongue tie release, and lots of hard work and perseverance, she exclusively breastfed from 4 months.
At 6 months Orla began weaning Rowan and she wanted to introduce 100 foods to him before he was one. As a vegan family this led to its own challenges which meant Orla had to get creative - although he wasn’t too keen on the lime or the pomegranate! I have been following Rowan’s weaning and I have found it so inspiring, influential and accessible.
Orla is a joy to chat with, her fierce determination, resilience and kindness shines through. To follow her please check out her Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/orla.harrington/
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
This week’s podcast focuses on sleep with mother of three, and certified child sleep consultant Erica Hargaden. Erica shares the how and why she became interested in sleep and the reason she created Babogue Sleep Solutions.
At 7 months her eldest child Quinn was waking up to 12 times a night. He was a fussy baby, almost impossible to put down and almost certainly suffering from Silent Reflux - not that anyone would help her diagnose that. Exhausted and sleep deprived Erica called for reinforcements in the form of her mother. The Erica that she met was a grey shell of the daughter she knew.
Her mum reassured her that there was nothing wrong with her or Quinn and took a gentle approach to fixing Quinn’s sleep patterns. She slowly taught Quinn how to self soothe and this was the beginning of Erica’s interest in sleep.
Erica offers one to one coaching as well as the Sleep Series Solution to support families with babies and children that are having sleep issues. Each sleep series depending on the age of the child offers five different methods to suit different parenting styles. In total she has helped over 2,500 families in 30 different countries to get a better nights sleep - and I salute her for that.
Myself and Erica explore the world of sleep, discussing tips, sleep aids and words of wisdom. Her stories on Instagram are well worth following:
https://www.instagram.com/babogue_sleep
And you can find out more about the 7 Steps To Better Sleep on her website:
https://babogue.com
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
Clodagh O’Hagan welcomes me into her world as a solo parent to Frank and shares with me her path to motherhood.
Having a baby was in Clodagh’s mind for a while, waiting to start a family with a partner but she didn’t meet that person. So, she set out to have a baby on her own using a sperm donor.
She bought a two bed house in preparation and began the process of having a baby. At the age of 41 she was aware that time wasn’t on her side and regrets that she took the long route by starting off with a GP visit rather than going straight to a fertility clinic.
Once she had chosen a clinic for her fertility treatment Clodagh had to choose a sperm donor. Clodagh describes choosing a donor being a bit like online dating. You put in your vital statistics, blood type and medical history to see who is genetically best suited to you. After that you can choose hair colour, eye colour, height and traits that give you an idea of the person.
As we all know fertility treatment is not an easy process. It took Clodagh three cycles however, an incorrect injection, then collapsed follicles lead to two cycles being cancelled. But fortunately for Clodagh the third cycle worked and Frank was conceived.
Clodagh and Frank now live in a perfect little bubble of their own and this time has really given them the opportunity to get to know one another and form a special bond. This weekend Frank turns one and Clodagh celebrated a year of being a mum so I am delighted to share their story on this podcast with you.
To follow Clodagh and Franks day to day life follow Cloadgh on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/clodeine/
And her blog is BabyFrank:
http://babyfrank.co
Enjoy,
Pamela.
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit their website for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
https://gardinerfamilyapothecary.com
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Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
This week on the podcast I am joined by Rachael Smith. Rachael is a teacher, life and parent coach and mum to three busy, noisy boys. I was drawn to Rachael as I loved her parent coaching approach that she shares on her Instagram, for the simple reason that Rachael is realistic.
As a mum she understands the reality of parenting - the isolation and loneliness - and is passionate about the need to look after yourself, so that you can look after everyone else.
Rachael adapted the jar of pebbles and sand analogy as a guide for how to prioritise your time. Its a great way to visualise what is important, and not to get bogged down in the stress of day to day.
She also recommends taking a moment to think about what truly brings us joy, and to make a list of these so you don’t let them slip by the wayside and risk losing your identity.
