Parenting Out Loud

Just when you thought the summer school holidays couldn't get any longer, one Australian school has announced it's finishing up next year in NOVEMBER. Yes, November. Cancel Christmas. You'll be too busy organising vacation care.

Meanwhile, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is back, this time with a post-partum Angel.  Has motherhood become the ultimate marketing strategy?

Plus, a six-year-old drew a picture of what she wants to be when she grows up and her school turned it into an AI-generated image of her adult self, and the internet is furious.  I guess we're outsourcing childhood im...

A viral essay from a dad admits he loves his kids but having a second child ruined his life. Is going from one kid to two really the parenting tipping point nobody warns you about?

Meanwhile, there's a Tik Tok debate over the phrase “You get what you get and you don't get upset.” Because wait, aren't we supposed to be validating ALL the feelings? 

Amelia has the story of a mum who let her five-year-old walk to a pond alone and she's ended up with a criminal conviction. Have we become so obsessed with prote...

Cocaine use is rising in suburban Australia, and one story about “cocaine mums” went absolutely bananas this week. Is this mummy wine culture 2.0? 

Meanwhile, CDs are back and suddenly a Discman with wired headphones is cool again. But maybe The Great Unplugging isn’t really about nostalgia. Maybe parents are just desperate for a device that doesn’t have an algorithm attached to it.

Plus, the Aussie dad who gave his kids an almighty dressing-down over the pool fence, Kim Kardashian's four nanny system, and Ben Affleck's existential crisis on a podcast. 

Reccos:

Sta...

A 20-second clip of a mum carrying a baby, a backpack, and three trays of food had millions of strangers screaming “LEAVE HIM”. Is it the parenting equivalent of the Coldplay viral video? 

Also, we regret to inform you there is now a name for husbands disappearing into the toilet for suspiciously long periods: weaponised pooping.

Also, if parenting feels impossibly hard right now, it's not your fault. We unpack the speech about Australian parenthood that had parents crying with relief, and the three changes that could actually make family life easier. 

Reccos:

A fun idea for a kids party ends in a five-hour furore and that's not even the weirdest thing that happened this week, because Gabby's Dollhouse  - after 14 seasons - suddenly has a sister, and dogs. What is happening? 

Meanwhile, Amelia issues an apology for everything we said about Gwyneth Paltrow and conscious uncoupling, because turns out she was onto something. 

Monz brings us the school mums' Facebook argument that's gone nuclear. Who killed the school volunteer? And why are mums still expected to keep the cake stalls running?

Plus, Stacey reveals the pos...

Playdates are cancelled. Because the French reckon adults just need to get together when it suits them, and let the kids figure it out themselves. Sacre Bleu.

Meanwhile, The Oreogate plot thickens; was the entire thing a marketing ploy? An ad? Stacey has the official update.

Gen Alpha's are making their parents drive three hours for a very specific haircut, Lady Gaga joins the celebrity stealth-baby club, and when a Good Dad of the Internet asks what public toilet he should take his daughters into, 4 million people had thoughts. 

Plus, Australian schools are wi...

Would you rent a nanna? One Australian grandma has built a business on what so many exhausted parents are missing. Take our money, Nanna. 

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle has been dubbed a submarine parent. Is she really doing anything different from a FIFO dad or does it get complicated when motherhood and domesticity are also part of your brand?

Plus, should we stop telling our kids they’re amazing at everything? Raygun, North West and one brutally honest dad have us asking whether endless praise is actually doing kids any favours.

Also: the deeply ble...

1980's dinners are back. One mum got so sick of weeknight dinners, she went back to cooking only the simple meals of her childhood. Fish fingers. Meat and potatoes. And we love it more than Fritz and Sauce in a bowl (whatever the heck that is).  

Also, a viral series where adults talk like kids has us wondering whether we're lost the art of great convos. Should we skip straight to: “Who’s your least favourite relative?”

