Chat with Charlie on Mum Matters

Charlie
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  • Parenting

Honest conversations for mums who want to feel confident, less overwhelmed & seen. Join Charlie, mum of 5, as she shares real support for the early days of motherhood and beyond. For further on going support join our Mum Matters Community at https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages

  1. 5d ago

    Reclaiming Your Rhythm once Kids are Back to School

    Send us Fan Mail If you feel like you have just crawled across the summer holidays finish line on your hands and knees, covered in sand, suncream, and snack wrappers, take a deep breath. You are not alone.   Every year we tell ourselves that summer will be slow and magical. But running entertainment, catering, dispute resolution, and schedule management for six solid weeks is mentally and physically exhausting.    In this episode, we talk about what actually happens when the house goes quiet, and why forcing yourself into a rigid, military-grade productivity routine on day one is a recipe for burnout.    Instead of sprinting, let us talk about how to gently reclaim your brain, your breath, your rhythm, and your identity after summer.   In this episode, we cover:   The post-summer hangover and the big lie we tell ourselves on day one Step 1: The 48-hour decompression buffer (why you need a landing pad, not a sprint) Step 2: Emptying the 47 open tabs in your brain and setting up simple home rotas Step 3: Protecting your non-negotiable 15-minute crack of time Step 4: Putting mom guilt on trial so you can take up space in your own home The tiny reclaim: your one action step for tomorrow   Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday!   Support the show

  2. Aug 30

    Conversations With Your Partner That Save Your Sanity (Once Baby Is Here)

    Send us Fan Mail Even the best-laid plans change once baby arrives. In this episode, Charlie shares the five essential conversations that help couples stay connected, share the load, and remember they're on the same team — even when running on empty. With real-life wisdom from five babies and practical frameworks from Back to Me, this episode is for any mom who wants to move from resentment to real communication.   What You'll Learn   * Why conversations feel harder in the newborn phase (and how to have them anyway) * The Time Audit: making the invisible visible so both partners feel supported * How to take meal management and scheduling off one person's plate * Why self-care matters for both parents — and how to protect it * Practical tips for staying a team when you're both exhausted * Charlie's personal story of learning the hard way (and what changed everything) Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday! Support the show

  3. Aug 23

    The First 12 Months of Motherhood: What No One Tells You (And How to Find Yourself Again)

    Send us Fan Mail The first 12 months of motherhood aren't just hard — they're identity-shifting. You can prep the nursery, read all the books, and still feel like a stranger in your own life once baby arrives.   In this episode, I'm walking through the real feelings of that first year. The ones no one warns you about. The grief for who you used to be. The blur of sleepless nights. The way your body, your time, and your entire world change overnight.   And I'm sharing small, gentle ways to start finding yourself again — even in the chaos.   What we cover: * The overnight shift from "you" to "mum" — and why it's so disorienting * How time and sleep take on a completely new meaning * Why your body doesn't feel like yours anymore (and what to do about it) * The slow shrinking of your world — friendships, spontaneity, sense of self * Running your entire day around baby's schedule * Small, doable ways to start reclaiming tiny moments for yourself   Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday! Support the show

  4. Aug 16

    Why "Just Ask for Help" Doesn't Work for Moms (And What Actually Does)

    Send us Fan Mail In my recent Instagram poll, the number one answer to "what would make the biggest difference right now?" was help without having to ask for it. And that part hit me. Because it's not really about the help. It's about being the only one who sees, tracks, and assigns everything.   In this episode, I'm sharing the simple systems that finally got me off the mental load hamster wheel, including the car rota that sounds ridiculous but changed my mornings.   In This Episode:   * Why "just ask for help" is actually exhausting (and what's really happening underneath) * The car rota story that took one tiny question out of my head forever * How I gave everyone in my house actual responsibilities, not just chores I nag about * The four-week meal rota that stopped me dreading the "what's for dinner" question * What real help looks like (hint: it's structural, not dramatic) * How to start with just one friction point this week   Resources Mentioned  * Back to Me course: Home Friction Audit, 2-Minute Fix Framework, Rhythms That Work For You module Loved This Episode? Share it with a mom who needs to hear it - And if you haven't already, leave a review — it helps other moms find the podcast.   Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages Support the show

  5. Aug 9

    How to Talk to Your Partner About the Mental Load (Without Starting a Fight)

