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Life With Love: Teresa Palmer and Christiane Duigan

Christiane Duigan and Teresa Palmer are goals in every sense of the word; mama goals, friendship goals, entrepreneur goals, wellness goals. These two beautiful ladies are earth mamas, friends and now business partners as they prepare to launch L O V E W E L L; their wellness brand that they have poured so much love and hard work into, behind the scenes, for the past year. Their synergy is evident and their passion infectious. What I love most, is that with both of them, what you see is what you get. They are two of the sweetest, softest, kindest, nurturing humans on the face of the earth and watching them as mamas is watching poetry in motion. And they practice what they preach, truly living healthy, whole, plentiful lives reflecting their ethos that health and wellness begins from within. Adelaide born and bred, both ladies have spent considerable time away building their careers and families – Christiane in Sydney and London and Teresa in Los Angeles, but now they each split their time with the majority of it in Adelaide, which will always be home. Raising their gorgeous tribe of children, it is evident that family comes first, and wellness is a priority for their families. Being the epitome of wellness, their philosophy is healing from the earth and we are so excited that they are sharing their knowledge and expertise with the launch of L O V E W E L L (coming in May); their plant based, natural, nutrient dense, delicious, fair trade supplements for both mama (and dadas!); BLOSSOM and child; GROW. Their products will be available at a very accessible price point, without comprising quality (insert hands in the air emoji here!), they’ve had the tick of approval from their little loves and their hilarious husbands (check out their rap on Instagram to see what I’m talking about!) are without a doubt their biggest fans. And, a after getting to have a sneaky little taste – I can tell you firsthand that you’re about to become obsessed, I’ve never tasted a protein / nutrient powder like it, it’s seriously delish and so good simply mixed with water – and when combined with your favourite ingredients into a smoothie, it will blow your mind and your tastebuds. Their website – launching soon – is a mecca of wellness, so head on over to lovewell.earth (yes, .EARTH not .COM – how cool is that) and sign up to be the first in the know when pre-orders are open and products are dropping; they are starting with a limited run so take my word for it – you really don’t want to miss out. And follow them on Instagram (@lovewell.earth) for all the behind-the-scenes goodness, wellness information, product insight… and let’s be honest, alllllll the cuteness from their little tribe. What do you love most about being a mum and how has it changed you? CD: From a very young age, I always knew my life purpose was to be a mum. I had no career goals as such, it was always to be a mum. So for a while I worked as a nanny, babysat and worked at an after school care with kids to surround myself and practice and for me, being a mum has been the most fulfilling thing in my life and is what makes me the happiest. TP: Pretty much the same! I feel the same way, I’ve always had such a strong pull towards motherhood and anyone who knows me well knows that my greatest desire was to be a mother. What I love most about it? It’s really hard to pinpoint any one thing but just nurturing these beautiful little souls and watching them blossom into the people that they are and creating the space for them to explore their world and their environment and grow into the little spirits that they are. Everything in my life is richer because I am a mother. It’s my greatest joy and as Mark says, I’m addicted to having babies so I may end up as a mum to an entire tribe of children but that would make me incredibly happy. CD: It has changed my lifestyle, nothing does prepare you for the shock of having kids and multiple children because it does change your priorities and what you want for life. My perfect dream day pre-kids was very different to now, now it’s about the simple things. Now it’s spending time with the kids, doing family things with friends, having all the kids running around while we’re in the sunshine at the beach, it has changed priorities. What is your approach to motherhood and parenting? CD: I very much learnt along the way and tried to figure it out by making mistakes, until I got tired of yelling at my kids all the time, I didn’t like the person I became because it was a constant argument and that’s when I turned to a lot of parenting podcasts and books to find a more respectful way of parenting to get better results by tweaking simple things such as language and understanding the psychology of the kids and why they do what they do. It allows you to make a more calm, informed response rather than a heated reaction to a situation. TP: I’m pretty chilled and laid back, I definitely have gentle boundaries in place with the kids but I’m one of those parents that is go with the flow, not regimented. I don’t have a specific routine, I meet their needs when the need arises each day. Every day might look a little bit different and that’s ok. We try to have a lot of fun and laughter and we’re always adventuring but I really try not to put a huge amount of pressure on myself to get everything done the right way, we’re on this journey together. The greatest lesson your kids have taught you? CD: Patience. TP: I second that haha. CD: And just love, the purest form of unconditional love and joy. TP: I completely

