Ahhhh, the independence era. Otherwise known as: “No, you can’t… but I’ll pretend you can while I slowly die inside.”This week I’m venting about the "I can do it myself" phase...the shoes, the clothes, the stairs, the moments where you’re simultaneously proud of their independence but also desperate to scream into a pillow.If you’ve ever stood at the bottom of a staircase for 45 minutes saying “Good job, Bubby” with no conviction because your soul has left your body, I feel you.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
We are deep in toddler bedtime stalling territory and if you’ve been here before, you know the pain.Every night is a masterclass in negotiation. And by “negotiation,” I mean manipulation, emotional warfare and being asked to read the same book 47 times while a tiny human practices their latest excuse for staying awake.In this episode, I talk about the emotional toll of these bedtime marathons and why solo parenting makes it feel even heavier.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week’s question from Anthony goes straight for the jugular: “Do you ever think about your own mortality?”Um… yes. Constantly.In this episode, I talk about the creeping fear that comes with being a solo mum, knowing your kid only has you and wanting to be here long enough to see it all. From my parents’ dementia battles to the late‑night “Am I doing too much?” spiral, I unpack what it’s like to balance survival, stress and the need to slow down.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week’s question comes from Fran: “Do you feel bad about sending your kid to daycare?”Short answer? Nope.In this episode, I share the emotional rollercoaster of daycare drop-offs, how long it took my daughter to settle in and why even if I won the lottery, I still wouldn’t do seven days a week solo. We also dip into…The solo parent juggleThe mental load of endless daycare dress-upsThe chaos of events scheduled during work hoursAnd why I think daycare has helped shape my daughter into the social little legend she is.It’s part rant, part reflection and big love for the amazing humans who take care of our tiny humans while we try to keep the lights on.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week’s question comes from Cassie: “Do you use screens more as a solo mum because you don’t have help?”The answer?...No. But it's not for the reason you'd think.Screen time is a topic that gets people fired up and it feels like everyone is judging your decisions. But in this episode I explain why I don't use it (at the moment, but that's not to say I won't in the future), how it breaks my child’s brain (and mine) and why 30 minutes of peace isn't worth a week of Wiggles withdrawal.If you're a parent who loves the TV, you'll find no judgement here! We're all just doing what we need to do to get through the day!This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
Ever feel like you’re going to turn inside out trying not to yell at your kid? Me too!This week’s listener question comes from Annalise, a solo mum trying her best not to lose it on the daily but also wondering if she’s the only one struggling to keep it under wraps in the no escape / no tap out reality of parenting alone.I talk about my experience of trying (and failing) to be a zero yelling mum and why the fantasy of stepping out of the room to scream into a pillow is completely unrealistic when you’re on your own and your kid is mid-meltdown.I also chat about bedtime stall tactics, boundary-holding exhaustion and the weird comfort of hearing your toddler parrot your worst moments back to you. Parenting’s fun, hey?This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
Is the juggle doable as a solo mum? Technically, yes. But it might break you a little.In this final episode of this season, I talk about how I'm trying to keep everything going and the importance of not forgetting about yourself in that mix. I also explain why I’m taking a short break from the podcast (don't worry, it's not for long!) and why sometimes you just need to take something off your plate before you fall to bits.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week I'm answering a question about whether I've ever been judged for my parenting.This came into my inbox at the perfect time because I'd had someone judge me that very same week.And let's just say, I wasn't that jazzed about it.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week, I'm answering a question about the hardest stages of solo motherhood so far.I've got a whole episode on the first 6 weeks so we don't need to explore that hellscape again 😂.Instead, I'm going to share my thoughts on a phase I'm in the middle of right now that is pushing me to my absolute limits.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week I'm talking about a few items you must have if you're a solo mum.When you don’t have anyone to hand your baby to so you can take a shower or the toilet, these three things are a life saver. EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.
This week’s not a cry for help, I promise 😂It’s just a moment, between you and me, to talk about something I wasn’t ready for...how bad I would look 95% of the time after becoming a parent.From constant scratches and bruises to hair so bad I've asked ChatGPT for a hair routine (twice). I already had a pretty low bar for the amount of effort I was willing to put into my appearance. Bu it really hits another level when time, sleep, and energy vanish into the solo mum vortex.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week there’s no listener question, just a moment, between you and me, to unpack the unexpected panic that can set in when you're a solo parent with zero plans.I've never been one for the Sunday Scaries but what I have experienced is the Real Life Scaries that can often happen when you've returned from a holiday with parent friends and you realise "Holy crap. I've got to do this on my own?"It's almost easier to do it when you don't get a sneak peek into how much easier it is to pass the time with another person there.Coz when you step back into real life after that, those wide open hours can feel even longer than they do already.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
This week I'm answering a listener question about one of the most common fears people have when considering solo motherhood - what about companionship??Q: "I know you said a partner is out of the question but what about companionship? How do you manage to incorporate that? I am 39 and have a few eggs frozen and still feel unsure about so much including if I even want to go down this path on my own. All my friends are married with kids and I just feel people look at me confused."I hear ya! I feel like confusion was the reaction I got the most when I told people I was going to have a baby solo.So, in this episode I share how I felt about relationships before becoming a solo mum, how that changed once I made the decision to go it alone, and whether I ever miss having a partner now that I’m deep in the trenches of parenting on my own.I also reflect on the kind of love I’ve experienced in past relationships vs. the love I feel from my daughter and how it's unlike anything I’ve ever known.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.
