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Separation Anxiety, Kid's Grief, and Helping Kids Relax - Ep 109: Ask Charlotte
As parents, we’re only ever as settled as our least settled child – and kids’ mental health can feel like a minefield to navigate. In this Ask Charlotte episode of the Feel Better Podcast, I answer three listener questions about children’s wellbeing: separation anxiety, supporting kids through the illness or death of a loved one, and how to help kids actually relax (without everything turning into screen time). You’ll hear gentle, practical strategies for:Separation anxiety – how to be a “detective” about what your child is really scared of, using play, stories and concrete goodbye rituals to help them feel safe at kindy or school.Illness, ICU and grief – age-appropriate ways to explain serious illness and death, what to say, and creative ideas to include kids when someone they love is very unwell or has died.Helping kids relax – creating realistic screen limits, setting up cosy “down-time” spaces, using meditations and audio stories, and modelling rest yourself so kids see what healthy relaxation looks like.If you’ve ever Googled “how to support my child’s mental health”, “child separation anxiety at school”, “how to talk to kids about death and illness”, or “how to get my kids to relax without screens”, this episode is for you.🔗 Mentioned in this episode:My e-book What To Do When Your Child Is Experiencing Anxiety, contains the very best of my advice around children and anxiety, and it's available at charlottecummings.nz✨ Connect with CharlotteWebsite & resources: charlottecummings.nzInstagram: @charlottecummings.nzEmail your question: [email protected] Charlotte is part of the Feel Better Podcast, created to make everyday mental health support more accessible for real families.
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How to Decide What to Let Go Of When Your Plate Is Too Full (Ep: 108)
In this episode of the Feel Better Podcast, I’m talking about one of the trickiest parts of modern life: how to decide what to let go of when your plate is just too full. If you’re overwhelmed, overcommitted, or stuck in that endless “should I give this up?” loop, this episode will really help.I’m sharing the exact questions and frameworks I use with my clients – and the ones I’ve had to painfully learn myself. (Let’s be honest: this is one of the live issues in my own life too.)In this episode, I walk you through:How to figure out whether you actually need to give something upHow to decide what to even put on the table when everything feels importantA gentle, practical discernment process if there’s a specific role, commitment or project you’re thinking about letting go ofI also talk about:Whether the people you love are paying the price for your scheduleWhat your health, wellbeing and relationships are revealing about your loadHow our unbearable feelings (fear of failure, disappointing others, being seen as less capable) keep us stuckSeasons of life, evolving identity, and aligning your commitments with your longer-term goalsWhat you might gain emotionally—peace, capacity, time—by stepping away from somethingYou’ll come away with a whole list of reflection questions to help you make clearer, kinder decisions about your time and energy.✨ Resource: I’ve created detailed show notes and journalling questions for this episode, which you can download at charlottecummings.nz.
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How to Protect Your Relationship from Affairs (Ep 107: Ask Charlotte)
Affairs don’t always start with attraction — they often begin with emotional closeness that slowly crosses a boundary. In this Ask Charlotte episode, I'm answering listener questions about how to protect your relationship from emotional affairs, why betrayal can still hurt even when there hasn’t been physical intimacy, and what healthy friendship boundaries look like in marriage.You’ll hear:💬 The early signs of emotional over-connection💬 Why emotional betrayal cuts so deeply💬 How to rebuild trust and keep closeness safe💬 What to consider when friendships with the opposite sex start to feel complicatedThis episode will help you reflect on where you're at and how you can minimise the chances of betrayal impacting your relationship.
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22:59
Ep 106: How to Rest When You Absolutely Suck at It
If you struggle to slow down, switch off, or stop feeling guilty when you rest — this episode is for you. So many of us are caught up in productivity culture, running on empty and living in a constant state of burnout and overwhelm. I want to help you change that.In this conversation, I’m breaking down why true rest can feel so hard — from the way our nervous system reacts to stillness, to the hidden “unbearable feelings” that keep us stuck in go-mode — and how we can start to heal our relationship with rest.I’ll walk you through:Why rest is a vital part of mental health, self-care, and work-life balance — not a luxury.How to reframe your self-talk (“I’m learning to rest” instead of “I’m bad at resting”) so change actually sticks.Practical rest strategies you can use right now — including micro-rests, building restful spaces, setting rest goals, and scheduling downtime into busy days.How modelling rest for your kids teaches them healthier coping skills — and how rest can boost creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience.I also share some honest personal stories (including the one my husband and many podcast listeners still tease me about!) to show you that rest doesn’t have to look perfect — it just has to work for you.If you’re tired of rushing, overworking, or always needing to “earn” your downtime, this episode will help you embrace rest as a daily practice — and build a calmer, more sustainable life that truly supports your wellbeing.🎧 Press play, take a deep breath, and let’s start rewriting your story with rest — one pause at a time.
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29:48
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Ep 105: Ask Charlotte - When Faith Gets Messy
In this Ask Charlotte episode, I’m answering three listener questions that so many people wrestle with when it comes to faith, spirituality and church — and each one opens up an honest, compassionate conversation about what it means to believe (or not) in a changing world.I recognise this episode won't be for everyone, but for the people whose story it fits, I hope it's helpful. 🌱 Question 1: “What do I do if I feel like I’m losing my faith — but I don’t want to?”We unpack why faith shifts and deconstruction are a normal part of spiritual growth, how to navigate the grief that often comes with change, and how to nurture your spirituality when old beliefs no longer fit.👶 Question 2: “How can I share faith with my kids when I don’t trust church — and my partner doesn’t believe?”We explore practical, non-dogmatic ways to talk about God, Jesus and values, how to give children freedom of choice, and how to build a sense of meaning and ethics outside of traditional religion.🏡 Question 3: “How do I know if a church is safe?”From leadership power dynamics to financial transparency and red flags for spiritual abuse, I share key signs to look for — plus how to protect your autonomy and belong to a faith community without losing yourself.Whether you’re questioning long-held beliefs, healing from church trauma, raising children in a mixed-belief household, or searching for a safer, more authentic spiritual home, this episode will meet you where you are — with honesty, nuance and hope.🎧 Tune in for grounded guidance, real-life strategies, and a reminder that it’s OK for your faith story to evolve.
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