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April 1, 2019

Rebecca Morse: Forgive me if I forget your name… or mine

We’re all familiar with the condition of Baby Brain. That prenatal fog that sees you leave your car keys in the Tupperware drawer and walk into rooms with great urgency only to wonder what indeed you are doing there and what it used to feel like to be a fully functioning member of society. I’m sorry to break it to you, but there is an equally-debilitating condition which I have recently self-diagnosed. Working Mum Brain. The symptoms can strike without warning and are usually triggered when one is pressured to recall specific and detailed information quickly and coherently. Information pertaining to one’s beloved offspring, for example. I met a parent who was new to the school at a kid’s birthday party in recent weeks and, as parental small talk dictates, we inquired about each other’s children. Just basic stuff, you know, food allergies, names, year levels, teachers and the like. I got through the first child with flying colours, no hesitation, managing to pass myself off as a committed and engaged mother and member of the school community. Then, a mental blank when I got to the classroom specifics of the middle child. 5S I said, with confidence. I should have left it at that. Grabbed a lolly bag and made a quick exit. Instead I said “Mrs….” and trailed off unconvincingly. Fool! I was dealing with a new mother unfamiliar with the faculty staff. I could have saved myself. Gone with Mrs Smith, Mrs Schnitzel or Mrs Snodgrass, she would have been none the wiser. For at least another term or two. By which time her child may have moved into another friendship group. But Working Mother Brain is insidious, it not only robs you of your memory, it robs you of your powers of quick thinking. And so it was that I was forced to admit that I had forgotten my child’s teacher’s name. The shame of it. Until the second I shut the car door and it returned immediately to my brain in a rare moment of clarity. Sleep deprivation caused by the 4am breakfast radio alarm is not helping. After an interview in the Hit107 studio with Port Adelaide player Brad Ebert I farewelled him. “Say hi to Brad for me!” Seeing his look of confusion, I replayed my words in my head. “I mean Bec, your wife, Bec.” Lucky she has the same name as me or that too may have disappeared into my mind’s abyss. Funny then that a brain, so empty when it’s required to draw on the conversational building blocks required for basic human interaction, can be so busy and full when one would like it to be blank. For example when one is trying to get some essential and precious sleep. It is at this time that the mind goes to work. When is school photo day? What should I get Dad for his birthday? How many text /email / DMs did I forget to reply to today? Can I justify new activewear? Are the children eating enough vegetables? Am I eating enough vegetables? If I fall asleep now how many hours sleep will I get? If I don’t fall asleep now how will I get through tomorrow / the week / the rest of my life? It is little wonder that our brains are so utterly fatigued. Can we reverse this process? I imagine living a simpler life would help. But I’m not travelling down a quiet path right now, I’ve chosen a multi-lane highway. So I apologise in advance if I forget your name, or mine. This is what 24 hours looks like! 4:20am Alarm Quick check of the socials to see if anything big has happened overnight. Get dressed in whatever was last discarded on the oor, brush teeth, apply tinted moisturiser. Make coffee to drink in the car. 4:40am Leave for Hit107 5:00am Production meeting and pre-show preps. 6:00 – 9:00am Bec & Cosi show on air. Another coffee in here somewhere. 9:00 – 10:00am Post-show and planning meetings. Cosi and I compete over who was funniest. 10:00am – 11:30am ME TIME! (Activities may include nap, exercise, catch up with friends, appointments, life admin) 11:30am – 6:00pm Present updates and news bulletin at 10. Another coffee in here somewhere. 6:30pm HOME! Smother children with unwanted attention. Dinner and a cheeky glass of wine. 8:30pm Put kids to bed 8:30-9:30pm Attempt to keep up with a TV series with husband. 9:30pm Put myself to bed.

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March 28, 2019

MumKIND: Small Things Done With Great Love

Small Things Done With Great Love As mums, we can all appreciate that motherhood is a huge responsibility. All consuming. Life affirming. Miraculous. But also, at times, gruelling. Imagine for a moment, that you were trying to fulfill this mammoth responsibility, one of life’s biggest challenges, without a support network, or even a safe environment for your family to call home. That’s what founder of MumKIND, Kate Earl, had in mind when she established the South Australian volunteer-run charity which aims to show kindness to women who are facing adverse circumstances, including homelessness, unemployment, domestic abuse and/or poverty, while also raising children. Forming partnerships with social service agencies across South Australia, MumKIND aims to do small things with great love, demonstrating care and compassion for families across the state, who are in desperate need of support. We chat with Kate about MumKIND and how the charity is supporting South Australian women and children. Tell us about MumKIND and what your inspiration was for founding the charity? It really started from experiences of motherhood. My first child, William, was a dream. I thought it was challenging at the time of course, but looking back he was an easy-going baby and it was easy for me to enjoy him. Number two, Charlie, came along and it was a wakeup call for me. He was beautiful and I adored him wholeheartedly, but he just didn’t sleep. So I didn’t sleep. William was a toddler and he too was up several times a night; my husband was often away for work and life was large to say the least. Overnight I would bounce from room to room tending to the boys. I was denied any quality sleep and for the first time in my life I experienced true stress. One particular night when I was really struggling, I thought it couldn’t get more intense than it was – surely. I had to dig deep that night and push through – that’s what mothers do. For me I focused on the positives in the situation, and there were so many; two healthy, beautiful children, a solid roof over my head, my husband who is the nicest man I know and all the support I needed. It was easy for me to count my blessings and I took strength from them all. Looking back, I can see how I was able to find so much strength at a time when I was so exhausted and overwhelmed, and it’s really because of my parents’ influence throughout my upbringing and to this day…. As a family, we believe in the power of our relationships and in positivity – that’s a pretty great combination, it gives you great strength when you need it. As I counted my own blessings and felt the gratitude of this, I then turned my thoughts to the millions of women navigating motherhood, but who didn’t perhaps have the support that I had. No roof over their head, not such a caring partner, generational poverty, long-term unemployment, perhaps not knowing where their next meal was coming from. I never intended to wake up and start a charity, but I was compelled to do something meaningful. And if you’ve ever done a random act of kindness for someone, you’ll know – it’s the most empowering feeling, especially when you can inspire others to do the same. And that’s where it started. How did you turn your thoughts from that night into the reality of MumKIND? I reached out to my girlfriends and simply said “let’s do something good for women. Let’s support Mother’s who are raising children without the basic necessities and without anything or anyone to support them. Let’s do something great for the world”. The number of useful and beautiful items that the girls delivered was incredible. I’d come home every day and my veranda was just lined with items for donation. This made me realise how inspired we all were and how we were bonding over this experience of being able to give to these beautiful children and their mothers who needed help. One thing led to another and ve years later we’re a registered charity achieving pretty great outcomes. “I founded MumKIND to achieve something truly good in my own life, something that’s bigger than me or anything else that I’m doing. Something that can help to make the world a better place and luckily for me, my incredible friends join me and help drive MumKIND every day. We’ll never meet the women we support but together, we are making a difference. We’re surrounded by incredible women with shared values and a shared vision and we’re all growing closer by the day because of it- we’re making an impact on the world.” Tell us about some of your campaigns, how are you helping Adelaide mothers and families? We focus on families – women with children. We base everything that we do on supporting these families with some fundamental, practical things but also, some feel good items too. One of our first campaigns asked people to go through their library of books and pass them on to mums and children in need. I thought we’d get 200-300 books; but thousands of books came in. The layers of benefit that a book brings to a family was an easy story to tell – it resonates with everybody. I loved what my husband said, that “a child who may never have owned a book before might receive one of these books, and learn and be inspired and could go on to discover a cure for cancer – they’re being given a better chance to learn and grow and to be inspired about their future. “Signi cant Smalls” is another campaign we ran in 2018 – it was all about collecting bras and underwear for women and children. We want to give these women things that provide practical assistance but also things that they want, that make them feel good about themselves, to reclaim their identity

