Have you ever seen a video online that made you feel like you were failing at a job you didn't even apply for? Welcome to parenting in 2026.

This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and special guest, Clare Stephens, are diving into a viral trendromanticising the bond between young siblings—and it's left some only-child parents feeling a little judged.

Plus, we discuss the basketball coach who went viral for screaming in a player's face. Was it ‘toxic’ or exactly the kind of high-stakes motivation our ‘gentle parenting’ era is missing?

And, if your child throws a tantrum in the middle of a busy shopping centre or sticks their fingers in someone else's birthday cake, they may have a fan in award-winning actress Viola Davis. We explain why.

Our Recommendations:

🏀 Monz is loving this Amazon Lock Phone Box.

📖 Clare recommends midwife Jen on Instagram @_jen_hamilton_

🧴 Stacey is loving the COSRX Snail mucin power essence.

SUBSCRIBE hereto get 25% off an $89 annual subscription PLUS 25% off Nala. Your Mamamia discount will be applied at checkout. Then find your Nala code in the Subscriber Hub immediately after joining. Ends 1st April.

Support independent women's media

What To Listen To Next: 
Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
The Bad Habit That's Back & The Politics Of ‘Bagsing’
New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat & Divorce Just Got A Rebrand
Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test
Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin?
The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid'
FFS, Just Invite People Over To Your Messy House
So, Yeah. Turns Out THIS Is The Very Last Parenting Taboo
Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts 

What to read: 
'My mum and dad had 8 kids. Here's the most important lesson I learned growing up in a big family.'
OPINION: 'You're not gentle parenting, you're Instagram parenting.'
"I'm 34 with three kids. My expectations of friendship have completely changed."
'My best friends ghosted me after I had a baby. It taught me a lesson I didn't expect.'
Flakiness is out of control at the moment.

GET IN TOUCH:

Share your feedback! Send us a voice message or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au 

Join our Facebook group Mamamia Family to talk about the show.

Follow us on Instagram @mamamia_family

CREDITS:

Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester & Monique Bowley

Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine

Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Have you ever seen a video online that made you feel like you were failing at a job you didn't even apply for? Welcome to parenting in 2026.
This week, Monique Bowley, Stacey Hicks and special guest, Clare Stephens, are diving into a viral trend romanticising the bond between young siblings&mdash;and it's left some only-child parents feeling a little judged.
Plus, we discuss the basketball coach who went viral for screaming in a player's face. Was it &lsquo;toxic&rsquo; or exactly the kind of high-stakes motivation our &lsquo;gentle parenting&rsquo; era is missing?
And, if your child throws a tantrum in the middle of a busy shopping centre or sticks their fingers in someone else's birthday cake, they may have a fan in award-winning actress Viola Davis. We explain why.
Our Recommendations:
🏀 Monz is loving this <a href="https://fave.co/4lUJpft">Amazon Lock Phone Box.</a>
📖 Clare recommends midwife Jen on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/_jen_hamilton_/">@_jen_hamilton_</a>
🧴 Stacey is loving the <a href="https://fave.co/40ZoQ8d">COSRX Snail mucin power essence</a>.
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=discounts&amp;utm_content=25-mm-nala&amp;code=MMNALA25">SUBSCRIBE here</a> to get 25% off an $89 annual subscription PLUS 25% off Nala. Your Mamamia discount will be applied at checkout. Then find your Nala code in the <a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscriber-hub/exclusive-offers/?utm_source=mamamia&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=discounts&amp;utm_content=nala-discount">Subscriber Hub</a> immediately after joining. Ends 1st April.
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=parents">Support independent women's media</a>
What To Listen To Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Don't miss an episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/">Parenting Out Loud</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/family-agms-harper-seven-beauty-brand/">The Bad Habit That's Back &amp; The Politics Of &lsquo;Bagsing&rsquo;</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/celebrity-divorce-rebrand-indy-clinton-homework/">New Twin Dad Luca Enters The Chat &amp; Divorce Just Got A Rebrand</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/what-is-the-rocking-chair-test/">Empty Weekend Parenting &amp; The Viral Rocking Chair Test</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/co-parenting-problems-zayn-malik-gigi-hadid/">Wait, Did We Just Witness The Ultimate Co-Parenting Sin?</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/picky-eaters/">The Problem With Being The 'Easy Kid'</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/trimester-zero-smart-babies/">FFS, Just Invite People Over To Your Messy House</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/wuthering-heights-jacob-elordi/">So, Yeah. Turns Out THIS Is The Very Last Parenting Taboo</a><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/michelle-obama-parenting-truth-bomb/"></a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/what-is-the-click-test"></a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/mamamia/id6442502456?ign-itscg=80085&amp;ign-itsct=pod_cha_mamam332_NA">Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
What to read:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/growing-up-big-family-lessons-learned/">'My mum and dad had 8 kids. Here's the most important lesson I learned growing up in a big family.'</a><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/hiku-by-harper-beckham/"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/gentle-parenting-instagram/">OPINION: 'You're not gentle parenting, you're Instagram parenting.'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/friends-after-kids/">"I'm 34 with three kids. My expectations of friendship have completely changed."</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/losing-friendship-to-motherhood/">'My best friends ghosted me after I had a baby. It taught me a lesson I didn't expect.'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/flaking-on-social-events/">Flakiness is out of control at the moment.</a></li>
</ul>
GET IN TOUCH:
Share your feedback!&nbsp;<a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960">Send us a voice message</a>&nbsp;or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au&nbsp;
Join our Facebook group<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1047713658714395">&nbsp;Mamamia Family</a>&nbsp;to talk about the show.
Follow us on Instagram<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mamamia_family/?hl=en">&nbsp;@mamamia_family</a>
CREDITS:
Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester &amp; Monique Bowley
Group Executive Producer: Ruth Devine
Executive Producer: Sasha Tannock
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we have recorded this podcast.

Your weekly dose of culture-savvy conversation parents actually want. We break down the latest from the zeitgeist, news cycle and trending MumTok conversations, with smart takes and zero sugar-coating. 

Sharp, funny, never sanctimonious: if parents are thinking it, we’re talking about it.. Hit play and join the group chat.

Your weekly dose of culture-savvy conversation parents actually want. We break down the latest from the zeitgeist, news cycle and trending MumTok conversations, with smart takes and zero sugar-coating.&nbsp;
Sharp, funny, never sanctimonious: if parents are thinking it, we&rsquo;re talking about it.. Hit play and join the group chat.

Imperfect stories from the frontlines of parenting.

Parenting Out Loud

The Celebrity Who Loves Bad Kids & The Sibling Effect

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/070e6eb0-0383-4ddc-b3fb-b4180056c6b0/transcript