If you're talking to people about the decision to have children it’s likely you’ve heard a version of this - “parenting is really hard so if you’re not 100% sure that you want children…don’t do it”.

This episode is here to challenge that idea. The reasons people say not to have children are very convincing - you’ll never sleep again, your relationship will never be the same, you’ll never have sex again, you’ll lose your weekends. Basically your life as you know it will be over.

But it's also the best decision some people ever make.

In this episode Laura speaks with three women who didn’t feel an innate calling to be mothers, but now that they have children, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Rebecca was adamant she didn’t want children until she hit her 30’s and a death in the family made her reconsider. Alyssa’s pregnancy took her and her partner by surprise. And Melanie faced more hurdles than most conceiving her two children.

Then you share your thoughts on the topic ❤️

FOLLOW US

Laura Henshaw @laura.henshaw on Instagram & @laura.henshaw on Tiktok
KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Join our closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/
Join Kic @kic.app on Instagram & @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com or download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura came in with a rant this week! So the next time you think about commenting “stay in your lane”...think again.

And one of you asked a tricky question about splitting the bill when you go out for dinner. You asked: “Is it stingy to ask to not to pay for alcohol I haven’t drunk it? So Laura & Steph take it to the Kic Court to decide!

Do you agree? How do you navigate this in your friendship group? Have your say in the KICPOD Facebook group.

SPECIAL SHARES

• Steph: Rebel Wilson on The Diary of a CEO podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/rebel-wilson-i-experimented-with-ozempic-childhood/id1291423644?i=1000654635382
• Laura: The Idea Of You (Anne Hathaway’s new movie) on Amazon Prime https://www.primevideo.com/dp/amzn1.dv.gti.918b5f07-0744-4ada-ab44-979c14087b2b?
• Check out Em Ruscian's review of the film https://www.instagram.com/p/C6s5ZjBv31h/

Kic UPDATE

We’ve partnered with Dineamic!! Inspired by your favourite Kic recipes, our ready made meals are packed with the same flavour, quality and wholesome ingredients you know and love. It’s feel-good food, made for you.

Meals include: Ginger Lime Fish Curry with Broccoli & Brown Rice, Free Range Tuscan Chicken with Broccoli & Pasta, Free Range Baked Chicken Enchilada with Tortillas, Free Range Chicken Pesto with Casarecce Pasta, Free Range Moroccan Chicken with Turmeric Rice & Currants, Cashew Satay Udon Bowl with Tofu. Order online now here: https://www.dineamic.com.au/pages/kic

(and Hack…sign up to Dineamic’s newsletter and you’ll get $25 of your first order!)

FOLLOW US

KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Join our closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/
Steph Claire Smith @stephclairesmith on Instagram & @steph_claire_smith on TikTok
Laura Henshaw @laura.henshaw on Instagram & @laura.henshaw on Tiktok
Kic @kic.app on Instagram & @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com or download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it’s biological, circumstantial, financial, environmental, a result of trauma, or simply because you don’t want to, the reasons why people decide to be childfree are as diverse as the reasons why people decide to be parents. For many people, the decision to be childfree is met with comments like “you’ll change your mind,” or “you won’t know real love until you have a child,” or “what if you regret it?”. And with so few childfree role models showing us what a childfree life could look like, these responses can be hard to deny.

In this episode, Laura speaks with three childfree women.

Danni Duncan is a New Zealand based childfree content creator who has dedicated her life to showing people that a childfree life is not only possible, but can be totally fulfilling and empowering.

Amelia is a member of our KICPOD community who made the decision not to have children based on her own childhood.

And finally, Karen made the decision to be childfree despite having the desire to be a parent. Now she’s in her 50’s she is so happy with the decision she made.

Then we hear your thoughts on the topic ❤️

FIND OUT MORE

Follow Danni on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/danni___duncan/

Check out We Are Childfree https://wearechildfree.com/

FOLLOW US

Laura Henshaw @laura.henshaw on Instagram & @laura.henshaw on Tiktok
KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Join our closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/
Join Kic @kic.app on Instagram & @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com or download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You meet someone, you get married, you have children. Right? That’s been the status quo for so long that it can be hard to imagine an alternative. For so many people who don’t feel called to be a parent, that path doesn’t feel right. But if you’ve grown up in a world where everyone you know, and everyone you follow, and every character in every movie and every TV show is getting married and having children, how do you distinguish what you want versus what society wants you to want? And if you do decide to have children…does your whole purpose have to switch to motherhood?

To help answer these questions Laura speaks with parenthood clarity mentor Ann Davidman. Ann and Denise L. Carlini wrote the book ‘Motherhood - Is It For Me?’ and Ann runs an online Motherhood Clarity Course and Fatherhood Clarity Course for people struggling with indecision.

Laura asks Ann: why do we feel shame over not knowing if we want to have children? What is the difference between our desire for children vs our decision to have children? Can we have more than one purpose in life? And most importantly…how do we start to figure all of this out?

Then you share your thoughts on the topic ❤️

FIND OUT MORE

Read ‘Motherhood - Is It For Me?’ https://www.motherhoodisitforme.com/books
Check out the Motherhood Clarity Course https://www.motherhoodisitforme.com/motherhoodclaritycourse
And the Fatherhood Clarity Course https://www.motherhoodisitforme.com/fatherhood-clarity-course
Follow Ann on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/anndavidman/

FOLLOW US

Laura Henshaw @laura.henshaw on Instagram & @laura.henshaw on Tiktok
KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Join our closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/
Join Kic @kic.app on Instagram & @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com or download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having children is one of the biggest decisions we'll ever make.

And for many people between the ages of 20 - 40, who don't feel called to be a parent, this question can be all-consuming. It was for Laura.