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February 6, 2019

Mum Words with Olivia Williams

LISTEN: The Teacher’s Pet podcast Confession: the only thing I’ve read in the last couple of months is the Kmart catalogue. Not proud. I can feel my brain cells evaporating. You know what they say, reading improves your spelling, vocabulary, grammatical proficiency and the stuff what we need to be learned about in our brain minds… … … IT’S BEGINNNINNNNNG! Anyyyhoo. What I have been getting into, is going off to sleep listening to true crime podcasts; because what better time to listen to the nitty gritty details of someone getting away with a heinous murder than whilst lying in bed in the total darkness while your husband is on night shift and all you have to protect you is the hairbrush next to your bed and the whiff of an unwashed sports bra? For my first foray into the world of podcasts, I’ve been delving deep into The Teacher’s Pet. This series, produced by The Australian, is focused on the unsolved disappearance of Sydney mother Lyn Dawson, whose teacher husband Chris has been long suspected of murdering her, before moving one of his 16-year-old students, with whom he was having an affair, into their home. I know. Right?? Quite a cracker of a podcast to whet your appetite for true crime analyses, and in particular how such a systematic failure of the justice system can have even occurred. The Teacher’s Pet podcast available from the App store WATCH: Younger Holy binge alert Batman, mama has a new day job. And by day job, I mean… opportunity to watch three years of television in two weeks. So, as is usually the case, I’m atrociously tardy to this party, with google helpfully informing me that Younger has been streaming on Stan since 2013 [at which point I didn’t even know Stan existed!! What is this Stan you speak of; the younger, uglier, more annoying sister of Netflix?]… but on the up side, this means there are now literally five seasons available for me [and YOU] to watch from start to finish, portioned out in binge-worthy bite size 20-minute episodes. The premise is thus; Liza Miller is a 41-year-old, recently divorced mother of a teenager who she is sending off to college. Having been out of the workplace for almost two decades raising her daughter, when she attempts to follow her own ambitions from college and get a job in publishing, she discovers that the industry is only looking to hire 26-year-old millennials [and here I am staring uncomfortably into my future]. So, with the help of her best friend she gives herself a makeover, buys some ripped jeans and applies for jobs pretending she’s a 20-something recent college graduate. Ultimately the ruse is a success and Liza becomes an assistant at Empirical Press, with the series following her day-to-day juggling being a 41 year old mother, life with a millennial boyfriend, and pulling off the charade as her ‘younger’ workplace alter ego. 5 seasons available on Stan DO: Staycation You know what I need more of in my life? Five-star hotels. This month I rectified this glaring oversight and treated myself to a little “staycation” in the Adelaide CBD, availing myself of the facilities at the Pullman in Hindmarsh Square. I swam, I steam roomed, I had cocktails at the bar, I stayed up until midnight watching the American Music Awards from the comfort of a plush bed with 174 pillows and crisp white linen sheets that I didn’t have to wash myself! I didn’t use the kettle because I read somewhere once that people use hotel kettles to boil their underwear clean. THE HORROR! Anyway, sometimes a mum just has to take some time out for herself, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! Book it in ladies! pullmanhotels.com.au

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January 16, 2019

Just Keep Swimming: Balancing Babies and Creative Practice

Adelaide swimsuit designer Susi Benger knows that the birth of your first child is a life-changer. But, to her surprise, welcoming baby Lilou brought a fresh perspective to her creative practice, with bolder colours, fun designs and the hugely-popular matching mums-and-bubs swimear. Previously Estive swim, she’s now rebranded as Coco and Shy to launch the SS18/19 collection of pieces in navy, clay, peach, and teal tones, with functional and gorgeous summer apparel like the market-ready round straw tote basket. Kiddo caught up with Susi to get the low-down on balancing babies and creative practice. What inspires the design of your swimsuits? I love simple, classic silhouettes that are timeless and easy to wear. Lately, I’ve found myself inspired by tailored styles and the challenge for me has been how to translate it to swimwear to create a tailored fit that is comfortable and functional. The design is also inspired by wanting to create less wastage in the cutting process by using offcuts—the introduction of baby styles has helped to use some of those pieces. We use Italian-made, recycled, nylon lycra which is super soft, long-lasting and is made from post-consumer plastic waste, including fishing nets collected from the ocean. I love working with this fabric, especially, because it’s helping to reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans. The silhouettes are super simple and made to last, with an emphasis on fit and wearability. Each collection is unique, and pieces are made in small numbers by me, so you know it’s been ethically made. Why did you choose to rebrand as Coco and Shy? Meeting [now eighteen-month old] Lilou inspired me in a shift towards slightly more colourful and playful designs that are fun yet simple and easy to wear, especially with the introduction of more baby and kids styles and accessories. 

What is the role of sustainability in your manufacturing process? Huge! I’m always looking for ways to use recycled materials and limit the amount of waste in the manufacturing process by keeping all fabric offcuts to recycle as inners for cushions, doing smaller runs, and creating more via made to order. Even small things like using thread with recyclable spools and business cards and marketing materials made from recycled t-shirts.To me, sustainability means making quality pieces that last, being mindful in the manufacturing process and using resources we already have. How do you juggle motherhood and creative practice? With lots of support from my friends and partner! Finding time can be really tricky, although I have definitely found that since having Lilou I’ve actually become better at managing my time. I can get a lot more done than I used to! Especially now that I don’t have time to spend hours doing “research” on the internet or revising that pattern for the millionth time, it has really helped me to appreciate the time I have to create and to make the most of it. What are the challenges? The biggest challenge for me is the sleep deprivation. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for it! Making business decisions after only a few hours sleep was a little daunting, and also finding the energy to work. It’s still a work in progress, although I think I’ve learned how to relax into it a bit more and go with the flow—coffee and good friends have definitely helped! What is your advice for new parents seeking to explore a creative practice? Go for it! You might find you’ll be surprised with how inspired you feel, and how much you can achieve. Especially if you’re kind to yourself, take your time and keep your expectations in check. Having a good support group of friends and family happy to take bubba for walks can be a huge help, too! @cocoandshy Images by @deeshepherd 