Today I'm answering a meaty question from Anonymous...Q: "How much time did you give to considering how your daughter will feel and what she will experience being born into a situation where she will not be raised by and have a relationship with her biological father, and her biological father's side of the family? She has 50% of her DNA from a stranger. Did you talk to any donor conceived people or adopted people and ask them about their perspectives? How much will you disclose about her biological father's identity to her and others? I discovered I was a donor conceived (DC) person at 40 years old after completing a DNA test. As a DC person I loathe the term "donor". It's not an organ, it's not even a blood transfusion, a sperm donation results the child assuming 50% of the father's DNA and that is a huge factor in the make up and identity of the child."This question was brilliant because it really made me think about how I could make sure I'm thinking about this from my daughter's perspective and make sure she has the easiest time possible with this information.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
No question today, just a little observation from my time as a solo parent...the truly unfair notion that you spend most of your days doing absolutely nothing and yet you've never been more tired.HOW DOES THAT WORK?This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
In this episode I'm answering a question from Sam..."How did you go with feeding your kid solids? I'm terrified my daughter is only going to want to eat chicken nuggets."Oh Sam. I hear you!This was my greatest fear too.I get that kids like what they like, and if she only wanted chicken nuggets after I'd introduced her to everything else, there wasn't much I could do about that.But I was determined to get her to try as many different things as possible so she was aware there are more flavours out there than crumbed chicken.Unfortunately, I think I may have gone too far 😬This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showSolid Starts First 100 Days GuideWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
Today I'm answering this question from Anonymous..."I’m currently doing IVF to become a solo mum and while I’m super hopeful and optimistic it will work out, the realities are starting to dawn on me that it may not. And I may have to make peace with that at some point. So I guess my questions are - Did you think about this? Did you have a limit on how many round you would do? How did you handle the IVF rollercoaster once you decided you were ready to be a mum? Do you know anyone who tried without success (because this needs to be normalised as much as solo motherhood imo)?"I was 42 when I had my daughter so if there was one thing I was definitely across and that was the fact that, at my age, becoming a mum was more unlikely than it was likely.Every fertility appointment I went to (and there were a lot of them) I was reminded of the statistics.So I knew, no matter how much I wanted to be a mum, there were absolutely no guarantee it would happen.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
Today I'm answering this question from Carly..."Do you ever feel any level of guilt for your daughter that because of your (our) choice, she won’t have a father (one of the good ones - engaged, mature, loving) in her life? Yes it was the right decision for me but i do question myself on that sometimes." - Carly (& my little one, Gracen)Do I ever think about whether I should have gone down a different path? You'll have to listen to find out!This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Josh NewthLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to start your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
Before I became a parent, I had no idea how judgey people could be about parenting.It seems that when there's a baby involved, everyone has an opinion and the biggest thing people seem to have opinions on? Breastfeeding. I've been amazed at the willingness of strangers to share their two cents when they've got no idea about the circumstances of somebodies life.So what's with all the judgement? And why do people care?This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: LINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant help starting your own podcast? Check out my online podcasting course, PodSchool.Email me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.
Today, I'm answering a question from Samantha: "Do you think there are any qualities that you have that have been helpful in being a solo mum? I'm really disorganised and can be kinda lazy at times and I'm worried those qualities are probably going to suck if I'm thinking about having a baby on my own."Firstly, Samantha, if you do decide to go down the solo mum path, I think you'll surprise yourself.It's amazing what we're a;; capable of getting done when there's a tiny human howling at you and probably sh*tting their pants at the same time 😂Ultimately, the only trait you need to be a great mum, of any description, is the ability to love your kid.Everything outside of that is just logistics but as for traits I've found handy doing it solo, there are a few, and in this episode I'm going to share the qualities I believe have really helped me.This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Wangal people, of the Eora Nation. I pay my respects to Elders past and present.EPISODE CREDITS:Host: Rachel CorbettEditing Assistance: Lize RatliffLINKS & OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF:Click here to submit a question to the showWant to create a podcast of your own? Check out my podcasting course, PodSchoolEmail me: rachel@meandmytinyhuman.comFollow me: Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok or check out the website.