After recording this podcast I took on Rachael’s advice and lost an hour in the evening to gain an hour in the morning. It really helped me recharge the batteries and to get a much needed productive hour to myself, rather than just scrolling endlessly before bed.
Rachael also gives great advice when it comes to communicating to our children which she calls the ‘positive/negative/positive’ approach. Did you know that children hear the word ‘no’ up to 400 times a day? After a while it completely loses all meaning, so it’s important to reinforce the positive parts of their behaviour.
This week a lot of mums and dads have returned to the workplace after months of being at home. The return of work also brings the return of mum guilt. The putting yourself at the bottom of the list and forgetting what self care is about. This episode is the perfect antidote to all of those bad habits that we fall into.
To learn more about Rachael’s coaching techniques check out her Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rachaelsmithcoaching/
Pamela.
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit http://www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
Welcome to the fourth series of the For All Mum Kind Podcast - it’s great to be back.
In the first episode I am joined by writer, comedian and mum to Ted, Julie Jay! Ted was a “pandemic baby” and during Julie’s pregnancy she found herself locked down in her second (or perhaps spiritual home) of Dingle, Co Kerry. A long way from home and living on the side of a mountain, Julie was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which put a dampener on her plans of eating all around her for nine months.
Julie has really missed the shared knowledge of mum and baby groups and friend interaction. And like all of us, she’s struggled to find the balance between work, family and time for herself during these truly unprecedented times.
Finding her feet as a busy mum, Julie is often struck by ‘mom guilt’ as being the main administrator in house she feels she can struggle to feel present with Ted, while her fiancé Fred (yes, that can be confusing) is left to be the fun dad. And now that we are coming out of lockdown Julie is feeling the pressure of making memories and everything being perfect and fun.
It was great to catch up with Julie and make sure to check out her own podcast Up To Ninety and Crimeland.
Up To Ninety:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/up-to-90/id1384941941
Crimeland:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/crimeland/id1493942937
This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit www.GardinerFamilyApothecary.com for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
Pamela x -
I’m honoured and awed to be joined on this special Mother’s Day Podcast by the inspirational Vicky Phelan.
Vicky is known to us all as the face of the Cervical Check crisis in 2018. Vicky through her unrelenting desire for justice uncovered the medical and political scandal of our times. Vicky has since used her voice to raise awareness, educate and inspire many across Ireland and the World.
Vicky is also first and foremost a mum, which has brought its own share of highs and lows. Vicky shares with me her experience of post natal depression after the birth of Amelia and Darragh. We discuss her relationship with her own mum and how she herself sees herself as a mum.
At the moment Vicky is in Maryland, U.S.A. taking part in an immunotherapy drug trial for her cervical cancer. We discuss the importance of women to advocate for their own healthcare, how women need to raise their voices to be heard in the search for equality. We discuss what changes needs to be made for women’s health in Ireland and what progress has been made with the recommendations to the Cervical Check Scheme.
Vicky is a powerhouse, inspirational, fearless and a formidable woman. A huge thank you to Vicky for taking the time to record this episode with me. If you aren’t already you can follow Vicky on her Twitter and Instagram.:
https://twitter.com/PhelanVicky
https://www.instagram.com/vickykellyphelan/
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This episode of For All Mum Kind is dedicated to my own Mom who sadly passed away in September 2020. Solas Mhic Dé ar a n-anam.
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This series of the For All Mum Kind podcast is sponsored by the Gardiner Family Apothecary . Caring for your sensitive skin with their Elave and Ovelle solutions and proudly made in Ireland since 1934.
From Ovelle Silcock’s Base to Elave Sensitive Beauty, their unique formulations provide low-irritancy, cruelty-free and sustainable skincare solutions for You, Your Family, and Your Sensitive Skin.
You can keep up to date with all of their news, discounts, and exclusive offers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook at Gardiner Family Apothecary.
Visit their website for free next day delivery with purchases over €25.
https://gardinerfamilyapothecary.com
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
The final episode of Series Three of the podcast was delayed due to the unexpected early arrival of my second child Peter. I’m delighted to say that everyone is well and healthy and we’ve been home for a few weeks now soaking up all of the lovely baby cuddles.