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January 3, 2019

Rebecca Morse: Rollercoaster Ready

Grab the popcorn folks, this could get interesting. I am about to embark on an experiment of personal endurance. Or stupidity. Or both. I have a lot on my plate, as my mother would say. And I’m going to bite off more than I can chew from that buffet-sized meal and chew hard for a bit. From next year I’m going to add a breakfast radio gig on hit107 to my schedule. As a mother of three, I gure I already have proven quali cations for the sleep deprivation. It will be like having a newborn again, navigating that fog of fatigue. And women are the queens of multi-tasking right? So how hard could it be? Well, we had a run of radio rehearsals recently and to be honest, things could have gone better. In my defence, the degree of difficulty was high. Turns out my husband wrote down Run the New York Marathon twice on his bucket list and his second crack just happened to coincide with my first week of 4am alarms. Nice one Jimbo. So, I was faced with a perfect storm of new job / solo parenting / limited sleep. I figured I had just enough mental and physical strength to survive the week if everything went to plan. NARRATOR: Everything did not go to plan. You know what starting a new job is like? When you don’t know how anything works? I couldn’t even decipher the elevator system on day one. I asked a bemused businessman how to get to level 13 when the key pad only went to 9. Soooo it turns out you need to press the 1. And then the 3. I wanted to say sorry Mr Bemused Businessman but I HAVE A LOT ON MY PLATE RIGHT NOW. As well as learning a confusing new elevator, I need to return Frankie’s swimming permission slip today because it’s overdue and I have to stop at the supermarket on the way to school because it was Milla’s birthday on the weekend and she wants a packet of Freddos to share with the class in lieu of homemade cupcakes, also Grace has just been dumped by her boyfriend and I’m managing her emotional wellbeing the best I can without catastrophizing the break up. / 10 Oh, and my husband is running his second mid- life crisis marathon. In New-York-freaking-City. But I didn’t say that of course. I just pressed the 1 and the 3 and was on my way, hoping to never set eyes on Mr Bemused Businessman ever again. Let’s just say by the end of the week I was in the foetal position. So why am I doing this then, you may ask? Well after 20 years earning my stripes in the media industry, here was an opportunity that may not present itself again. An opportunity to challenge myself in radio, a medium that I have always loved. To pursue new skills and experiences. And an opportunity to try to make a dent on the mortgage and get ahead. Is it unusual for a woman to admit she wants to secure her family’s financial future? As far as we’ve come, I feel like this may still be slightly taboo. I’m going to say no to the superfluous stuff, my downtime with my family and my friends will be precious and prioritised. But, the truth of the matter is, I have no idea how I’m going to do it. There will be plenty of routine-tweaking in the first twelve months to try to get the balance right. Maybe I’ll fail. There’ll no doubt be those who experience a sense of schadenfreude if I do. But if you never try something for fear of failing, would you ever achieve anything of worth? Tune in from Jan 2019. @rebeccamorse10

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December 15, 2018

Mum Words: Olivia Williams

The last couple of months for me have been a bit of a “if you’re not coffee, bacon or Zac Efron, I’m going to need you to go away” situation. If I’ve learnt one thing though, it’s that if you ever see someone crying in public, don’t ask them if it’s because of their haircut. What I can say is that when the chips are down, I read a lot of books and watch a lot of TV. Which is fortuitous really, considering my column is 1/3 about reading and 1/3 about TV, and the last 3rd about finding something that makes it look like I do anything other than read and watch TV. So, this month I had a lot of options to choose from, and these are my top picks, so you know they’re good! READ: Back After The Break – Osher Gunsberg If you claim not to have been a little bit obsessed with the frosted tipped, angel of music, Andrew G in 2003 then you’re a liar. Or maybe that was just me. Tomayto tomahto. By the by, you know that a guy doesn’t change his name to OSHER unless he’s been through some sh*t. And thank you for listening to my Ted Talk. But seriously, if you know Osher as just a broad grinned face underneath a series of questionable hairstyles, calculating complicated rose related mathematics, trust me there’s a lot more been going on that you don’t know about. In his premier memoir, Osher delves into a brutally honest account of his life trying to navigate ongoing anxiety, depression and substance abuse. He details extensively his years of struggle, where he self-medicated with food, alcohol and drugs whilst dealing with a slew of mental health issues, followed by [spoiler alert] his ultimate recovery and redemption, which he attributes in no small part to his wife, Audrey. It’s not just a chronicle of hitting rock bottom, it’s a story that will give so many struggling with these same issues hope that they can be overcome, and go on to lead to a successful and happy life. Available from Dymocks Hyde Park $29.99 WATCH: Filthy Rich and Homeless (Season 2) Latest figures show more than 1 in 200 Australians currently have no place to call home, so it seems like a bit of a no brainer to switch on Filthy Rich and Homeless, a show that is shining the light on a part of our society that, for many, goes unseen. The three-episode series: part documentary, part social experiment, profiles five well known Aussies who have the potential to effect positive change, as they swap their privileged lives to learn what life is like for the nations homeless. As they give up their worldly possessions to spend ten nights living rough in Sydney, the show forces them, and subsequently you as the viewer, to challenge pre-conceived notions about what it’s like to live on the streets. It’s an honest and raw exploration of what it might be like to experience severe disadvantage in Australia today, and important viewing if you want even a small glimpse into life for those on the poverty line in our country. SBS On Demand DO: Walk the Chinamans Hut trail After interviewing super mum and all-round wonder woman Bec Judd recently, and discovering she schedules weekly dates with husband Chris where they specifically choose and are in no way forced to play tennis [!!!], instead of using the child free opportunity to sit in a random restaurant drinking and looking at videos of their kids, I felt inspired. And slightly spiritual. I started asking myself… WWJD; what would [Bec] Judd do? If Bec Judd got the occasional child free Wednesday alone to spend with her husband, she wouldn’t spend it on the couch watching The Bachelor on catch-up eating week old bread and calling it toast while her man tinkered with the lawn mower outside [note: not a euphemism for mummy and daddy’s special cuddles]. No, she would not. She’d get out and DO something ATHLETICISMY [made up word; because I can]. So that’s what my husband and I have been doing too, because now we’re those people. During this time discovering the great outdoors, and my limited lung capacity, we also discovered that they have decided to refurbish the Mount Lofty track without consulting with me first, and have subsequently rerouted the hike along the lesser known Chinaman’s Hut trail. There’s a reason it’s lesser known. Because it’s where your quadriceps go to die. The hike provides an alternative route to Mt Lofty Summit from Waterfall Gully, and in our experience substantially less Lululemon clad forty-somethings wearing a full face of makeup. It’s longer, and in sections harder, than the usual Mt Lofty summit route, but definitely worth a look. And if you decide to look and then turn back and go to Utopia café at the base of Waterfall Gully and have a coffee instead, I won’t tell anyone. #whathappensatloftystaysatlofty @eeniemeeniemineymum

