Baby, It's you!

This week I had the most beautiful conversation with Charlotte from the Living Doula, and I am so grateful for the wisdom and openness she brought to this episode. She went deep, she went real, and I know you're going to love her.We explore how the family we grew up in shapes the parent we become — and what it looks like to pause, get curious, and consciously choose something different. Charlotte takes us through her journey of stillness and self-discovery in motherhood, and what it truly means to align how you parent with who you actually are.We talk about the power of sitting with pain and discomfort rather than running from it, the beauty and the courage in repairing ruptures with our children, and why care work deserves so much more recognition than the world gives it.And then Charlotte shares something really profound — being diagnosed with cancer at 24, before she even had children — and how that experience cracked her open, shaped her relationship with risk, authenticity, and what it means to honour the rites of passage in a woman's life.This one is tender, brave, and so worth your time.Link in bio to listenFind Charlotte @thelivingdoulaAnd her website www.thelivingdoula.comHi, I'm Kim — your host! A mum of two who swapped Melbourne life for a slower pace on the Queensland coast, and I we haven't looked back. With over a decade in perinatal mental health and a background in family systems, Circle of Security & Aware Parenting I support parents through the messy, tender work of raising little humans.You can find me here:Instagram @kimberley.cousins Website: emberoakfamilymentoring.com.auEmail: kimberleyacousins@gmail.com

I speak with the beautiful Ali Heppell— a mother, postpartum doula, and motherhood mentor with deep training in matrescence, somatics, and Mum Parts work. We explore the emotional and identity shifts of early motherhood, how to move through them with compassion, and why understanding our inner experience changes the way we mother. If you’re navigating the early years, you’ll walk away with insight, permission to feel, and a softer way of seeing yourself in the process.Connect with Aliemail: hello@aliheppell.comfacebook: ali heppell. mothercare.ig: @aliheppell_mothercarewebsite: aliheppell.comHi, I’m Kim.I’m deeply moved by the stories of parenting and human connection — the messy, beautiful, and transformative parts of becoming who we are. This podcast is my way of exploring those stories, creating space for understanding, and reminding us that we’re not alone in the challenges we face. I work as a parenting mentor and Circle of Security facilitator, supporting families to navigate emotions and relationships with compassion and awareness. My hope is that these conversations help parents feel seen, softer toward themselves, and more connected to the people they love.Connect with me-instagram: @kimberley.cousinswebsite: emberoakfamilymentoring.com.auemail: kimberleyacousins@gmail.comIf anything touched you in Ali's story please reach out, your reflections matter. And these conversations are meant to keep unfolding. Sending warm hugs X

I am so excited to share this beautiful conversation I had with Yana. It's real, raw and so inspiring! Yana, is the founder of a gorgeous shop in the East of Melbourne called Oak and Haven. In this episode she shares the unfolding of her own becoming — as a woman, a mother, and a creator.We explore how creative expression became a doorway into self-discovery, how diagnosis shaped her path toward self-acceptance, and the way motherhood cracked things open in both tender and empowering ways.We speak honestly about mental health, pregnancy, self-care, and the impact of our own upbringing on how we mother. About role modelling healthy relationships. About telling the truth in partnership. About what it means to choose empowerment, even when it’s uncomfortable.And we dive into the heart behind her magazine, Blood to Bone — a tangible space honouring women’s lived stories, lineage, and wisdom across the seasons of womanhood.This is a conversation about becoming. About shedding. About speaking truth. And about building something that feels deeply rooted in who you are.—Hi, I’m Kim.I’m a parenting mentor and registered nurse working in the perinatal space, with a deep focus on attachment, nervous system awareness, and the emotional world of motherhood. I care about the bigger picture — how our own stories shape the way we parent, and how we can raise children from a place of self-understanding rather than self-judgement.If something stirred in you while listening to Yana’s story, I would genuinely love to hear from you.You can find me on Instagram at @kimberley.cousins, explore my work at www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.au, or reach out directly via email at kimberleyacousins@gmail.com.Your reflections matter. And these conversations are meant to keep unfolding.

Holy moly this conversation was incredible with the truly amazing LAEL STONE!! In this powerful conversation we explore how birth and the postpartum season leave lasting imprints — on our bodies, our nervous systems, and the way we show up as parents.We speak about birth trauma, emotional safety, and the courage it takes to truly hold a child’s feelings — especially when it activates our own.This episode is about generational healing. About reparenting ourselves while raising our children. About becoming the anchor of connection — not through control or perfection, but through compassion.If you’re wanting to do parenting differently… this conversation will meet you there.What an absolute pleasure it was chatting to Lael Stone.Hi, I’m Kim. I’m a parenting mentor, Circle of Security facilitator, and registered nurse with over a decade of experience in perinatal mental health, alongside training in family therapy.Every day, I sit with parents in the messy, tender, powerful work of raising children — helping them make sense of their own stories while building secure, connected relationships with their little ones.You can find me:Instagram - @kimberley.cousins on instagramWebsite - www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.auEmail - kimberleyacousins@gmail.comI'd love to hear from you..your feedback, ponderings, musings, questions or anything thats on your heart.