    Send us Fan Mail Feeling like you're carrying everything in your head while your partner has no idea? This episode is for you.   Charlie shares the one calm conversation that changed everything in her relationship — and walks you through exactly how to have it yourself. No guilt-tripping. No explosions. Just a simple framework to make the invisible visible.   In this episode: * What the mental load actually is (spoiler: it's not the dishes) * Why most conversations about this go wrong * The exact words Charlie used with her partner * The difference between "helping" and "owning" — and why it matters * A 5-step framework you can use tonight * What to do when the conversation doesn't land   Resources mentioned: * Back to Me — the 5-module course for moms ready to feel like themselves again * Home Friction Audit worksheet * 2-Minute Fix Framework * Weekly Planning Template Loved This Episode? Share it with a mom who needs to hear it - And if you haven't already, leave a review — it helps other moms find the podcast.   Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday! Support the show

  6. Aug 2

    "Even If I Had Time For Myself, I Wouldn't Know What To Do With It"

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary   If you've ever been handed a rare moment of free time and completely blanked on what to do with it, this episode is for you. Charlie digs into why so many mums feel disconnected from their own interests, how survival mode becomes the default setting, and what it actually takes to find (and protect) time for yourself. Spoiler: you're not broken. You've just been buried under everyone else's needs for too long.   What You'll Learn in This Episode   Why "what are your hobbies?" feels like an impossible question for most mums   How survival mode was supposed to be temporary but somehow never ended   The truth about time: why it's not about having more hours, it's about making yourself a priority   Charlie's personal story of running on empty and how building simple systems changed everything   Practical tips you can try this week to find and protect pockets of time   What's possible on the other side: reconnecting with yourself after motherhood consumed you   Loved This Episode? Share it with a mom who needs to hear it - And if you haven't already, leave a review — it helps other moms find the podcast.   Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday! Support the show

  7. Jul 26

    The Mental Load: What It Really Is & How to Manage It (with Nicki Cohen)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Charlie sits down with therapist and mom of three, Nicki Cohen, to have an honest conversation about the mental load. Together they unpack what the mental load actually is (hint: it's not the to-do list), why moms carry it so silently, and practical ways to start letting go without the guilt spiral. From the glass vs rubber ball analogy to the 30% good enough parent rule, this one is full of permission slips.   **What You'll Learn:** - What the mental load really means (it's not the doing, it's the constant thinking) - How to figure out which balls you can drop and which ones you can't - Why your kids and partner are probably more capable than you give them credit for - The 30% good enough parent rule that will make you exhale - How to put mom guilt on trial - Why struggling alone isn't a badge of honour - Small ways to find time for yourself (even with little ones)   **Resources Mentioned:** - Donald Winnicott's 30% Good Enough Parent research - Back to Me course (includes the "Mom Guilt on Trial" framework and Time Audit   **Connect with Nicki Cohen:** Nicki is a therapist offering counselling for teenagers and adults, as well as sessions for parents to help them better communicate with their teens. She also provides consultancy to charities and organisations on anything mental health related.  Website: www.nickicohencounselling.co.uk   Loved This Episode? Share it with a mom who needs to hear it - And if you haven't already, leave a review — it helps other moms find the podcast.   Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday!   Support the show

  8. Jul 19

    How to Prepare for the School Summer Holidays (Without Losing Yourself)

    Send us Fan Mail The summer holidays are coming — and whether you're excited or already exhausted at the thought, this episode is for you.   Charlie shares how she actually prepares for six weeks at home with five kids: the practical stuff (loose planning, meal prep, night-before routines) and the mental stuff (checking in with yourself, protecting your energy, and remembering you're a person too).   In this episode: * Why there's no "right" way to feel about summer * The power of loose weekly themes (not rigid schedules) * How night-before prep saves your sanity * Balancing big days with recovery days * The mental check-in questions to ask yourself before the holidays start * Protecting your identity when you're surrounded by kids 24/7 Resources mentioned: * Back to Me — the 5-module course for moms ready to feel like themselves again * Home Friction Audit worksheet * 2-Minute Fix Framework * Weekly Planning Template Loved This Episode? Share it with a mom who needs to hear it - And if you haven't already, leave a review — it helps other moms find the podcast.   Stay connected with Charlie Website: https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages (Mum Matters Community & all other tools for motherhood)  Back to Me — my 5-week programme for moms ready to feel like themselves again. Learn more https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages/p/back-to-me--34toq9xg Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday! Support the show

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Honest conversations for mums who want to feel confident, less overwhelmed & seen. Join Charlie, mum of 5, as she shares real support for the early days of motherhood and beyond. For further on going support join our Mum Matters Community at https://stan.store/Charliesparentingpages

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