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December 1, 2018

Katie Wright is Dynamite!

Meet Katie Wright Dynamite! She’s wild, she’s funny, and she twirls a mean hula hoop. Katie is an Adelaide actor, MC and circus performer, as well as series regular, Mimi, on ABC2’s Hoopla Doopla. We chat to Katie about how she juggles parenthood and life as a touring street, stage and screen performer. Tell us about what it was like filming Hoopla Doopla in China! It was amazing to come together with both an Australian and Chinese cast and crew and work out how to collaborate and find a common ground in storytelling and presentation. One of the really awesome things about working in China was the size of the set that we had for our Hoopla Doopla town, it was a huge studio, much larger than we would have in Australia. When I first saw Mimi’s all pink house I fell in love! Why do you think Hoopla Doopla has been so popular? I think a big part of it has been the fun physicality and visual storytelling. The attention to detail with the use of bright colours, as well as the way each character has distinct personality traits, is also engaging for children. Australian drama director Mark Barnard is an expert in the field of telling stories to a pre-school age group. His understanding of how they see and read stories was key in the process. You toured Hoopla Doopla as a part of the Giggle and Friends tour, what was it like to be on tour with Jimmy Giggle and the gang? Jimmy Giggle is a lovely and caring human and cast member. His on screen/stage self is not far from how he really is. He is o en being silly and making fun voices and having a good time with everyone! As a busy mum, how do you juggle motherhood and touring? I’ve kept performing a lot since having my little boy, Leo. Last year I travelled extensively throughout Europe and the UK. It was just me and Leo (who was almost two at the time), a bag filled mostly with juggling gear, and a big stack of hula hoops. I’ve worked on the circuit for such a long time and had an intuition that it was possible to do with a child, and thankfully it was. In fact, it was an amazing tour; I’ve toured for 15 years and touring solo with Leo felt like the first time again! Can you share some of your tried and true tips for travelling with a little person? Most of my touring with Leo I did before he turned two. In my experience, being pregnant or being in public with a baby brings out the best in people. People have helped me carrying my pram on the stairs to subway platforms around the world, helped carry my bags and hula hoops. I have, however, also figured out how to pull it off alone when I need to. When touring with Leo, I was still breast feeding and I think that helped. Breastfeeding can work like a super power to direct a child’s attention, get them to snuggle up or sit still if you need them to. People often asked me how I toured alone with a baby, but I figure they’re the same parenting challenges with different ways of approaching them. It’s just as hard being a parent at home as it is being a parent on the road; you’re simply juggling different things. Sometimes on the road you get lonely and this way I always have a little friend! Your one-woman show Katie Wright Dynamite is a unique blend of comedy and circus performance; where do you get the inspiration for your material? My solo show is just a silly extension of myself that I explore onstage. It’s the cheeky, sometimes rude, ridiculous over the top person that exists within me! I think there is a real value to comedy and I’m going to keep working on my craft of being a ridiculous loud female clown – I think the world needs more of them! And finally, my 6 year old daughter Tilly wanted to ask; What’s it like to be on stage with lots of people watching you? Hi Tilly, good question! I often think of it like having a conversation with a big group of people. They don’t actually answer you (well sometimes they do; that’s what we call a heckler), but you are listening to them to get your timing right, to hit your dramatic tension and to improvise, and that’s where the magic happens! —————————————————————– Having toured 12 countries and 15 festivals just last year alone, along with countless street performances, MC gigs and comedy shows, you could be forgiven for wondering how Katie manages to keep up with performing life as well as being a busy mama. All we can say is, it’s clear Katie Wright Dynamite has juggling down to a fine art, in more ways than one! Instagram: @katiewrightdynamite Facebook: /katiewrightdynamite katewright.com.au Images by Meaghan Coles Photography 

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November 30, 2018

The Winning Dad: Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Expected pre-game dad behaviour. Dad mode needs to start as soon as your partner is pregnant, not actually after the baby is born. Your extra support is needed straight away. Why you ask? Imagine going through pregnancy? Symptoms of pregnancy are: nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, crying, constipation and back pain. Sound bad? That’s just the early symptoms. Wait, it gets worse. You can then add: leg pain, body swelling, aching back, pelvis and hips, stomach pain, heartburn, UTI’s, anaemia and shortness of breath. To top it off your partner has the stress of hoping your baby and the pregnancy is progressing normally and then being anxious or scared of giving birth. All this discomfort and your partner is usually still holding down a job too. To say I respect and admire women through pregnancy is an understatement. Once you receive the amazing news that you are expecting, you need to adjust your train of thought to make your partner as comfortable as possible. You are now: cleaning the house, cooking, doing the shopping, laundry and changing the linen. For not one minute are you going to complain about your extra workload and do not dare expect a pat on the back. This is the least you can do. Illustration – Owen Lindsay Your social calendar now revolves around what your partner wants to do. If you have plans to go out and she doesn’t want to as she is having an off day (which is more than expected when you look at previously mentioned pregnancy symptoms) then you are having a night in. You will show no disappointment in this change of plans either and you may even want to say that you would rather stay home. On these nights in you will do whatever the hell your partner wants to do: if you have to sit through a movie that you despise, let me give you the big tip, you are watching it and making some popcorn too and maybe even giving her a foot massage. A couple of months pre-birth you will get the nest ready. The biggest clean your house will ever receive and this impeccable standard must be maintained on a weekly basis until birth. This will take many hours but there will be pride in what you have achieved and your partner will be grateful for the initiative you have taken in getting the house ready for your new addition. “Throughout pre-birth just remember the sacrifice your partner is making. She is the hero.” Be proud of her and help her through this journey. The least you can do is pick up the slack and alter your lifestyle accordingly. If, for some, reason your partner is pregnant and you have done none of the above, pull your finger out and start making things right!!! PS: mum can pull rank on naming rights too. Deal with it. Dads, get to work!!!! You’re welcome, Symon Jarowyj thewinningdadmanual.com Instagram : @thewinningdadmanual