We have a five-minute explainer on the big changes coming for kids and families accessing the NDIS, and why the...

Grace Rouvray is back this week, alongside Stacey Hicks and Amelia Lester as we remember Dolly Parton and consider the roles 'favourite aunts' have in our child's lives. 

Plus, Stacey takes us deep into the viral 'Oreo-gate' drama to reveal why the internet’s favourite mum group feud is almost certainly fake.

And, we’re rating two new playgrounds — including a wine-barrel setup and a slide that simulates the sinking Titanic. What could go wrong? 

Right now, every Mamamia subscriber is automatically entered to win a $5,000 Dreamworld holiday for four; flights, accommodation, express passes a...

Bluey’s had a Hollywood glow-up and some don't love the 3D fur on Australia's best dogs. But are we all just terrible at change?

The Lindsay Clancy trial has become the case mothers can’t stop talking about. Why has this horrific story captivated so many? (Skip ahead to 26 minutes if you this isn't for you.) 

Also, Sarah Abo brought her four-week-old baby onto breakfast TV. A gorgeous “meet the baby” moment… or a tiny glimpse of the pressure women feel to prove they’re still at work while on maternity leave?

And Australia...

This is a heavy one, and an episode we wish we didn’t have to record.

Today, we're sharing a story that has broken hearts globally: the Lindsay Clancy trial currently taking place in the US.

Mia Freedman is joined by The Quicky journalists, Tamsin Rose and Georgie Page, to unpack the details of this incredibly distressing case. We’ve kept this as a standalone episode so you can choose if, and when, you’re ready to listen.

Please look after yourselves.

RESOURCES:

If you or anyone you know needs t...

Would you let your five-year-old go to the park alone? One mum did, and the internet went straight to abduction, neglect and worst-case scenarios. So… have parents become addicted to imagining the worst? And what’s all that fear doing to our kids?

A baby cried in business class and another passenger decided that was simply not part of the premium experience. Anne Hathaway showed off a very normal, very pregnant belly and the internet promptly accused her of faking it. 

And in wholesome dads of the internet, a Melbourne dad started a walking group for da...

You're bleeding, leaking, sleep deprived. There is a lot of crying; mostly yours but also the baby. You can't remember what day it is, when you last showered, or even your own name. But hold on - are you soaking it up, mama? Because you should be!

This week, the relentless pressure to enjoy every second of motherhood while you’re still very much surviving it. Because apparently we only get 18 summers, every cuddle could be the last cuddle, and we’re all meant to feel nostalgic in real time. Ok? 

Then, should Book Week be ca...

Suri Cruise has dropped her megastar dad’s surname and it’s starting to look less like celebrity gossip and more like a new wave of family estrangement.

We unpack why the adult children of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise are making their distance official, the PR strategy that helped both men quietly sidestep the conversation, and why mothers are still so often blamed when children cut contact with their fathers.

Plus, a genuinely chilling warning about school photos, AI deepfakes and the new risks of sharing children’s images online. Is this the moment school...

There’s a birthday party ritual that has snuck into the modern parenting mental load - so we’re calling for a national amnesty. 

Meanwhile, the Ashley Tisdale has turned her toxic-mum-group drama into a TV show and Stacey is cancelling all plans to watch.

A Wall Street Journal feature on “CEO parenting” blew up the internet this week. With wealthy parents detailing the tasks they outsource - everything from clipping toenails to riding bikes - we unpack the very charged response.

And a former teacher and principal makes the case that schools aren’t th...

The biggest show on TV right now - Amazon Prime's Elle -  is making best friend parenting look deeply aspirational. Monz wants in. Amelia absolutely does not, and Stacey is blaming Gilmore Girls for making the whole thing look normal.

Then, is reading really dying, or are kids just consuming words in completely different ways? Amelia brings the panic, Monique brings the Australian research, and Stacey wonders whether asking children to read every night is accidentally killing the joy.