I couldn’t let the season just fizzle out however, especially when I knew what an amazing guest I had lined up to end with. So last week I managed to get an hour away from both of the kids and I sat down with Naomi Clarke, who is better known to most as The Style Fairy for a chat. Naomi is a stylist, digital creator and mum to two gorgeous girls Annabelle Ivy & Luna May.
Naomi shares with me her raw and emotive birth stories of Annabelle and Luna. Due to Naomi’s Type 1 Diabetes, both girls were born at 36 weeks and unfortunately Luna required a stay in the NICU which saw Naomi forced to leave the hospital without her. It’s clear from listening to Naomi the effect of the early arrivals and Luna’s stay in NICU has had on her emotionally.
Once home with Annabelle and Luna, Naomi shares how those first few weeks were at home and how the girls are now the best of friends. We discuss the age old dilemma of finding a work life balance, and the pressures of sharing your life on social media - the good and the bad.
It would be impossible to have a chat with the Style Fairy without discussing fashion, and in particular the dreaded maternity wear. And while some brands are beginning to launch stylish ranges, there are still many that are continuing to create frumpy, old fashioned maternity wear.
It was an absolute pleasure to talk with Naomi and a heartfelt thank youi for sharing her birth stories with me which I know wasn’t easy for her. You can continue to keep in touch with Naomi on her blog and Instagram pages:
https://thestylefairy.ie
https://www.instagram.com/the_style_fairy
That’s a wrap for Series 3. It has been an odd one to say the least. If you told me when I started recording back in February that when I released the final episode I would have my little boy in my arms I would not have believed you. But then there is a lot about 2020 that is hard to believe!
Thanks as always to all the mum’s who joined me on this series. And to everyone who has listened and left me comments - please do keep in touch via my Instagram page and keep spreading the word of the pod to any new mums out there.
https://www.instagram.com/forallmumkind
Stay safe.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
I was lucky enough to have psychotherapist, author and mother of one, Joanna Fortune join me earlier in the season for the Covid-19 Special. But after chatting to her for those 15 or so minutes, I knew I had to get her back on for a full episode of her own.
Joanna is a fountain of knowledge and her two books 15 Minute Parenting 0-7 & 8-12 have helped hundreds of parents to find the tools to communicate with their children and help them grow and develop strong emotional responses.
Joanna isn’t about just jumping in and fixing every little problem a child faces. She gives parents the understanding they need to be able to listen to their children and help them to understand that things will be difficult sometimes, but you can overcome them and it will make you a better person.
I love how Joanna incorporates play into her methods. She believes that play is a state of mind and we should develop strategies to incorporate play as a way of communicating. If we are continually nagging our children to do something they will disconnect from us. But if we absorb ourselves into their play, and become “interested in our children’s interests" we can become less reliant on verbal communication which often goes unheard by the child.
In her latest book Joanna looks at the overlooked age group between 8-12. We tend to focus on the toddler years or the difficult teenage years, but there is so much development formed during this time. Relationship building, emotional growth, bullying and independence are all happening at this age. Joanna offers a roadmap for time poor parents to navigate through these difficult milestones and help better understand their child’s emotional needs.
I hope that you find this podcast as helpful and as interesting as I did. And although Alice is a long way away from being 8 there are definitely some ideas that I have already started to incorporate with our own play and communication with her. You can buy Joanna’s books from all the regular bookshops and online stores. And to follow her for daily updates please check out her Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/joannafortune/
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
This week on the podcast I chat to radio contributor, media project manager and close friend of mine, Sue Murphy. Sue recently became the mother to a gorgeous little girl Julia and has been dealing with the ups and downs of bringing a newborn into the Covid changed world.
Sue and I go back to my college days and its amazing to see how our friendship has changed over the last 15 years. But since Sue has become a mom we have swapped all of our dirty secrets of old for dirty nappies instead.
