The Truth About Perfect Parenting & Ways to Calm Anxious Kids
If your childβs worries or meltdowns leave you wrung out, this warm, practical chat with counsellor + parent coach Sarah Florenze will help you steady yourself, calm your child, and drop the pressure of perfect parenting. We cover growth mindset for mums, how perfectionism shows up (and why itβs really about safety), red flags that signal extra support, and two tiny tools you can try tonight.
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In this episode youβll learn:
Why connection beats perfection (and how to get present fast)
Early signs a childβs anxiety needs more support (sleep, school, appetite, physical cues)
Counselling vs parent coaching β which one fits your family right now
Two soothing rituals: Night-Walk Star Chat + 20-Minute Child-Led Time
Links for this episode
Raising Children Network (Australian, evidence-based guides for anxiety at every age).Β
Triple P β Positive Parenting Program (free/low-cost options in many areas).Β
Book: What Happens to Our Kids When We Fail to Grow Up?Β by Maggie Hamilton.Β
Join community: The VineβSingle Mum Facebook group (kind, practical support).Β
Care note: This is general info, not medical advice. If this helped, share it with a mum who needs a softer day. π
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Blog Article: Child Support After Separation - Clear Guide for Single Mums
Sorting out child support after separation can feel confusing and overwhelming, but you donβt have to figure it out alone. In this episode, we break down the essentials in plain language so single mums can feel clearer, calmer, and more confident about their next steps.
π What youβll learn:
~ How child support is calculated in Australia
~ Your options: private agreements vs. Services Australia
~ What to do if payments are late or not made
~ When to seek legal advice
~ Tips for keeping things child-focused and manageable
π This is information, not legal advice. For personalised support, connect with Services Australia or a community legal centre.
π Links & Resources:
* Services Australia β Child Support - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/learning-about-child-support?context=60015
* Beanstalk Mums Blog - https://beanstalkmums.com.au/
β Timestamps:
00:00 Why child support feels so overwhelming
01:15 The basics: how itβs calculated
05:40 Option 1: Private agreements
09:20 Option 2: Services Australia
14:00 What to do when payments are late
18:30 Legal advice and red flags
22:00 Tiny Tool for today
24:00 Resources & gentle CTA π€
If this helped, share with a mum whoβs navigating child support. For more tools and support, join The Vine community https://www.facebook.com/groups/SingleMumVine
π Subscribe for more real talk and tools for single mums subscribepage.io/beanstalkmumslifehackgifts
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Rebuilding After Burnout: Advice That Will Change Your Life
Feeling pressure to βdo it allβ? In this uplifting episode of Beanstalk Mums β Real Talk for Single Mums, host Elle Sitek chats with coach and soloβmum SashaΒ Eburne about life after burnout, redefining success and building a business that truly fits.
Sasha spent 25Β years in hotels and events before COVIDβ19 wiped out her career. Newly minted as a solo mum, she pivoted into virtual assistant work, discovered a business model that allowed her to leave the nineβtoβfive and has spent the last five years coaching other mums to do the same. She shares candidly about hitting burnout, learning to ask for help, and including her daughter in her business journey.
Together we explore:
β’Β The subtle signs of burnout and why you must prioritise selfβcare
β’Β Why asking for help is a sign of strength and how to build a supportive village
β’Β Practical strategies to rebuild after exhaustion β from realistic toβdos to setting boundaries and negotiating timelines
β’Β Creating a flexible business around your familyβs rhythms rather than the 9β5 grind
β’Β Bringing your kids along for the ride and redefining what success looks like
β’Β Mindset shifts to ditch labels, embrace discomfort and start dreaming again
Tune in for real talk, gentle encouragement and plenty of actionable tips. If youβre feeling overwhelmed, stuck or just ready for something new, this conversation is for you.
Links & resources
βΒ Connect with Sasha on Instagram: @SashaEburne__
βΒ Join our SingleΒ MumΒ Vine community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SingleMumVine
βΒ Subscribe to the Beanstalk Mums newsletter for weekly support and lifeβhacks: https://subscribepage.io/beanstalkmumslifehackgifts
β Leave us a voice message via our new podcast widget, and your question might appear in a future episode: https://beanstalkmums.com.au/podcast
βΒ Explore more articles, tools and community resources at https://beanstalkmums.com.au
-Watch this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@BeanstalkSingleMums
Remember to like, subscribe and leave a 5βstar review so more single mums can find this show. Youβve got this!
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Blog Article: Childβs Passport After Divorce - How to Apply Without Stress
If youβve ever dreamed of travelling overseas with your child only to hit the wall of passport applications after divorce, youβre not alone. Between parental consent, court orders, and βspecial circumstances,β the process can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Beanstalk Mums Maggie breaks it all down clearly for single mums who want clarity before booking those flights.
What youβll learn:
Why both parents consent is usually needed for a childβs passport
What to do if your ex refuses or is missing
How βspecial circumstancesβ can allow you to apply alone
When and how the Family Court can step in
Costs, timelines, and what to expect
π Gentle reminder: This is information, not legal advice.
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Links & Resources:
Australian Passport Office β Children
Family Court of Australia
Beanstalk Mums Blog
Community legal centres (Australia-wide free/low-cost advice)
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Navigating Conflict and Co-Parenting: Strategies for Better Outcomes
In this insightful episode of the Beanstalk Mums Podcast, we explore the emotional terrain of co-parenting and conflict resolution with the calm and compassionate Thad Hollis, founder of Better Outcomes Coaching & Mediation.
With over 30 years of experience guiding families through separation and beyond, Thad offers practical tools and grounded wisdom to help single mums communicate more clearly, reduce stress, and make decisions that truly centre their childrenβs wellbeing.
Together, we unpack what healthy conflict actually looks like, how to listen (even when itβs hard), and why mediation can be a powerful resourceβnot just in crisis, but anytime things start to shift. Thadβs approach is gentle, respectful, and refreshingly human.
If youβve ever felt stuck in a co-parenting loop, unsure how to move forward, or just want more peace in your parenting partnership, this episode is here to support you. Real tools, real talk, and a quiet reminder: you donβt have to do this alone.
Tune in to feel steady, supported, and ready for better outcomesβwhatever stage youβre at.
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Links for this episode:
πΈ Visit Better Outcomes Coaching & Mediation
β¨ Learn more about divorce coaching with Thad
π―ββοΈ subscribepage.io/beanstalkmumslifehackgifts β Subscribe to the Beanstalk Mums newsletter for weekly support, podcast updates, and instant access to our life hacks library!
ποΈ https://beanstalkmums.com.au/podcast β Our brand-new widget is live on the Beanstalk Mums website! Drop us a voice message with your thoughts or questions; you might hear them in a future episode.
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Youβve got this! Letβs thrive together. And donβt forget to leave us a 5-star review andΒ follow the podcast so you never miss an episode packed with inspiration and practical tips for your journey!
Welcome to the Beanstalk Single Mums Podcast
A supportive space created to empower single mums from all walks of life, no matter where they are on their solo parenting journey.
Hosted by Lucy Good (founder) and Elle Sitek (owner of beanstalkmums.com.au), each episode features expert guests who share practical advice and lived wisdom on the realities of single motherhood.
We cover everything from separation and family law to co-parenting, education, careers, dating, sex, wellbeing, household management, and financial independence.
π§ Listen on your favourite podcast app or watch the conversation come to life on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BeanstalkSingleMums
π Visit https://www.beanstalkmums.com.au for even more blog articles, tools, and community support.
Listen to Beanstalk: Real Talk for Single Mums, Koala Moon: Kids Bedtime Stories & Sleep Stories for Kids Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app