Today we have three great caller questions:1. Please help I feel like I have stuffed up my child's food up, she is three and I don't know what to do.  2. Where do I actually start with losing weight? I have tried so many times and failed over and over again.3. Just what is risky play and it's importance for children, how do I start doing it and what is age appropriate?

In this special edition episode, Caz and I come together with our hearts and stories to talk about and challenge Father's Day for anyone who struggles with this day for whatever reason. This one is for you. 

10) Studying with Kids, Breakfast & Collagen PowderToday we have three great caller questions:1. I am thinking of going back studying and have a 6 and 4 year old. Do you have any advice?2. I really struggle to eat breakfast in the morning and don't eat until midday - is this bad? How important is breakfast?3. What are my views on collagen? Good, bad or all hype?

Today we are discussing relationship tax, a hidden but significant challenge encountered in many relationships that involve the care of children and how it impacts us, weaponised incompetence and the 'tit-for-tat' that can happen. As we are talking about a topic related to mental load this is also a good time to update you on how I went on my recharge time, what came up for me, how I felt and some gentle encouragement for all of us to keep doing this. 

Today we have a very special guest appearance! Introducing one of my best friends, operations manager and all round incredible human Caz! We chat through our timeline, when and how we meet, some big ups and downs we have walked through, how Caz came to work for me and for a real laugh.....our beige flags!  

Today we are taking two callers questions including one on the topic of adult friendships for which we will be talking more about next week with a special appearance! I am also going to share three top finds from the Auckland Food Show1) The struggle to recharge as a mother - "You have mentioned on socials about some of the things you are doing to recharge and how you have struggled previously can you talk about this more and how to do it when we have no time!"2) Food show finds (product reviews!) - three top products that I found at The Auckland Food Show3) Adult Friendships (Part 1) - Have had a few messages asking to talk about this, how hard it is, how to find your people and, how to do this when we are so time poor. 

Today we are taking caller questions on:1) "You said in an earlier episode that you don't use scales - why and then how do you track your progress?"2) "Why don't you recommend bribes and rewards for toddlers (but this also translates to adult nutrition e.g. the concept of a cheat meal/day).3) Help! There is so much confusing and conflicting nutrition advice online - how do you know where to start dissecting this? How do you know what you are reading is accurate?

In this episode we dive deep into the food industry. It will not be the only time we do this! I challenge you as consumers to truly look into who you are buying from and answer two relevant listener questions: - Making informed choices about who you are buying from, what some top food industry brands CEO's get paid and do they eat their own food?- Listener Question: Do children really need sugar?- Listener Question: Why is baby rice so heavily promoted?

We have just had the school holidays (again) here in New Zealand. I have had five years of school holidays and have had a child (or two at some points) in early childhood education for a decade now. My youngest is three and a half so I have another 18months of early childhood education and a further 15 or so years of school holidays ahead of me. This is much, much deeper than what it appears on the surface. In this episode I tackle this huge, hard topic. Be prepared it is going to be confronting for some. I pull apart our gender pay gap, occupational segregation, the reasons why women return to work and DO NOT return to work (or leave the workforce). I explain how this impacts our wellbeing and why it desperately needs to be challenged.Important New Zealand Research Discussed: Noy, S & Sin, I (2021). The Drivers of Mothers’ Parental Leave Decisions: Evidence from the Growing Up in New Zealand Longitudinal Survey. Sin, I., Dasgupta, K & Pacheco, G. (2018). Parenthood and Labour Outcomes. Ministry of Women. Statistics New Zealand (2015). Women at Work 1991-2013. Available from www.stats.govt.nz

Today we are taking listener questions on:- Where parents get it 'wrong' with toddler feeding and unpack boundaries, the division of responsibility and just what toddlers are capable of with their feeding. - It is school holidays which means some families will be on the road so we answer how to reset from travel and the relationship between food and sleep here. -  Just how bad are baby food pouches? If you have a question for Dr Julie get in touch via the contact page of her website or email: [email protected]