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Charlie

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. 2d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Jul 12

    Keeping Kids Hydrated in the Heat (without losing your mind)

    Send us Fan Mail Summer's here and so is that familiar stress: trying to get your little ones to drink water when they'd rather do literally anything else. In this episode, Charlie shares her tried-and-tested tips from raising five kids through many hot summers. From sneaky hydrating foods to warning signs every mum should know, this episode will help you keep your kids safe and hydrated without turning into the water police.   What You'll Learn in This Episode   ☀️ Why hydration stress is so real for mums (and why your toddler keeps dodging that water bottle)   🍉 Hydrating foods that do the work when water won't: watermelon, cucumber, frozen grapes, yoghurt, ice lollies, smoothies and more   🥤 Simple tricks to make drinking more appealing: fun cups, flavoured water, pour-it-yourself stations, and family hydration reminders   ⚠️ Early and serious signs of dehydration to watch for (and when to seek help)   🌡️ Timing and temperature tips: avoiding the hottest part of the day, finding shade, and keeping little bodies cool   💛 How to enjoy summer without the constant worry Mentioned in This Episode: * 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   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) Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday! Support the show

  7. Jul 5

    Why do you feel alone in a room full of people? Mom Loneliness Explained

    Send us Fan Mail Ever sat in a room full of people — your kids, your partner, maybe even friends — and still felt completely alone?   In this episode, I'm talking about the kind of loneliness no one prepares you for. The kind that has nothing to do with how many people are around you, and everything to do with how disconnected you feel from yourself.   I'm sharing my own story of losing my sense of identity after becoming a mom, why friendships feel so different now, and what I've learnt after five babies about where that loneliness really comes from.   In This Episode: * Why you can be touched all day and still feel unseen * My experience of "disappearing" from my old life after having my first baby * Why friendships shift after kids (and why that's okay) * The real root of mom loneliness — and it's not what you think * One small shift that helps you start reconnecting with yourself   Mentioned in This Episode: * The Identity Audit (inside Back to Me) * 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   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) Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/charliesparentingpages/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Charliesparentingpages A new episode is released every Sunday! Support the show

  8. Jun 28

    Why You Still Feel Lost After 3 Kids (And What to Do About It)

    Send us Fan Mail Had two, three, maybe four kids and thought you'd have it figured out by now? This episode is your permission slip to stop pretending.   In this episode, I'm getting honest about why more kids often means more chaos, not more confidence — and what it actually looks like to start finding yourself again when your schedule is bursting and you've got zero hours that belong to you.   What we cover: * Why experience doesn't automatically mean you've got it together * The myth that motherhood should get easier with practice (and why that voice is lying to you) * How every child brings a completely new identity shift — and why we never give ourselves space to process it * The moment in my kitchen that broke me open (and woke me up) * Tiny reclamations: how I started building myself back in without spa days or solo trips * How to put your mum guilt on trial and separate real guilt from noise   This episode is for you if: * You've had multiple kids and feel more lost than ever * You're wondering when you'll finally feel like yourself again * You're tired of advice that doesn't fit your real life * You're ready to stop waiting for "when things calm down"   Mentioned in this episode: * 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   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) 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