3d ago

What Would You Do If Your Child Did Something Unforgivable?

What would you do if your child did something so serious that you could no longer simply have their back? In this episode of The Growing Together Podcast, Billie and Charlotte dive into a difficult and uncomfortable conversation sparked by a real-life case involving a teenager accused of serious sexual offences. We talk about where the line is as parents, whether you can continue to support your child when the evidence appears overwhelming, whether parents should blame themselves for the person their child becomes, and how you protect the rest of your family when something goes seriously wrong. We also get into something we think every parent should be talking to their children about: consent. Especially as our boys get older, what does consent actually mean? Is silence consent? What happens when someone changes their mind? And how can we make sure our children understand that consent can be withdrawn at any point? It’s a difficult conversation, but an important one. As always, this is our personal conversation and opinions as parents, not professional or legal advice. What would you do? Would there be a line where you could no longer simply “have your child’s back”? Let us know in the comments. 🎙️ Welcome to The Growing Together PodcastReal conversations about parenting, relationships, work, life and everything in between. Subscribe and come grow with us.

Sep 27

She Had the Successful Life… So Why Did She Walk Away? | Serena

She had the successful business, the money, the holidays and the career she had worked incredibly hard to build. So why did she walk away? In this episode of The Rising’s Growing Together Podcast, we sit down with Serena to talk about what happens when the life you've worked so hard to create isn't actually the life you want anymore. Serena built and sold her own recruitment business, moved from the UK to Hungary with her young daughter, stepped away from the traditional career path and eventually built a life around the things she genuinely loves: travel, fitness, motherhood and freedom. We talk about: • Redefining what success actually means • Money vs time when you have children • Why having it all doesn't necessarily mean doing it all • Walking away from a successful business • Building a fitness business around busy women • The reality behind running an Airbnb • Creating income around your lifestyle • Travel, motherhood and taking your children around the world • Network marketing and the freedom it can create • Why consistency matters more than overnight success • Learning to switch off when you're your own boss • Boundaries, people pleasing and knowing when to say no • And what it really means to build a life on your own terms This is a conversation about ambition, freedom, motherhood, money and figuring out what you actually want your life to look like. Because success doesn't have to look the way you were told it should.

Sep 21

Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial Ad: Are Women Tearing Women Down?

Is it possible to disagree with a woman without tearing her down? This week we're talking about the Sydney Sweeney advert that's sparked a huge debate around women, sexualisation, empowerment and women's sport. Was the advert empowering? Was it in poor taste? Should Sydney Sweeney have thought more carefully before taking the job? Or is the criticism and hate towards her actually missing the point? And more importantly... Why are women so quick to turn against other women? We get into the difference between having an opinion and bullying someone, whether women can be sexy AND smart AND strong, why women seem to face different expectations around how they look, and whether social media has made it far too easy to pile on someone you've never met. We don't completely agree with each other either and that's kind of the point. You can disagree. You can criticise. You can have an opinion. But does that mean you have to tear someone apart? This conversation goes way beyond one advert. It's about women supporting women, double standards, social media, sexuality, confidence and how we treat each other. So what do you think? Was the advert empowering or in poor taste? And where do you draw the line between criticism and bullying? Let us know in the comments but as always, have the conversation with kindness. ❤️ Growing Together is the podcast where two best friends of 20 years talk honestly about motherhood, careers, relationships, confidence, life and everything in between. New episodes every week.

Sep 14

Are Your Expectations Too High? When High Standards Become Unrealistic

Are your expectations too high? Have you ever been disappointed by someone and thought, “But they should have known”? Or expected your boss to recognise your hard work, your partner to know what you needed, your friends to show up for you, or yourself to somehow manage EVERYTHING perfectly? This week on Growing Together, we're asking a bigger question: Are expectations actually the problem or do we just need to get better at understanding and communicating them? We start with a very everyday debate: tipping in restaurants. Because what happens when something goes from being appreciated to being expected? From there, we get into relationships, friendships, parenting, work, ambition and the expectations we put on ourselves. We talk about: • Why expectations can create disappointment • Whether having no expectations is freedom or simply lowering your standards • The difference between high expectations and unrealistic expectations • Why we sometimes expect people to know what we need without actually telling them • Expectations vs standards and why they're not the same thing • How high expectations can drive ambition and growth • When ambition starts turning into self-pressure • The expectations we place on our partners, friends, colleagues and children • Why the gap between what we expect and what actually happens can create such a strong emotional reaction • And whether we really need to lower our expectations at all Because maybe the answer isn't to expect less. Maybe it's to become more intentional about what we expect, who we expect it from, and whether we've actually communicated it. You can have high standards without expecting perfection. You can have ambition without constantly putting yourself under pressure. And sometimes the thing disappointing us isn't what happened… It's what we expected to happen. Welcome to The Rising's Growing Together real conversations about motherhood, relationships, careers, confidence, personal growth and everything in between. Subscribe and join us every week. #expectations #personalgrowth #relationships #motherhood Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Expectations in Life and Relationships 00:30 The Role of Service and Tipping Expectations 01:57 How Expectations Influence Our Behavior and Feelings 03:48 The Importance of Clear Communication of Expectations 06:06 Balancing High Standards with Self-Compassion 07:57 The Long-Term Perspective on Success and Growth 09:48 Managing Disappointment and Setting Realistic Goals 12:12 The Journey Versus the Destination 13:59 The Power of Small Steps and Reverse Engineering Goals 15:46 Expectations in Personal Relationships and Family 18:05 The Impact of Social Media and Overnight Success Myths 20:12 The Role of Communication in Relationships and Work 22:03 Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations 23:51 The Importance of Enjoying the Journey 26:11 Final Thoughts: Managing Expectations for a Fulfilled Life