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November 24, 2018

Meet The Creatives: Vanessa and Sam Pearce

Living Creatively  For creative powerhouse couple Sam and Vanessa Pearce, home offers time with the kids away from running their two thriving businesses. As one half of prominent creative studio Frame Creative, Sam is also actively involved in Vanessa’s burgeoning fashion and accessories empire, The Wolf Gang. With a growing client roster and stocklist base, the busy duo invite KIDDO into their world to discuss the juggle of working and parenting together. Sam & Vanessa, can you describe your house and home life? We live in Prospect with our two kids, Marty, 2 and Heidi, 1. It’s a beautiful 1912 character villa with a modern extension we designed ourselves, just north of the city. Although it has a minimalist design aesthetic it’s cluttered and messy 6 out of 7 days a week. How do you manage working and living together, and your relationship crossing over from personal into business? We work closely together on many aspects of The Wolf Gang and also share a studio space – so we would be lying if we didn’t say it’s challenging at times, as we often need to continue working at home. We’ve learned how to work well as a team which has been crucial for both our personal and business relationship and has helped us grow. — Vanessa Tell KIDDO about what it’s like to run a business in Adelaide? Sam: We’ve travelled a lot and we think Adelaide is the best place in the world. Also – Frame had already been established a few years when TWG launched (and Ness was heavily pregnant at that stage), there never felt like there was a need to move interstate at all. Adelaide has everything we need for our businesses to flourish and we’re extremely happy to be based here! How do you manage your time and juggle business with family life? Sam: We try to stick to the 9-5:30pm working hours in the studio. Then we rush home to see the kids for quality time after work, but will generally pull out the laptops after the kids are in bed. We try to keep weekends free, but if we have to go into the studio at all we usually go together and bring the kids and don’t stay too long, and always stop off at the local park on the way. How do you spend your family time? Making pancakes, Reading Dr Suess books or watching Toy Story on repeat. Where is your favourite place to eat? We’ve never actually dined in, but we get Abdul’s Kitchen (Prospect) on Uber Eats literally 3 times a week – Marty enjoys it too. If we go out, we can’t go past Etica (our all-time favourite). Paddy’s Lantern is our go-to during the week for delicious coffee and food! Weekends at Coffee Barun as a family is our usual, really good coffee and there’s a kids area, so it ticks all boxes. Where are your favourite places to go as a family? Stirling, Prospect Oval Park, cafes around our neighbourhood. Describe a typical weekend in your household. Saturdays are usually spent with the kids in the garden, Marty loves digging and playing outside. We also try and catch up on the cleaning and washing. What’s next for Frame Creative? Sam: We’re continuing to focus on the work we love with people we like. Always contributing to the vibrancy of Adelaide and South Australia. Can you tell us about the next collection for The Wolf Gang and what did you show at Adelaide Fashion Festival? Vanessa: For AFF this year we were part of the SA Designer Showcase and launched our first full collection as a lifestyle brand, complete with ready-to-wear, shoes and our iconic bags. We have some exciting new influencer and press partnerships coming up which we can’t wait to reveal! @framecreative @the.wolf.gang Images by Meaghan Coles Photography

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November 21, 2018

Rebecca Morse: The Real Heroes Work in Childcare Centres

The Real Heroes Work in Childcare Centres Every weekday morning we entrust our most precious gifts* to someone else, when we deposit our off spring to school/kindy/childcare, depending on your children’s age and your level of working parent commitment. *(Just how precious we feel that those gifts are, will of course vary from day to day based on your child’s level of cooperation with the morning routine and how many times you had to scream expressions like BOTH SOCKS. YOU NEED TO WEAR ONE ON EACH FOOT, WHERE IS YOUR DRINK BOTTLE? and DON’T FEED YOUR CEREAL TO THE DOG I WILL EAT THE LEFTOVERS IN LIEU OF MY OWN BREAKFAST LATER.) I’ve unashamedly relied on childcare to help with my brood over the years. We moved to Melbourne, away from family support when Grace was a toddler, completely overwhelmed as to how we would find care for her. Detecting my desperation, a colleague secured us a spot at a prestigious city childcare centre. We considered harvesting vital organs to cover the fees. Notices in the newsletter included “LOST: Siena’s Burberry trench. Please check your child’s coat in case you’ve accidentally taken home the wrong one.” I’m not making this up. Grace’s report card at the age of four noted that, while she could successfully recite the alphabet, she ran the letters lmnop together and also that she failed to recognise an octagon. On our return home to Adelaide our needs and socio-economic status were much better suited to our local community childcare centre and kindy, where the dress code and shape identification regime were less restrictive, and the care just as good. The kindy curriculum included studying the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly, establishing a stick insect nursery, nurturing baby chickens and guinea pigs, climbing peppercorn trees and doing yoga. I totally would have established our own stick insect nursery at home to foster my children’s inquiring minds and love of nature play, but hey why duplicate learning programs I always say. On the days when you can’t control your own children (for me, the days which end in the letter y) do you ever drop them at school and spare a thought for the teachers who have to rein in 30 of them? Not just wrangle them and protect them from potentially deadly allergic reactions, but educate them, help them to read and write and navigate friendships and the canteen hierarchy. Then there’s dealing with parents who think their kid is the smartest so needs more attention, or is not the smartest so needs more attention. I observed to my youngest’s teacher recently that she sounded like she had a cold, and didn’t she just get over a cold? Yes, she said, and then a child sneezed in my mouth. Give the woman a pay rise. Give childcare workers a pay rise while we’re at it. If we don’t value our early childhood educators, we have our remuneration priorities all sorts of messed up. As you kiss and drop your little cherubs and leave them in the capable hands of their teachers, express your gratitude. And remind your kids to cover their mouths when they sneeze. @rebeccamorse10

