In this episode of the Milk and Madness podcast, we dive into the topic of puberty, even though our own children haven’t quite reached this milestone yet. We explore recent trends and research showing that puberty is starting earlier for many children compared to previous generations. Along the way, we share personal stories and insights into the emotional and physical changes that come with this stage of development.

We also touch on important contributing factors like genetics, environment, and diet, discussing how they influence the timing of puberty. Most importantly, we emphasise the value of open, honest communication with kids to help them understand and navigate this critical phase with confidence. Our goal is to equip parents with the knowledge and tools to support their children as they approach these transformative years.

What we discussed:
00:00 Welcome to the Milk and Madness Podcast

00:23 Introduction to Puberty

01:20 Early Onset of Puberty

03:10 Personal Puberty Stories

04:11 Navigating Puberty with Kids

07:12 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Puberty

08:48 The Importance of Open Communication

11:38 Dealing with Physical Changes

18:42 Navigating Puberty Conversations with Kids

20:20 The Role of Parents and Mentors in Boys' Lives

22:13 Personal Experiences and School Transitions

25:18 Building Trust and Awareness with Teenagers

28:19 Factors Influencing Early and Delayed Puberty

35:24 Concluding Thoughts on Puberty and Parenting

Research:

• Impact of Covid on Puberty : Early and precocious puberty during the COVID-19 pandemic, National Library of Medicine
• Puberty changing over the decades : Puberty Starts Earlier Than It Used To. No One Knows Why, New York Times
• Adults at 12? Trends in puberty and their public health consequences, National Library of Medicine

Connect with us:

Email us and let us know how you’re going at contact@milkandmadness.com

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Remember, you’re doing a great job!

If you're currently going through this - please connect with us and let us know how it's all going!! We would love some tip ourselves!

With love,

Nhi & Dee

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How will sex be impacted after child birth?

Navigating Sex After Childbirth: Insights and Honest Conversations

In this episode of the Milk and Madness podcast, Dee and Nhi delve into the challenging and rarely discussed topic of sex after childbirth. Sharing personal experiences, they talk about the physical recovery post-birth, emotional well-being, and relationship dynamics that may shift during this period.

They emphasize the importance of communication, understanding, and managing expectations with your partner. With a mix of humor and heartfelt advice, they hope to reassure listeners that every journey is unique and it's essential to move at one's own pace. The discussion also covers practical aspects like contraception and the mental load, highlighting that rebuilding intimacy takes time and patience. Tune in to gain insights and reassurances on navigating intimacy after becoming parents.

What we discussed:
00:00 Welcome to the Milk and Madness Podcast

00:20 Navigating Postpartum Intimacy

01:44 Personal Experiences with Postpartum Recovery

03:38 Emotional and Physical Challenges

06:28 The Importance of Communication

14:56 Contraception Considerations

20:01 Maintaining Connection Through Date Nights

20:46 Adapting to Changes in Sex Life

21:05 Balancing Parenthood and Intimacy

21:51 Communication and Emotional Connection

24:20 Navigating Expectations and Pressures

27:06 Supporting Your Partner Post-Birth

29:03 Practical Tips for Reigniting Intimacy

35:03 Understanding Different Arousal Patterns

36:11 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Connect with us:

Email us and let us know how you’re going at contact@milkandmadness.com

Follow us and connect on:

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Remember, you’re doing a great job!

With love,

Nhi & Dee

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Navigating Identity Shifts in Parenthood
Will our identities continue to evolve throughout the rest of our lives? Why did we think we were done?

In this episode of the Milk and Madness podcast, we discuss the evolving nature of identity as a parent, how the weight of becoming a parent initially shaped our sense of self and how our children's growth has continually impacted our own identities. The episode emphasises the importance of personal time, self-reflection, and open communication with others, including professional help if needed.

Key takeaways:
Balancing Personal Identity and Parenthood: We often struggle to maintain a sense of self that's distinct from being a parent. While parenting is a crucial and beloved role, it’s vital for us to hold onto the parts of us that aren't entirely defined by motherhood If we don't, it's easy to feel lost or overly dependent on the children's achievements or struggles.
Remember- It’s easy to feel like you’ve lost ourselves when our lives revolve around playdates, school projects, and finding lost socks. But we're still in there somewhere, underneath the layers of sunscreen and baby wipes.

The Emotional Impact of Independence: As our children grow more independent, we might feel a mix of pride and a sense of loss, as our role shifts and diminishes over time. This gradual detachment can hit us hard, making it all the more important to foster our own growth alongside the growth of our children.
As our kids grow and change, so do we. We might start off as the human milk machine or the snack b!@ch, but soon we're the homework helper, career advisor, or the one teaching them how to do laundry (one day!). Each of these new roles comes with its own challenges, but also a chance to rediscover ourselves. Just when we’ve nailed the art of bedtime stories, suddenly we’re fielding questions about the meaning of life or navigating the horrors of teenage social media use. Every new stage they hit is a new stage for us too.

Shifting Identity: Our identity is constantly evolving, especially when intertwined with the ever-changing roles of motherhood. The continuous changes in our children’s development and personal experiences inevitably contribute to ongoing shifts in our identity. Life is dynamic, not static.
Embrace the madness! Our identity will keep evolving, we think of it as a new adventure rather than an identity crisis. When we feel lost, we remind ourselves that everyone’s just making it up as they go along, and that’s okay. Celebrate each new version of yourself—even the ones that wear cereal-stained pyjamas as a badge of honour.

Your kids are not just growing up—they’re growing you up, too.

00:00 Welcome to Milk and Madness

00:20 Exploring Identity in Parenthood

01:17 The Constant Evolution of Identity

02:09 Balancing Personal Identity and Parenthood

03:49 Navigating Identity Shifts with Growing Children

04:34 The Emotional Journey of Identity and Parenthood

18:51 The Role of Partners in Identity Shifts

24:03 Finding Support and Resources

30:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with us:

Email us at contact@milkandmadness.com and let us know how you’re doing!

Follow us on:

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Youtube

Remember, you’re doing a great job!

With love,

Nhi & Dee

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