Sue’s path to motherhood was not an easy one. Her first pregnancy sadly ended in miscarriage, so naturally her anxiety levels were far more heightened on the next pregnancy. So when she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes (where the body is not creating enough insulin for the mother and the baby) she was so distraught that she crashed her car into a bus on the way home!
The birth of Julia was also traumatic and an experience that Sue still struggles with telling - so I thank her for sharing it with me. After what seemed like an eternal labour, Sue haemorrhaged in child birth and lost a lot of blood. She couldn’t swallow and pretty much passed out after giving birth. Two blood transfusions later Sue was left in pain, tired and emotional and without the support of her husband, who was sent home at night, was left to care for this newborn when she couldn’t even care for herself. She felt “unheard” by the medical professionals and unable to care for her newborn daughter due to the pain.
As it is Father’s Day we also chat about the dads in our lives, and the concept of the “fun dad!” We are both blessed to have wonderful father’s to raise our children with - but sometimes we can’t help but compare notes about the stupid things they do. Sorry Ben & Mick, we do love you really.
If you don’t know Sue already you can follow her over on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/IllSueYa
It was great to catch up with her, and I cannot wait to finally meet little Julia once all the current restrictions are lifted. Hope you enjoy listening to these two old friends having the chats.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
Vicki O Callaghan is one half of Irish baby clothing and accessories brand BabyBoo. They are the guys who make those awesome drool busting bandana bibs we all love. She is also the mum to her gorgeous little girl Ruby.
During Ruby’s early months she struggled dreadfully with reflux. Vicki was horrified that not only did it take her forever to get anyone to correctly diagnose her poor daughter, the advice she got on how to deal with the problem included “why don’t you just wear three bibs at a time?” Fed up of ruining cute outfit after outfit with ugly plain bibs, Vicki and her old college friend decided that enough was enough and BabyBoo was born.
At the beginning the motivation was simple: to be able to earn enough to have the flexibility in her day to be able to drop her daughter to school, like her mum did her. And now, after years of hard work their bibs are being sent all over the world, they are used by a host of celebrities and are the toast of mums everywhere.
Being a mum has changed Vicki and made her realise how strong she actually is. She fully admits that the expectation of the mother she thought she would be, and the mother that she’s turned out to be are two different things. But just like in business, motherhood has taught her to be flexible in life, and to have a new found patience that she did not have before.
I would like to thank Vicki for being so open about how she got her foothold in business and I hope this episode is an inspiration to any other mums who think they may be sitting on a fantastic business idea. Go out there and do it ladies.
If you haven't already I highly recommend you check of BabyBoo’s fantastic range of products. We have used their bibs on Alice from day one and they are not only stylish but hugely functional and hard wearing too:
https://babyboo.ie
You can also follow her on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/babyboo.ie/
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
Blogger, travel enthusiast and mother to three (and one angel), Aoife Bermingham joins me on this week’s episode of the podcast. Most will know her from her Mum On The Run blog or her Instagram full of stunning and motivational early morning swims.
Aoife was inspiring to chat with. Living in a busy household Aoife always makes time to get to the beach in the morning to set herself up for the day ahead - even if that means getting up at ten to five in the morning!
As mums we can all relate to feeling that part of your identity can get swallowed up in being a mum. During the last few weeks of the lockdown Aoife felt this more than ever, and took this time to reflect on getting “the me” back.
We chatted about when Aoife returned to the workplace after maternity leave and the feeling of overwhelmingness that was increased by the open plan office environment. PTSD and panic attacks after the loss of her son Oisin made Aoife take control of her life. She made some big life decisions, but ones that were ultimately for the good of herself and her family. These didn’t come easy and it took time for her choices to come to fruition, but she knew she needed to choose her own path in life.
Aoife talks about the need to connect with other people. Be that friends, family or professionals. We can all carry too much of a burden on our own and it doesn’t need to be this way. Grief comes in waves and while we cope through the ups and downs of grief, we don’t have to do it alone.
