This Might Get Awkward

Tammy McCann and Carolyn Aukafolau

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A podcast for parents and teens ready to talk together - for real. From everyday eye-rolls to big life chats, This Might Get Awkward dives into the messy, meaningful conversations that build real connections. It might feel cringey at first, but the transformation in your relationship will be totally worth it.

11/09/2025

I’m Their Safe Place So Why Do I Get the Worst of Them?

When Your Teen Takes It Out On You… And You’re Just Trying to Hold It Together Your teen is respectful at school, helpful to friends, and polite to strangers, but when they walk through your front door, you get the eye rolls, mood swings, and silence. If you’ve ever felt like your teenager’s emotional punching bag, this episode is for you. Tammy (mum of 3 teens) and Carolyn (mum of grown daughters) are talking about the emotional whiplash that comes with being your teen’s “safe place” and how painful that role can be. While it’s often a sign of closeness and trust, that doesn’t make it easier in the moment. Especially when you're doing your best to stay calm… and it still feels like you're getting the worst of them. In this episode, you'll hear: Why teens “dump” emotions on the people they feel safest withWhat it really means to be the safe parent (and why it stings)How to hold space for your teen without absorbing their emotional chaosThe difference between love and over-functioning — and how to protect yourselfAs always, they share three tiny tools to help you stay steady when emotions run high: Name the Pattern, Not the Person Shift from personal reaction to calm redirection with a simple boundary phrase: “Hey, I can see you’ve had a big day. It’s okay to feel it, but it’s not okay to take it out on me.” Anchor Yourself With “What’s Mine” Before you respond, ask: “What part of this is about me… and what part is just emotion needing a place to land?” This tool helps you stop absorbing the storm and start observing it. The Post-Storm Repair Ritual After the emotional wave passes, use a soft re-entry like: “Hey, I know earlier was tough. I’m still here and I still love you.” This gives your teen a safe path back, without overprocessing. Reflection prompts from the episode: What’s one boundary I could set that protects both of us? When do I feel most impacted by their moods? How do I remind myself that I’m not responsible for fixing everything? You can love your child deeply and still feel hurt. You can be their safe space and still need boundaries. You’re not failing, you’re close. And sometimes, close is messy. Like this episode? Share it with a fellow mum who’s carrying the weight of teen emotions on her shoulders. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s real, awkward, and honest conversation. You're doing better than you think. And you've got this.

7 min
06/09/2025

Who Even Am I Anymore? - Losing (and finding) yourself while raising teens.

Who Even Am I Anymore? The Identity Crisis Mums Aren’t Talking About If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, “Where did I go?” this episode is for you. Tammy and Carolyn are diving into something quietly heartbreaking but oh-so-common: the slow, invisible identity shift that happens when motherhood becomes all-consuming. From cleaning the attic and finding glittery mixtapes, to freezing at the question “What do you do for fun?”, they share raw stories of what it feels like to lose touch with your old self, even while being proud of who you’ve become. You'll explore: Why motherhood often leads to subtle self-erasure (and why it's not your fault)The pressure to be everything to everyone, and how it quietly rewires your sense of selfWhy remembering your former self is good for your brain and your wellbeingthe grief of self-loss, even in a life you love, and why it's valid to feel bothPlus, as always, they share three tiny tools to help you start reconnecting with you: The 5-Minute Former Self Practice: a daily invitation to dance, dream or just remember what used to light you up.A Journalling Prompt: to gently rediscover what brings you joy.Mirror Moments: a weekly ritual to ask yourself "Who am I becoming, and who do I want to bring with me?" This isn’t about going backwards, it’s about integrating the parts of you that matter most, and reminding yourself (and your family) that you are more than the logistics manager. You’re still in there, even if you’ve been busy being everything to everyone.

9 min
22/08/2025

Why am I Google?

Why Am I Google? - The Mental Load Mums Didn’t Sign Up For Ever feel like the household Google, Uber, and therapist rolled into one? You’re not alone. In this episode, Tammy and Carolyn unpack the invisible mental load mums carry — and share practical, playful ways to lighten it. If you’ve ever been asked “Where’s the cheese?” or “Is there a bank in Botany?” while juggling dinner, work, and 27 other things… this episode is for you. Tammy and Carolyn dive into the hidden load that so many mothers carry , the emotional, mental, and logistical responsibilities that are invisible, unacknowledged, and often overwhelming. Through relatable stories (including one hilarious real-life moment that inspired the title), they explore how mums often become the default parent, the household oracle, and the fixer of all things, simply because they can. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. You’ll hear three tiny but mighty tools to help shift the mental load: Pause and Reassign – how to gently hand back questions instead of always providing the answers. The Load Audit – a reflective brain-dump exercise to see what you’re carrying and what you can release. “Just Because I Can, Doesn’t Mean I Should” – a powerful mantra to help you pause, realign, and reclaim your energy. Tammy and Carolyn also share creative, real-life strategies like assigning a “go-to” parent (or even a teen!) to help balance the load — all done with warmth, humour, and permission to drop the guilt. Reflection questions included at the end will help you tune in to what you’re carrying, where you can let go, and who might share the load with you. And if you’re in Auckland, don’t miss the Real Talk Workshop for Parents and Teens on Saturday 4 October 2025 a beautiful opportunity to rest, reconnect, and reset. For more information and to get your earlybird tickets please click on this link https://events.humanitix.com/realtalk You’re not alone, and you don’t have to do it all. Let’s lighten the load together.

