When you suddenly find that the centre of your universe is your child, your whole life shifts. Your days, your nights, your relationships, your behaviour and most noticeably yourself.
It’s a pivotal moment of metamorphosis however subtle because your life simply won’t be the same again. So how do you navigate that?
And if you’re not a parent how can you find ways to relate, support and keep hold of that person you knew before mother or fatherhood (who’s still very much there btw)?
Join me and my guests as we share our experiences and try to figure this out… for the love of kids!
#E8: Step-parenting, the choices we make in parenthood, and how our childhoods shape our behaviour
My TV choices these days are quite different to life before motherhood but I’ve always enjoyed a good Disney movie.
Something that has always struck me though is how so many of these movies, and indeed fairytales of yesteryear, are based on the absence or loss of a parent and 'replaced' by a not so nice step parent coming in the scene.
Maybe because things like divorce were not deemed acceptable or the fact that no one could ever replace a parent that was lost.
Whatever the drivers are behind the messaging around step-parents, the narrative needs to shift. And I have just the person to prove that step-parents have such great intentions and care deeply about the children in their lives.
Join me now as I speak with Chloe Foy, Behavioural Strategist, about her journey, the expectations and reality of becoming a non-biological parent in her thirties.
2 Apr 2024
#E7: Raising a family, building a caffeine fuelled business and some seriously rad retro parenting.
One of the biggest challenges for many of us who are parents is deciding how to structure the balance of raising our children while building and maintaining our careers.
In this episode of For the Love of Kids I talk with Jim Cregan, a guy who has not only managed to build a brand and business from scratch - one that became a household name at that - whilst simultaneously becoming a father to a family of three.
We chat about how his parenting and career were intertwined, the incredible role his wife played to make all of this possible and how his experience has helped him shaped his thinking when raising his children.
I can’t wait for you to hear how about his incredible rad retro methods of teaching his kids to respect their youth, as well as the way that sunrises and other beautiful moments have featured in his role as dad.
The best feel good track you'll hear and watch all day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK1_vTdUoeY
26 Mar 2024
#E7: Trailer - Raising a family, building a caffeine fuelled business and some seriously rad retro parenting.
In this episode Steph talks with dad of three, Jim Cregan.
They talk about how he and his wife raised a family of three while he built the iconic brand 'Jimmy's Iced Coffee' with his sister Sooz, the perfect little moments he cherishes with his children, and how he's parenting in the age of the digital native through a retro 80's lens.
14 Mar 2024
#E6: The paradigm shift of fatherhood, life as a dad to one plus twins, making time for yourself to thrive
We’re at a a really exciting time in history where the narrative on parenting is shifting. Traditional roles are changing, the systems and infrastructure of childcare and the workplace are under scrutiny and pressure to change for the better and psychologists are actively championing the importance of investing time and energy in the first five years of life to raise a generation of children that have the best chance of being healthy, secure and confident.
Speaking to fellow parent and creator, Matt Brown - host of the Every L podcast. We talk about how he’s reflected on generational and cultural learnings of his own upbringing to find what it is to be the kind of parent to ensure his children thrive in life. Even when at times it does feel like we are winging it.
How we react, adapt and embrace the changes when life throws you curveballs. In Matt’s case getting the news him and his wife were expecting twins with a one year old already in tow.
And why it’s so important to retain a sense of self to keep not only our sanity as parent but to provide our children of who we truly are.
Matt's podcasts:
Every L Podcast: https://everylpodcast.podbean.com/
2 minute quick charge: https://open.spotify.com/show/37tnco3hgUNBB9IIAK732v
13 Mar 2024
#E6 Trailer: The paradigm shift of fatherhood, life as a dad to one plus twins, making time for yourself to thrive
Steph talks with father of three, Matt Brown, about how his life has changed since becoming a parent.
Let's face it, nothing changes your world quite like the word 'twins' especially when you already have a toddler.
Hear how Matt's upbringing has played such an important part of how he chooses to parent, how he retains his since of self and where he draws on inspiration from his community to be the best dad he can be.
https://everylpodcast.podbean.com/
15 Dec 2023
#E5: Parenting strategies, family values, and why kids know best
We’re living in a digital world that’s rich with parenting knowledge and information at our fingertips, so many tips and hacks to at fill our social media feeds, and so many ways for kids to watch, play and learn new things.
But how do we choose which advice to follow, which shows to watch and how we decide to raise our kids? And how do we keep up with the what’s hot right now?