If you enjoyed this chat with Aoife please go and check out her Mum on the Run blog and Instagram feeds.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
Season 3 of the For All Mum Kind Podcast returns and I’m delighted to be kicking it all off with hilarious Cork based comedian and mother of two Laura O Mahony. Laura is an absolute riot, and is not one to be scared of sharing her thoughts and experiences of motherhood.
The self proclaimed ‘Queen of the C Section’ Laura is a true advocate of expectant mothers being in control of their labour experience. No matter what that birth looks like, every mother should be armed with the knowledge and the ability to consent to whatever they do and don’t want to happen to their bodies.
In her first labour, despite a family history of c-sections, she was guided towards a vaginal birth. Although very uncomfortable with the thought of having a sweep, she still consented because that’s what she felt she was supposed to do. And when the doctors floated the idea of a section they were surprised when she replied “yes please!”
Her second, an elective c-section, was more like a tip to the spa with a bit of surgery in the middle.
Laura is adamant that mothers should be honest with each other about their experiences. Especially when it comes to breastfeeding. As controversial as it may be, Laura hated the process of breastfeeding and felt massive pressure and guilt about that fact. I love how honest she is about feeling the loss of her own identity as she took on the role of the mother. It is not easy ladies, and if you are struggling you are not the only one out there.
As it is now only six weeks or so until we welcome our second child into the world, we discuss what it was like introducing Polly, her little three-nager to her new little brother. And all the tantrums, cake and trips to the park it took to convince her that this was all going to be ok.
I really had fun recording this episode and it was just the tonic I needed right now and I hope you feel the same listening to it. If you would like to keep up to date with Laura and her hilarious takes on life you can follow her on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/lauralolslots/
I will be returning to my usual weekly release pattern for the rest of this season, so look for a new episode landing every Sunday morning. Don’t forget to let me know if you enjoyed it and share the episode with your other mum friends.
Pamela x
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz -
Dr. Laura Lenihan, Lucy Wolfe, Joanna Fortune & Kathy Milliken join Pamela to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on families & motherhood.
Time Stamps
1:06 - Dr. Laura Lenihan
16:54 - Lucy Wolfe
27:25. - Joanna Fortune
41:07 - Kathy Milliken
50:20 - Guided meditation
From speaking to people this week you can hear the anxiousness, worry, concern and overwhelm in their voices relating to impact of Covid-19. We’ve all been impacted in someway and we are all concerned.
This week on the podcast I’ve done things a little bit different, I’m chatting to four mums who are experts in their fields.
Dr. Laura Lenihan, who like myself is also pregnant, discusses the new movement restrictions, the changes to maternity services and the impact Covid-19 on the fourth trimester.
Sleep expert Lucy Wolfe returns to the podcast to share her knowledge on the impact of stress on sleep, how to use this time at home to improve sleep and guidance on the time change this weekend.
Psychotherapist and author of the ‘15 Minute Parenting’, Joanna Fortune, chats with me on blending teaching with playing, parental guilt on screen time and as parents what is the greatest thing we can do now?
And finally Kathy Milliken from Bump, Baby & Me shares with me why we need to let go of the ‘should’ and just be in the moment, how to find the positives, and Kathy concludes the episode with a short meditation.
I hope it provides solace, reassurance and information to you during these stressful time.
As for the rest of Series 3 I am not sure what the future holds. I know for sure that I will not be able to keep my usual weekly release pattern. Perhaps I will release episodes as and when (and if!) I can record them. Or sadly it may end up being the six episodes I released last weekend. If so I hope you enjoyed listening to them and as always I want to say a massive thank you to all the mums who took the time to chat with me and to all of you who have listened.
Stay safe. Stay home.
Pamela x
For more from this episodes guests please check out the following websites:
Dr Laura Lenihan: https://www.instagram.com/drlauragp/?hl=en
Lucy Wolfe:
https://sleepmatters.ie
Joanna Fortune: https://www.instagram.com/joannafortune/?hl=en
Kathy Milliken:
https://bumpbabyandme.ie
Subscribe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/for-all-mum-kind/id1456045096?mt=2
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5q5ErY3McbYLuzC2qGfxVz - Vis mere