Sep 11

Are We Over-Parenting Our Kids? When to Step In & When to Let Go

How do you know when to step in as a parent… and when to just let them figure it out? In this episode of Growing Together, we get into the messy reality of parenting through different stages from toddlers and starting school, to eight-year-olds, teenagers and young adults. We talk about the things that worry us as parents, from friendships, hormones and changing personalities to phones, social media, screen time and the pressures today's kids face. But the bigger question becomes: are we sometimes trying too hard to prepare, protect and teach our children? We talk about: • Knowing when to pick your battles • Why teenagers sometimes just need to be teenagers • The pressure parents put on themselves to get everything right • Friendships, falling out and letting children learn from their own experiences • Phones, gaming and the realities of raising teenagers today • Why kids need to experience boredom, mistakes and discomfort • The difference between guiding your child and solving everything for them • Why listening to the little things can help children tell you the big things • How parenting can actually teach us a lot about leadership and coaching • And why, ultimately, we're all just doing our best There isn't a perfect way to parent. Every child is different, every stage brings something new, and sometimes the hardest thing is knowing when to step in… and when to step back. Maybe we don't need to get it perfect. Maybe we just need to be there. Welcome The Growing Together Podcast real conversations about motherhood, life, relationships, confidence, work and everything in between. Subscribe and join us every week.

Sep 6

Oreo Gate, Bridezilla WhatsApp & The 3 C’s for Difficult Conversations

We’re back after a short summer break! Catch-up on birthdays, holidays, kids heading back to school… then we dive into two of the most unhinged group chats we’ve seen. First up: Oreo Gate the school mum WhatsApp that started with “please don’t pack Oreos” and escalated into lunchbox inspections, school involvement and pure chaos (the kids were only five). Then the even wilder bridezilla hen-party group chat: matching tops from Shein, extra costs, no messy dancing, and “please remove your wedding rings so they don’t distract from mine.” From there we get real about a heated work conversation and how hard it is to know what to do next when you still care about the person. We finish with a simple, usable framework that works at work, at home and with the kids: The 3 C’s for Difficult Conversations 1. Calm – regulate before you communicate 2. Clear – be specific, drop the “always/never” 3. Constructive – move toward a solution Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome back & summer catch-up 04:24 Kids, clubs & back-to-school 06:35 Group chat overload 08:25 Oreo Gate (the full story) 19:30 Bridezilla hen-party WhatsApp 23:56 A real heated work conversation 32:47 The 3 C’s framework (Calm • Clear • Constructive) 45:51 Final thoughts & outro We’re nearly back into full routine and we’ve got something exciting coming in early October more details soon. If this episode helped or made you laugh, drop a like and subscribe so you don’t miss the next one. #OreoGate #MumLife #Parenting #GroupChatDrama #DifficultConversations

Aug 7

Would You Let Your Partner Do This? Jealousy, Trust & Relationship Boundaries

❤️ Where do you draw the line in a relationship? Is jealousy always a bad thing? Can you completely trust your partner while still having boundaries? And where do things like massages, friendships, and professionalism fit into a healthy relationship? In this episode of The Risings Growing Together Podcast, we have an honest conversation about jealousy, trust, insecurities, and the boundaries that shape our relationships. From discussing male massage therapists and professional boundaries to sharing personal experiences with insecurity, communication, and past relationships, this episode explores the difficult conversations that many couples have but rarely talk about openly. Whether you're single, dating, married, or somewhere in between, we'd love to hear your perspective.

Aug 4

Everything We Learned From Life Behind the Wheel

In this episode of The Rising Growing Together Podcast, we dive into the stories behind the cars we've owned, the ones we've dreamed of, and the unforgettable moments we've experienced on the road. From buying a Tesla and dealing with finance, paperwork, and registration headaches to reminiscing about our first cars, driving tests, road trips, and hilarious driving fails, this episode is full of laughs, nostalgia, and relatable stories. Whether you're a lifelong petrolhead, a Tesla owner, or simply enjoy hearing real-life experiences, there's something in this episode for you. 👇 We'd love to hear from you! What was your first car? What's your dream car? Leave a comment below! If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to 👍 Like, 💬 Comment and 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week.

The Rising’s Growing Together Podcast

What Would You Do If Your Child Did Something Unforgivable?

She Had the Successful Life… So Why Did She Walk Away? | Serena

Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial Ad: Are Women Tearing Women Down?

Are Your Expectations Too High? When High Standards Become Unrealistic

Are We Over-Parenting Our Kids? When to Step In & When to Let Go

Oreo Gate, Bridezilla WhatsApp & The 3 C’s for Difficult Conversations

Would You Let Your Partner Do This? Jealousy, Trust & Relationship Boundaries

Everything We Learned From Life Behind the Wheel

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The Rising’s Growing Together Podcast

Episodes

What Would You Do If Your Child Did Something Unforgivable?

She Had the Successful Life… So Why Did She Walk Away? | Serena

Sydney Sweeney’s Controversial Ad: Are Women Tearing Women Down?

Are Your Expectations Too High? When High Standards Become Unrealistic

Are We Over-Parenting Our Kids? When to Step In & When to Let Go

Oreo Gate, Bridezilla WhatsApp & The 3 C’s for Difficult Conversations

Would You Let Your Partner Do This? Jealousy, Trust & Relationship Boundaries

Everything We Learned From Life Behind the Wheel

About

Information