Plus, the World Cup dad who blamed the referee, the post-birth meals that tasted better than a...

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The sibling gold standard has officially been set by Harry Styles and his sister Gemma, but it’s giving Stacey some serious 'parent of one' guilt. Plus, the Australian schools that are handing out codes of conduct to an unlikely group — the parents. 

Plus, in the celebrity world, can motherhood be used as a strategic 180 to swing public perception, or do we just inherently view mothers differently? And, how old is too old for a bush wee? 

Also, the study that nobody knew existed has confirmed explicit songs are on decline and yet kids are somehow...

Can a celebrity really keep their family a secret in 2026? One very famous parent is believed to have two children that most people don't even know exist, or do they?

Plus, it's school holidays, which means one thing: Dad-cation season. But after we witnessed one father do absolutely nothing on a long-haul flight while his partner did everything, we need to ask... are we still having the same parenting conversation?

And finally, remember all the dumb things you said before you had kids? Turns out, pre-parenthood you was absolutely delusional. 

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Fun playground or toddler emergency room invitation? Melbourne parents are fiercely divided over a controversial new playground featuring... checks notes... giant rocks. Is this brilliant independent play, or have we officially reached peak chaotic parenting? We have thoughts.

Plus, Monz and Stacey ran to see Toy Story 5 and what they witnessed was a brutal gut punch. Pixar took our greatest screen-time guilt and put it on a 90-minute tear that has us questioning how imagination can possibly coexist with addictive tech.

Also, as some Australians demand child-free flights and resorts, Amelia asks the question: Is t...

Japan’s national soccer team and their supporters have gone viral following their World Cup match after leaving the stadium and their locker room absolutely spotless. We want to know how we can get our kids to follow suit.

Influencer and Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague has stepped out 10 days postpartum in a white dress and everyone has lost their minds, but not for the reason you’d think. 

Support independent women’s media and get our biggest offer of the year. Subscribe here for 30% off your annual Mamamia subscription. Code applied at the checkout. Offer en...

Have you ever dreamt of packing up your family and escaping to the country? Former AFL player Buddy Franklin and his wife Jesinta have ditched the big city for something a little... quieter. Monz, Amelia and Stacey are unpacking whether it’s possible to completely reinvent your family life. Plus, Stacey explains her 'Florist Theory.’

Also, there’s a new solution for parenting exhaustion that involves dividing household duties differently, and we’re trying to decide if it’s genius, or not all it’s cracked up to be. And, what about the ‘double drop-off’?

First it was pon...

Future King Prince William claims his morning school run is actually just as chaotic and messy as ours. We’re trying to decide whether or not we believe him.

From a cryptic countdown to 13 clouds on a billboard. Taylor and Toy Story have officially collabbed. We’re breaking down all the Easter eggs and whether she might be attempting to reach EGOT status with her new song 'I Knew It, I Knew You.'

Plus, what do your kids think you do all day? We discuss the hilarious reality of trying to explain our jobs to o...

Are Australian parents okay? If you're finding parenting deeply exhausting, a study has found you're not the only one. Monique Bowley, Amelia Lester and Stacey Hicks are unpacking why parents are feeling so stressed out. Plus, Stacey has a theory that might just be genius.

Also, are you constantly saying sorry for your kids just being...kids? We're discussing why we feel the need to apologise all the time and what it might actually be teaching them. 

Plus, whimsical grandparent names. Everyone is now 'Mimi' and 'Zaza' instead of 'Nanna' and 'Pop'. We discuss whether thi...

Sienna Miller and Laura Henshaw are presenting two very different versions of new motherhood in our feeds — so why is the internet upset with both of them? Monique Bowley, Amelia Lester and Stacey Hicks dive into the unrealistic expectations on new mums and how there might be no right answer.

Also, Mandy Moore has officially entered the chat over Ashley Tisdale’s viral ‘toxic’ mum group essay back in January, and suddnely it feels like we're back in high school.