Last year Laura opened up on the podcast for the first time about her anxieties about having children. Your messages of support, encouragement, and "I feel exactly the same as you," are what inspired this miniseries.

'Do I Want Kids' is for everyone who is sitting with the decision.

Over 7 episodes hear Laura speak with people from all walks of life; from parenthood mentors to child-free advocates, career-driven professionals, stay-at-home mums, young and older parents, relationship experts, medical specialists and finally her own husband Dalton, about this decision.

New episodes will publish every Wednesday and Friday.

FOLLOW US

Laura Henshaw @laura.henshaw on Instagram & @laura.henshaw on Tiktok
KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Join our closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/
Join Kic @kic.app on Instagram & @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com or download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk a lot about rebuilding our relationship to food but we don’t talk as much about our relationship to exercise. Off the back of Laura’s HIIT classes in the Kic app, and the D&M we responded to last week about listening to your body, we wanted to talk about it. And just like our relationship to food - even when you’re in a good spot with exercise - past behaviours can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

And this is your reminder that if you haven’t had a house party or a sleepover with your girlfriends in a while…do it!!

Plus we reflect on how we’re feeling about the horrifying state of violence against women in Australia right now. Sending love to anyone who’s going through it themselves or feeling anxious and unsafe.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, you can call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.

We spoke to Tarang Chawla about his personal experience with domestic violence and losing his sister Niki in 2015. The episode is called ‘The Raw Reality of Domestic Abuse and Family Violence’ https://pod.fo/e/238cc6

We also spoke to Sue & Lloyd Clarke, the parents of Hannah Clarke, who was murdered with her children by her estranged partner in 2020. The episode is called ‘Coercive control in relationships - how to spot the warning signs, with Sue & Lloyd Clarke’ https://pod.fo/e/202c1a

SPECIAL SHARES

Laura: The Playlist on Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81186296?source=35

Steph: Laura’s miniseries ‘Do I Want Kids’ !! Keep an eye on the feed tomorrow, Wednesday and Friday for the trailer and the first two episodes

The sleepover article we mentioned https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/2024/03/11696618/adult-sleepovers-nostalgia-friendship-socialising

FOLLOW US

KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Join our closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/
Steph Claire Smith @stephclairesmith on Instagram & @steph_claire_smith on TikTok
Laura Henshaw @laura.henshaw on Instagram & @laura.henshaw on Tiktok
Kic @kic.app on Instagram & @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com or download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess Sanders is a social worker and children’s author. Her latest book ‘You Can Do Hard Things - A Little One’s Guide For Not Giving Up’ helps children see disappointments as opportunities.

A growth mindset empowers children to believe in themselves and reach their full potential. From building blocks, to learning times tables, children are constantly faced with difficulties, and a growth mindset helps children believe they are capable of overcoming these difficulties, if not today, then one day.

In this conversation, Steph speaks with Jess about what a growth mindset actually means, how parents can model a growth mindset themselves, why children should experience failure and disappointment and what they can learn from it, not trying to “fix” our children’s emotions and giving children the tools to build their self-confidence.

Check out Jess' latest book 'Life Lessons for Little Ones: You Can Do Hard Things' https://www.booktopia.com.au/life-lessons-for-little-ones-you-can-do-hard-things-jess-sanders/book/9781922930316.html

KIC UPDATE

Whether you’re a new mum, soon-to-be mum or all you want in life is to be a mum, no matter what kind of mum you are, Kic is here to help you make time for you. We’re treating our KICBUMP community to 1 month free with Kic. If you’re already a Kic member, you can share this code with the amazing women in your life.

The code 1MONTH4MUM is available via www.kicapp.com until next Wednesday May 15th.

FOLLOW US

KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Jess @iamjesssanders on Instagram
Steph Claire Smith @stephclairesmith on Instagram, @steph_claire_smith on TikTok
Join our virtual mothers' group in the the KICBUMP Facebook group. Search 'KICBUMP Community'
Kic @kic.app on Instagram, @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our stories of overthinking and overexplaining! Laura shares what happened when she spent the day rubbing her eyes and tried to buy three bottles of wine on a Friday night (without looking in the mirror) and Steph reveals a recent email fail. Then we hear your stories of overthinking. Overthinkers, hypochondriacs, anxious girlies…you’re all welcome here.

Plus we open the mailbox to answer one of your DMs about running: “how do you know the difference between listening to your body vs breaking the mental barrier of “I can do it?”

And we want to give you a nickname! Are you a Little Ray (of sunshine) or a Cloudy? Have your say in the closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/

And it’s the final week of the KICPOD audience survey! Tell us what you think of the podcast and you’ll go in the running to win a $100 Visa e-gift card https://form.typeform.com/to/wzd5Wuuu

SPECIAL SHARES

• Steph: The Tortured Poet’s Department - Taylor Swift AND A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Laura: Joy Decision from The Imperfects podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dr-emily-joy-decision/id1476501557?i=1000653132952

Kic UPDATE
Join is for the final Kic Run Club meet up this Saturday in Sydney! We’re meeting at the North Bondi Surf Club at 7:30am. There will be giveaways from New Balance and a relaxation station for after your run. No matter how far you can run, come join us!

Register here https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/kicrun-club-north-bondi-meet-up-tickets-888002568587

FOLLOW US

KICPOD @kicpod on Instagram
Join our closed KICPOD Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/630561419185145/
Steph Claire Smith @stephclairesmith on Instagram & @steph_claire_smith on TikTok
Laura Henshaw @laura.henshaw on Instagram & @laura.henshaw on Tiktok
Kic @kic.app on Instagram & @kic on TikTok and kicapp.com or download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.