As a strategist at the full service kids and family agency Kids Know Best, my guest Zamil Zareen has worked across 360 campaigns with brands such as Lego, Hasbro, eOne and more, to deliver effective digital campaigns reaching parents and kids.
In this episode we chat about what captivates the hearts and minds of kids, teens and their mums and dads too, how as a guy in his 20s his TikTok algorithm has seriously shifted and how he sees this Christmas and the year ahead panning out with the top kids and family trends.
Zamil Zareen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zamil-zareen/
Kids Know Best: www.kidsknowbest.com
14 Dec 2023
#E5: Trailer - Parenting strategies, family values, and why kids know best
Steph talks with Zamil Zareen, new dad and strategist at the full service kids and family agency, Kids Know Best.
Hear about the learnings he's taking from his work in understanding what captivates kids to be the best parent to his little girl.
Understand how his own family life is influencing his values and ambitions.
And discover some of the key trends that a resonating with kids, teens and families alike this Christmas and in the year ahead.
27 Nov 2023
#E4: Choosing a life without children, finding courage and learningto be confident
Welcome to For the love of kids
I’m your host Stephanie Jane Bennett
And this is parenting podcast about how we marinate life from all sides of parenthood.
Choice is a gift not a given.
When it comes to parenthood for many of us it’s something we can wish for but not something that is granted easily or even at all.
For some of us, the opposite is true and the choice to keep an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy is taken away from us. And that’s not okay.
And for others of us parenthood is also something we can choose not to pursue. And that’s more than okay? So why do some people find that so challenging to entertain?
Join me today as I chat with executive coach, Deena Gornick. Someone who’s had over twenty years experience in coaching, learning and development across all levels in organisations.
And someone who made the conscious decision very early on in life to not be a mother. Hear her story and listen as we talk about the dialogue we have around parenting, parenthood and the choices we make. And learn how Deena, learned how to be the confident and inspiring woman she is today.
Let’s begin…
20 Nov 2023
#E4: Trailer - Choosing a life without children, finding courage and learning to be confident.
Steph talks with executive coach Deena Gornick about her decision not to have children from a very early age, how to find courage and confidence in the choices we make for ourselves, how to support others when the perfect parent doesn't exist.
2 Nov 2023
#E3: Leadership lessons, being more than just a mum, & freelancing for the win - with Dr Katie Best
In a recent study into motherhood by the parenting app Peanut.
75% of women they spoke to described feeling invisible and 94% feel unappreciated, unacknowledged or unseen.
That’s not the news you want to hear if you’re an expectant mum but it might be the news you need to hear to realise you’re not alone if you are a mum and feeling the same.
In the #InvisibleMother report, Peanut explains that each stage of motherhood can feel like a cloak of invisibility.
Society expects us to do it all and be it all, often without any appropriate support or societal infrastructure.
And with so many female leaders, leaving their roles in senior positions at this juncture in their lives, isn’t it time something changed?
Having taken the leap from Managing Director of a social media agency at the time I got pregnant to freelance marketing consultant before my daughter turned two, I’m on my own journey of rediscovering my role in society as a mum, a career woman and the person I was before.
So who better to speak to about the lessons we can all learn about leadership, freelancing and being more than just a mum than Dr Katie Best.
Katie is a leadership coach, consultant and executive educator who helps senior leaders and their organisations to accelerate their leadership and enhance their performance.
She's a parent to one daughter, and regularly works with leaders who are parents, helping them navigate tricky issues such as work-life balance, the return to work after parental leave, and career development. And she's currently writing a book helping leaders to solve their messiest leadership problems, to be published by Hachette in 2025.
She also writes a fortnightly leadership agony aunt newsletter, Dear Katie, which I love as it focuses on helping leaders tackle all kinds of problems.
But most importantly to me, she was my Head Tutor on LSE's MBA Essentials online certificate programme which I finished the day my daughter Naomi was born.
Join us now as we talk about leadership lessons, being more than just a mum and how freelancing has been the way forward for a mum like Katie.