This episode is a real conversation about re-parenting ourselves while raising our children.We explore how our own childhood, attachment experiences, and generational patterns quietly shape the way we show up as parents. We talk about the vulnerability of parenting, the pressure many parents feel, cultural differences in support, and how easy it is to become overwhelmed trying to “get it right.”We touch on self-compassion, curiosity, connection, honest conversations, and the importance of repair. And we speak about how emotional nurturing — for ourselves and our children — is at the heart of this work.If this conversation stirs something for you, we so warmly welcome & invite you to reach out on Instagram or via my website at www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.au with any questions or reflections.Hi, I’m Kim. I’m a parenting mentor, Circle of Security facilitator, and registered nurse with over a decade of experience in the perinatal mental health field, alongside training in family therapy. This is the work I support families with every day.If you are looking for support i'd love to be with you, you can find me on instagram @kimberley.cousins or on my website www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.au i look forward to hearing from you X

I am so excited to have Belinda from @belinda_marie_parenting with me on the podcast. Our conversation explores the emotional world underneath behaviour — in children and in ourselves.We talk about what it takes to stay present with big feelings, how unmet needs often sit beneath what we see, and why repair, support, and self-compassion matter so much in family life.A reminder that parenting is never just about the child, but the whole family system — and that connection grows through curiosity, play, and moments of joy.Belinda is a registered mental health nurse, an aware parenting instructor, a Mum of two boys, and a beautiful parenting mentor. You can find Belinda on instagram @belinda_marie_parenting.Hi, I’m Kim your host of Baby, It's you! — a parenting mentor, Circle of Security facilitator, registered nurse in the perinatal field, with training in family therapy. I support parents to understand the emotional world underneath behaviour and to build more connection, compassion, and safety within their family system.You can find more of my work at www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.au and on Instagram @kimberley.cousins Thanks for listening in to Baby, Its You!

In this episode, we gently unpack how childbirth reshapes intimacy, not just in our bodies, but in our nervous systems and relationships. We talk about the loss of desire no one warns you about, the impact of birth experiences and trauma, shifting body confidence, and why emotional safety becomes the doorway back to closeness.This is a conversation about postpartum intimacy that moves beyond “getting it back” and instead honours what’s changed — the resentment, the unmet needs, the longing to feel close again. We explore how listening, repair, and feeling emotionally held can slowly rekindle connection after birth.If intimacy feels distant right now, this episode isn’t about fixing — it’s about understanding, compassion, and remembering you’re not alone.We referenced 'The Love Languages', you can find more info here: https://5lovelanguages.com/Kim is a family mentor, Circle of Security facilitator, has a grad cert in family therapy and perinatal nurse who supports parents and couples through the emotional realities of family life. Her work is grounded in emotional safety, relationship, and gentle repair.If this episode brought something up for you, you’re welcome to connect with her via the links below.www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.au@kimberley.cousins (on instagram)kimberleyacousins@gmail.com (email)

In this episode, we talk about the real work of parenting — not the highlight reel.We explore what it really means to keep the baby in mind, why play and connection can feel surprisingly hard, and how slowing down often goes against everything modern parenting demands of us. We unpack generational patterns, emotional inheritance, and the quiet pressure to be a “perfect” parent.We also name the impact of social media on presence, why good enough parenting is not a cop-out but a relief, and how real connection with our children is about quality, not quantity.This episode is for parents who:Feel stretched, distracted, or emotionally tiredWant deeper connection without more pressureAre ready to let go of perfection and parent with more compassionGrounded, honest, and deeply reassuring — this one will meet you right where you are.If you are wanting more support in your parenting journey I (Kim) offer 1:1, couple or Circle of Security parenting support. You can find more details at my website-www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.auYou can also find me on instagram @kimberley.cousinsTake care of yourself, Big love- Kim X

In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Butcher — retired family therapist and absolute wisdom-holder — for a real conversation about the messy, emotional reality of family life.We talk about keeping the baby in mind (always), how diagnoses ripple through the whole family, and why emotional safety matters more than getting it “right.” We unpack extended family dynamics, unspoken expectations in relationships, modern parenting pressures, and the impact of social media on how we connect (and disconnect).This episode is about:Emotional presence over perfectionRepairing relationships instead of pretending nothing happenedParenting from authenticity, not performanceModelling the kind of communication we actually want our kids to learnIf you’re parenting, partnered, triggered, trying your best, or quietly wondering “is it meant to feel this hard?” — this one’s for you.If you’re listening and noticing your own edges — with your child, your partner, or yourself — I offer support for parents wanting more connection and emotional safety at home. You can find me at www.emberoakfamilymentoring.com.au.You can also find me on instagram @Kimberley.cousinsKeep it real! X

In this episode, I talk about what's really happening beneath our children's big behaviours, and how we can respond from a place of steadiness instead of control.We look at the nervous system, the family dynamics that get triggered, and the difference between tightening punishment and building relational resilience.I share how we support Syd through these moments, and how you can come up with your own family game plan for when things get BIG.

In this episode, I'm sharing a few moments of what I've found hard in slowing down since our move up North - the messy, the uncomfortable, and the beautiful parts. We talk about the reality of learning how to slow down in relationship, in parenting, and within ourselves. Expect real stories, gentle reminders and invitations to wiggle.

Welcome to Baby, It's You! the parenting podcast about slowing down, shaking it out, and finding calm in the chaos of family life.In this intro episode I'm pulling back the curtain: why I started this, who I am and what you can expect from each episode- real talk, big feels and moments that remind you you're not alone in this parenting ride.