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November 5, 2018

Hire a Nan(ny)

Everyone loves a visit from Nan. For kids, ‘Nan’s looking after you today’ means surprise candy, story reading and special hugs. For parents, it means the eternal struggle- juggle and daily-dilemma of rising early to make breakfasts, packing lunches, school drop offs, peak-hour traffic, supermarket calls, homework, sports commitments, evening meals, bath time and bedtime is made that much easier. Not all parents have the luxury of frequently calling on grandparents to help them… however, one new Adelaide business is changing that. My Mémère offers all day care, after school care and evening and weekend care for children under the supervision of Nans themselves, because who has more child caring creds than an actual grandmother? Mémère nannies are mothers and grandmothers and have knowledge and experience that only years of spending time with children can bring. While you’re saving some time to balance your lifestyle, My Mémère nannies can run errands, read stories, prepare school lunches and do school pick up/ drop o , in a way than only a nan can. mymemere.com.au

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October 15, 2018

Osher Günsberg: Back after the Break

You could be forgiven for having looked at Osher Gunsberg through rose coloured glasses over the last couple of decades. One of Australia’s most loved faces, with a mile-wide grin, gravity defying (occasionally questionable) hair and most recently, the wrangler of the roses for The Bachelor Australia, he’s a guy who, one might assume, had it all. During the height of his career success however, Osher (formerly known as “Andrew G”) was falling apart behind the scenes. Struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, paranoid delusions, weight issues and addiction, things weren’t quite so rosy. Osher has opened up about his ongoing struggle with mental illness in his raw, disarmingly honest and powerful memoir “Back after the Break”, which delves into the complexities of the human mind, how our thoughts drive our behaviour and how the path to positive mental health is challenging, but absolutely possible. We chat with Osher about life with mental illness, being a step dad and (pardon the reckless use of stereotypical reality TV jargon) his journey towards recovery and sharing his story. Can you tell us about the process of writing the book? At what point in your recovery did you decide you were going to write a book about what you’d been through? I’ve been sober for eight and a half years, and it was during the first few years of sobriety that I first learned the power of hearing someone share their story, and the power that I had to share my own story once I was up to it. I noticed that the more authentically I shared my story, the more powerful it was for others. It really helped me when I heard someone else share their story, profoundly, and I just wanted to be a part of doing that for someone else. I’ve found that since writing the book I’m having two main points of feedback, one is “oh wow, except for the interviewing Madonna parts, that’s pretty much how it is for me, I thought it was just me”. The other one is “oh my goodness, my wife or husband or daughter or son or dad has talked about this but I never understood it, until I read this book” and I’m so grateful that that’s the effect the book has had upon people because that is precisely the reason that I wrote it. People all over Instagram are posting images of themselves reading “Back after the Break” which you’ve been reposting in your own Instagram stories. How surreal is that for you, seeing all of these different people, in different parts of Australia or the world, sharing their moments reading your book? It’s pretty interesting. For me, when I see the book in other people’s hands, it is a profound demonstration that thoughts become things. This is beneficial in positive ways in our lives and negative ways. If you have a brain that has a tendency and a great skill for ruminating anxiety, and you then take action based on those thoughts, that will eventually manifest into things based upon those thoughts. If those things are based mostly in fear, then that’s what you’ll end up with. This can be quite negative for you and the people around you. That’s all we really are as humans, the result of repeated habitual actions that we take in any direction. To see my book in the hands of someone on the beach in Rarotonga, it’s incredible. All I did was write it a word at a time, all I did was edit it a word at a time, and then someone hit go on a printing press and a whole bunch of people got enrolled, and it’s extraordinary. We need to appreciate that as humans we have this super power, that we can manifest thoughts into things, and that’s what sets us aside from other species on this planet. We can either create incredible things that benefit each other, or horrible things that can destroy us, our relationships and each other. I’ve definitely experienced both. I’ve experienced the result of when repetitive thoughts manifest into very negative things and then, seeing someone reading my book in Central Park or Croatia on the beach, well that’s pretty good. So, it’s nice that it can work in the other way. How have you found the response to the book thus far? Overall, it’s been extraordinarily positive. I’m very grateful that I’m in a position to do this. I’ve worked for a long time to get to this platform, to have this opportunity now to speak about something that is so important, not just to me, but to everybody. One in four people in this country lives with complex mental illness. That is not necessarily just the people who are living with it in between their ears, but also the people living around them; husbands, wives, fathers, daughters, employers, employees. It’s so important to share this stuff. The reaction can be intense sometimes. I’ve done quite a number of events for the book now and people talk to me about their experiences with mental illness, and it might be the first time they’ve ever disclosed this information to anyone and you’ve got to respect that. I’m a TV host and a broadcaster and a podcaster, not a psychologist, so all I can do is validate and check to make sure people are ok, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that. In the book you talked about your experiences as a “fat kid”. Do you think that self-conscious feeling ever really leaves you? It is definitely something that stays with you. Body dysmorphia is a very powerful and strange thing. I was in Weight Watchers when I was 8. Even after being the very first vegan on the cover of Men’s Health and being as ripped as anything on that cover, my wife Audrey will tell you (and she giggles every night when I do it) that I still brush my teeth with my

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September 26, 2018

Dannii O’Donnell: When two is enough.