Plus, Japan's late-night ‘crying cafes’ offer the ultimate sanctuary for exhausted mothers, and it’s made us think...

How soon is too soon to return to work after having a baby? Netballer Paige Hadley was back on the court ten weeks postpartum — and the internet had thoughts. Monique, Amelia, and Clare unpack why we all have so much to say about other women's postpartum choices.

If you've ever given up on pairing the kids' sock or let them quit that extracurricular activity — you might be a 'Beta Mum'. We dive into why mums are rejecting the optimised parenting grind and whether it's a feminist revolution or just collective burnout.

Plus, the low-key genius pare...

Naming a person is a challenge—but one Melbourne family has made their relatives compete for the privilege of a surname. This week Monz, Stacey and Amelia are talking about the Melbourne couple who settled their surname debate with a best-of-three rock-paper-scissors showdown. So, should we be making all family decisions via a game of competitive Jenga from now on?

Plus, the school holiday rule that has parents feeling like they’re back in detention. Amelia shares the enormous effort she poured into an official essay just to take her kids overseas, as we debate if ‘world school...

Have school photos become redundant? This week, Monz, Stacey and Amelia are unpacking the $180 million industry that's preys on nostalgia, guilt and the trust that no parent wants to be the one to opt out, despite their phones overflowing with perfectly good pictures of their kids. 

Plus, an Aussie influencer sparked a firestorm after leaving her baby in a hotel room to grab a quick massage, baby monitor in hand. Was the ensuing internet pile-on a genuine act of concern, or just a new way to pass around the "Bad Mother" baton?

And, party bags a...

This week, Monz, Amelia and Stacey explore the ‘performance’ of public parenting, inspired by Elin Strong’s viral article. So, are you actually parenting for the other people at the park? If the answer is yes, you might be a popcorn mum.

The swaddling fail by TV’s favourite doctor has ignited a firestorm amongst fans of medical drama The Pitt and we have thoughts. Also, we discuss Schitt’s Creek actor Dan Levy’s controversial take on planes and babies, and why even most parents are onboard.

Plus, Prince Harry and Hamish Blake are opening up ab...

This week, Monique, Amelia, and Stacey are discussing the ‘Jessica’ hack gone slightly awry. We talked about it. Our listeners tried it, and some of the results were…spooky. So, why has even Jessica Biel weighed in on this viral trend?

Also, we unpack the YouTube-ification of Netflix and why Danny Goh and Miss Rachel are suddenly taking over our Netflix profiles. We dive into the ‘Wild West’ of YouTube and why it’s banned in Monz’s house after a Peppa Pig incident.

Plus, we talk about the list of things you must be able to perfor...

This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and Amelia Lester unpack the 'max 3-hour mum' theory. That’s how long Skims co-founder and Kardashian-adjacent CEO Emma Grede thinks women should spend with their kids each day on weekends. We discuss whetther the mother of four's ‘quality over quantity’  approach is genius - or missing the point.

Also, is kids’ sport officially broken? From private strength sessions for 8-year-olds to parents getting red-carded on the sidelines, we ask when sport stopped being about 'having a go' and started being a ‘gateway to success’.

Plus, what exactly is the 'Jessica...

We’re unpacking the 'parenting rule' that blew up the comments section this week: While the kids are awake, you come last. The Internet had thoughts and so do Monique Bowley, Clare Stephens and Amelia Lester. So, does putting yourself first actually make you a better parent?

Plus, we look at the the Barbie Dream Fest — or as the internet is calling it, Fyre Festival for toddlers. Imagine paying $190 USD for an ‘immersive experience’ only to find a warehouse, a concrete floor and a cardboard box with a pink blanket. 

Also, Parks and Recreation actor Chris Prat...

Have you ever seen a video online that made you feel like you were failing at a job you didn't even apply for? Welcome to parenting in 2026.