(Note: The Invisible Mother report by Peanut App was released after the recording of this episode)
—
Dr Katie Best
Connect with Katie (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatiebest/) for thoughtful content on leadership and beyond on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatiebest/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatiebest/)
Sign-up to ‘Dear Katie’ (https://katiebest.com/sign-up/), her bi-weekly newsletter that solves readers’ messy leadership problems. https://katiebest.com/sign-up/ (https://katiebest.com/sign-up/)
Subscribe to Katie’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Io11QQ6AaZNKHyIjx2wzw) to develop the skills, attitudes and confidence to excel in leadership.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Io11QQ6AaZNKHyIjx2wzw (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Io11QQ6AaZNKHyIjx2wzw)
Read the Invisible Mothers report by Peanut App
https://invisible-mothers.peanut-app.io/ (https://invisible-mothers.peanut-app.io/)
and join in the conversation on social media: #invisiblemothers
Follow For the Love of Kids on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast/)
1 Nov 2023
#E3: Trailer - Leadership lessons, being more than just a mum, & freelancing for the win - with Dr Katie Best
Steph talks with Dr. Katie Best about lessons in leadership for parents and employers alike, why she's more than just a mum and how freelancing gave her freedom, flexibility and balance as a working mum.
Follow For the Love of Kids on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast/)
19 Oct 2023
#E2: Surrogacy, two under three, my husband and me - Featuring Jonathan Kirkby
Steph talks with Jonathan Kirkby about his journey to parenthood via surrogacy and the joys and challenges of raising two kids under three with his husband.
--
As a teen in the 90s I was hugely influenced by the notion of girl power, going after whatever I wanted and believing it could be possible to achieve it.
So when the traditional options of becoming a parent looked bleak, I took matters into my own hands and explored other options.
Now a proud solo mama thanks to the wonders of science, I know there are so many other routes to parenthood.
I considered fertility treatment, adoption and even fostering on my journey but something I hadn’t considered for myself was surrogacy. But my guest today did. Not once, but twice. And his journey began at the height of the pandemic.
Jonathan Kirkby, managing director and co-founder of award-winning communications agency Instinct PR here in London, has been at the heart of successful parenting campaigns for the past ten years. There’s not a journalist or influencer with children under ten he hasn’t worked with.
But he’s the first to admit that now with two kids under two, he’s more inspired than ever to deliver evermore brilliant campaigns, because as a parent himself now he gets exactly what’s needed by the amazing brands he works with every day.
Join us now as we chat about Jonathan’s incredible surrogacy journey, how his life has evolved and why he’s so passionate to spread awareness about the many routes to parenthood there are to explore.
——
Learn more about surrogacy:
https://www.mysurrogacyjourney.com/ https://www.worldwidesurrogacy.org/
Learn more about fertility treatment and donors:
https://www.cryosinternational.com/ https://www.europeanspermbank.com/https://www.carefertility.com/
And for more information on surrogacy, IVF, adoption and donor insemination via the NHS in the UK:
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/having-a-baby-if-you-are-lgbt-plus/ways-to-become-a-parent-if-you-are-lgbt-plus/
Follow For the Love of Kids on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast/
19 Oct 2023
#E2: Trailer - Surrogacy, two under three, my husband and me. Featuring Jonathan Kirkby.
Steph talks with Jonathan Kirkby about his journey to parenthood via surrogacy and the joys and challenges of raising two kids under three with his husband.
Follow For the Love of Kids on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast/)
13 Jul 2023
#E1: The Pursuit of Parenthood, Becoming a Mama and Solo Parenting
Hi I'm Stephanie Jane Bennett, founder and host of this podcast, 'For the Love of Kids'.
In my first episode I'm coming to you solo to share my story about how I almost didn't become a mama at all, the challenges I faced and overcame, and why I became a solo parent in my forties.
It was a bit of an emotional ride for me recording this episode as I'm now two years into motherhood. Reflecting on how I got here to share my story with you reminded me of just how far I've come. An important reminder to myself that no matter how challenging a journey like this may be, the rewards make everything worthwhile.
On the flip side of achieving my life long goal though, the world looks quite different to the one I knew now. Which is why I'm making this podcast.
In future episodes I'll be guests from all walks of life, who are parents to talk about parenting styles, obstacles and the fun stuff too. As well as non-parents and the way in which their lives change too, for better or for worse, when their friends, colleagues and family members become parents and their relationships pivot, adapt or even end.
There's a lot to talk about when it comes to parenting!
***
If you enjoyed this episode and want to chat, would like to be a guest yourself or want to see more, follow For the Love of Kids - Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/loveofkidspodcast) and drop me a DM.
1 Jul 2023
Introducing ‘For the Love of Kids’
The parenting podcast that looks at how we navigate parenthood from all sides of life.
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