When two is enough. Picture this: an old home, blooming with character and brimming with stories of the past lives, lived within its walls. A frangipani tree flowers the façade and an old caravan sits patiently in the driveway, awaiting its next adventure. The house nestles snugly into its country landscape while the smell of the nearby ocean fills its red-brick lungs. Three kids play out the back at dusk, swinging on an old tyre hung from a sturdy, old oak tree. Watching on from the kitchen window, Mum and Dad listen to an old vinyl, sip on red wine and make pizzas from scratch to be devoured under moonlight beneath that same Oak tree. Sounds pretty good right? I wrote that description a few years ago before the birth of my first child, in the hopes of manifesting a similar future. I still desire everything that narrative depicts, except one: I am pretty sure that after having two kids, I am well and truly done. The romantic notion of a tribe of five has been stomped on by the beautiful chaos that is two kids. The leap from one child to two has been so much bigger than I ever could have imagined. I have found it so deeply challenging, so utterly exhausting but I have also been left feeling completely content. Sure, the sleepless nights were to be expected but what I was unprepared for was just how relentless this Mothering gig was to become. It Does. Not. Stop. There is zero personal space and zero down time. You are juggling the needs of two (in my case, very different) individuals who completely rely on you for their survival. Getting out the door in the morning is an hour long process that requires supreme negotiation skills, peak cardio fitness and a strong-ass coffee. Juggling naps requires military precision and the bedtime routine will literally have you on your knees. Pass the wine! And just when you think you’ve got them all figured out, they will simultaneously, self-combust in a public place and remind you exactly who is boss. Like I said: deeply challenging and utterly exhausting. But don’t despair. Remember that other thing I said about being completely content? For me, that’s true too. Witnessing my daughter soothe her crying baby brother for the first time with a loving kiss on his forehead will be etched in my mind forever. Seeing the way my son’s face lights up when his big sister enters the room gives me mini heart explosions on the daily. And watching them happily play together and look out for each other while they don’t know I’m looking, makes me so proud to be their Mum. Loving them is easy, but loving me? Not so much. Being a Mother is all-consuming and in these early years of my children’s lives, there has been little time for me. After almost three years of being either pregnant, or breastfeeding, or both, I am ready to start putting a little more time back into loving and caring for myself. I look forward to my body being mine again, to prioritising some much needed alone time and to be able to put some energy into work and projects that light me up. To have a third child would mean putting all of these things on hold and for the sake of my children, my husband and my own mental health, that’s just not a sacrifice I am willing to make. Some families may want more, some families may want less. But for my family, four of us, is just enough. And what about that red wine-sipping, vinyl-listening, pizza-making Mum and Dad I mentioned earlier? Now, it’s their time: to get their groove back, and start dancing in the kitchen again. And as we edge towards our second-born’s first birthday, we are starting to see glimpses of a life less dictated by nap schedules and feed times and more conducive to moonlight dinners and impromptu weekend adventures. Now we just need to buy that caravan. @dannii.odonnell Image by @georgykeenphotography

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September 14, 2018

Opinion: Why Having a Baby Doesn’t Need to be a Career Speed Bump

Why Having a Baby Doesn’t Need to be a Career Speed Bump We are lead to believe that you’re inevitably faced with a choice; motherhood or your career and that popping your career on hiatus is just one of the endless sacrifices you sign up for when you decide to bring life into this world. As someone who is living the shuffle, I can verify that choosing to have a child doesn’t necessarily equate to a career speed bump. It’s a new world out there and now, more than ever, we’re in a position to be able to have our cake and go back for seconds (cos, treat yo self). You might sacrifice your nipples, but you don’t have to sacrifice your career. You might find (like I did), that your career is growing at a time when we’ve been conditioned to think that it should be put on hold or slowing down. From the moment I saw that elusive little plus sign on the pregnancy test, I was giddy with equal parts excitement and nerves about this new chapter. As the reality and morning sickness settled in I soon began thinking,”So what does this mean for my business?” I remember being apprehensive of clients reception to the news. I wanted to reassure them that I was up for the challenge as long as they were happy to back me. Fortunately, the vast majority of them didn’t skip a beat in offering their support and congratulations moving forward. The only ones that did have concern that I would be inept late and post pregnancy were other women. I recall one meeting in particular; “We’ve decided to take marketing in-house. I just think it’s going to be easier once you have a baby. You just won’t be able to cope with the workload.” I remember leaving this conversation feeling incredibly irritated at this patronising assumption and thinking to myself, “Don’t judge my abilities based on your own limitations.” There are a lot of people who will always judge what you can do based on what they can’t do. Why can’t I rock up to a meeting with a baby? Why can’t I continue running a business from home? As pregnancy wears on and your belly pops, you become a pregnant woman. People struggle to identify anything else about you other than your belly. I wanted to remind people that just because you’re pregnant doesn’t meant that you’re incapable of caring about other things. Behind that belly, Reyes and all her knowledge is still in there, she’s just hidden behind a whole lot of baby bump and a handbag full of snacks. During late pregnancy I saw that the Garden of Unearthly Delights was in need of a digital marketing manager. This had been a project I had always wanted to work on. On a whim, I shot through my details and threw my hat into the ring for the job and was shocked to be called up for a meeting. As I went into the meeting; round with the final weeks of pregnancy, waddling, and slightly sweaty, I was delighted to see that the person who I was interviewing with had brought her young son along. This meeting was just the confirmation I needed that this was possible, you just need to surround yourself with the right people. Just like that, I landed one of my most intensive contract clients to date. I was dizzy with excitement (or it was time for a snack, I’m still not sure). Shortly after, I gave birth to Ziggy. Since birth, she has been by my side through everything. As I got into the swing of what a new day in the life of me looked like; (feeding on the go, little hands playing with my face as I discussed marketing plans) I quickly became comfortable with this role as a business owner slash mum. A lot of people say to me, “I don’t know how you do it” but the thing is, both of us don’t know any different. I felt this new confidence; I became more efficient, more hungry, and wanted to do the best and be the best as a way of thanking people for their support. Having a child alters your perception in many ways and certainly provides a great catalyst for reassessing what you want to give your precious time and energy to. As such, you’ll likely find yourself unapologetically prioritising; culling overtime that comes with no reward, bypassing projects that aren’t in line with what is important to you, and find yourself focussing more diligently on what you need to achieve. I feel incredibly privileged to be in the position that I am in and that I didn’t have to make that decision. Although it definitely has its challenges; having the flexibility to build my business and retain my sense of self, while contributing an income to the family is something I am truly grateful for. @thatreyes 

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September 3, 2018