This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and special guest, Clare Stephens, are diving into a viral trend romanticising the bond between young siblings—and it's left some only-child parents feeling a little judged.

Plus, we discuss the basketball coach who went viral for screaming in a player's face. Was it ‘toxic’ or exactly the kind of high-stakes motivation our ‘gentle parenting’ era is missing?

And, if your child...

Today, the rise of the Gen Alpha CEO is officially in full swing as Victoria Beckham’s daughter, Harper Seven, launches a beauty brand at 13. Monz, Stacey and Amelia ask at what point we decided teenagers need a corner office and a dedicated PR team instead of just... a hobby.

Plus, is ‘bagsing’ a spot in the playground slide queue ever acceptable, or have we officially lost our collective marbles? We unpack the world of park politics, optimisation and whether it’s just another form of snow-plough parenting.

Also, is it time to start running your hom...

Move over "conscious uncoupling". Divorce is getting a rebrand. This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and Amelia Lester unpack Hollywood Actor Lake Bell’s unconventional approach to explaining her split to her kids. So, why is she banning the word ‘but,’ and is she onto something?

Plus, Australian influencer Indy Clinton has gone viral for struggling with her sons kindergarten times tables, and honestly? Same. So, is homework still a thing in 2026 or is it time to let kids just be kids?

And, a viral post by Jana Barrett has the internet talking about the invisi...

Young Millennials and Gen Z are currently spiralling over the ultimate 'Why Now?' question: To procreate, or not to procreate? To help, they’ve resurrected an unlikely guru from the 1980s — Merle Bombardieri — whose decades-old 'Rocking Chair Test' is currently trending as the ultimate fix for biological-clock-induced brain rot. We unpack whether a 40-year-old therapy book can actually solve the most high-stakes dilemma of our lives.

Plus, Amelia Lester, Monique Bowley, and Stacey Hicks are diving into the rise of the 'Empty Parenting Weekend'. And, from Matt Damon’s viral 'don’t blink' dad take, to the obsess...

Parents of children who are 'short sleepers' — kids genetically programmed to survive on four hours of rest (and pure chaos) — we see you. We unpack the science on Parenting Out Loud this week of why some kids are simply 'built different'... and why the rest of us are drowning in caffeine.

Plus, we need to talk about the fetishisation of the 'Involved Father'. From Chris Hemsworth’s commemorative tattoos to the rise of the ‘Swiftie Dad,’ why does society throw a parade when a man does the bare minimum, yet side-eye Bobby Cannavale for skipping the Golden Globes to...

This week, Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester, and guest host Clare Stephens are diving into the 'beige food' epidemic and why modern snack culture might be to blame for your toddler’s refusal to eat anything that isn’t plain pasta or chicken nuggets.

And we discuss the the emotional cost of being an 'easy kid'. If you were the child who always got a gold star, never made a fuss, and now find yourself over-apologising to your barista, this one is for you. We talk about why we might actually want our kids to be a little bit...

This week on Parenting Out Loud, we're joined again by Luca Lavigne, so of course things went off without a hitch. 👀

Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester and Luca are here to unpack the rise of 'Trimester Zero,' and why the over-optimisation of parenting our kids is officially getting out of hand. 

Plus, is the art of 'gathering' officially dead? Are we too scared of judgement, toddler tantrums and messy living rooms to accept anyone into our home? And at what point did hosting become synonymous with performing? 

And, the 'creepy' parenting rituals we all h...

Is a mum's job ever done? That's the question that's come off the back of a viral moment from the Wuthering Heights press tour after its star Jacob Elordi was spotted doing something that has everyone talking. Monz, Stacey, and special guest Luca Lavigne debate whether this red carpet incident was a sweet moment for Jacob and his mum or... totally gross. 

Plus, Claire Danes just said the quiet part out loud about what's being touted as the very last parenting taboo. So, how would you feel about a surprise pregnancy at 44? The internet has its opinions — and...