26 min
16/07/2025

I’m not being dramatic: Navigating shutdowns, and the everyday battle over chores, with empathy, humour, and a whole lot of real talk.

When your teen says, “You’re not listening,” or your parent says, “Why do I have to nag?”, it’s time for a deeper look. In this episode, Tammy and Carolyn answer two raw and relatable questions about emotional shutdowns and chore-related standoffs, and share ways to build connection without all the yelling. In this episode of This Might Get Awkward, Tammy and Carolyn tackle two all-too-familiar challenges in the parent-teen universe: “I hate it when my parents talk over me or say I’m just being emotional. It makes me want to shut down.” “We argue constantly over chores and responsibilities. How do I communicate expectations without being seen as a nag?” With warmth and honesty, they explore how dismissing emotions can lead to disconnection, and how teens can gently advocate for themselves without escalating conflict. For parents, they unpack how timing, tone, and old habits can shape our reactions, and why "nagging" often comes from burnout and overload. You’ll hear: How to signal “now’s not a good time” without shutting down the convo completely Ways teens can name their emotions and ask for space or clarity Why parents sometimes repeat patterns without realising it Simple mindset shifts to reduce the eye rolls during chore talks How to gamify responsibility and bring a bit of fun to everyday tensions That yes, we’ve all been there, and it’s okay to laugh about it afterward This one’s for anyone who’s ever stormed off mid-conversation... or thought about hiding in the laundry cupboard to avoid another talk about dishes.

16 min
14/07/2025

I Was Just Trying to Help: When support misses the mark, and how to reconnect without making things worse.

When you try to help and it backfires, or ask for space and they take it personally. Tammy and Carolyn respond to two powerful questions from a parent and a teen about what happens when communication shuts down and love gets lost in translation. In this episode of This Might Get Awkward, Tammy and Carolyn explore the sometimes painful gap between intention and impact, when you're trying to help, trying to connect, or trying to protect space… but the other person doesn’t receive it the way you hoped. They answer two deeply relatable questions: A parent asks: “My daughter told me something personal and I tried to help, but now she won’t talk to me at all. How do I rebuild that trust and keep communication open?” A teen asks: “When I ask for privacy or space, my parents act like I’m being rude or secretive. How do I explain that I still love them — I just need room?” Tammy and Carolyn unpack what’s often happening beneath the surface in both situations — for parents, it might be the instinct to rescue, or to jump in with advice that wasn’t asked for. For teens, it’s the struggle to set boundaries without hurting someone they care about. Key takeaways from the episode include: Why circling back to a tricky conversation builds trust more than getting it right the first time How to ask your teen (or parent) what they actually need in a moment, instead of guessing How to introduce conversations outside of intense moments (e.g., in the car, on a walk, or doing something side-by-side) Recognising the difference between being present and being a fixer The importance of normalising self-reflection and giving grace, to teens and to yourself Tammy also shares a coaching insight: when you feel the urge to help, pause and ask, “What does support look like to you right now?” And Carolyn reminds listeners that saying “I still love you - I just need a bit of space” can be more powerful than we think. This episode is a gentle reminder that it’s okay to mess up, say the wrong thing, or need room, what matters is how we show up afterwards.

13 min
07/07/2025

Ep 1: Our First Awkward Q&A!

Welcome to the very first episode of This Might Get Awkward, the podcast where parents and teens talk, listen, and sometimes cringe… together. In this episode, we’re diving into two big questions: why is it so hard to communicate without things getting weird, emotional, or shut down completely? We share real Q&A examples from both sides, a few of our own awkward moments, and what actually helps when you’re trying to connect but don’t quite speak the same language. Whether you’re a parent trying not to sound like a lecture, or a teen wondering if your parents will ever get it you’re in the right place.

16 min

6 Episodes

A podcast for parents and teens ready to talk together - for real. From everyday eye-rolls to big life chats, This Might Get Awkward dives into the messy, meaningful conversations that build real connections. It might feel cringey at first, but the transformation in your relationship will be totally worth it.

Creator

Tammy McCann and Carolyn Aukafolau
Years Active

2K
Episodes

6
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Tammy McCann and Carolyn Aukafolau
Show Website

This Might Get Awkward