Noah Wyle just kicked the hornet’s nest by declaring that boys are tougher to parent than girls... at least at first. Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester and special guest Grace Rouvray get into the conversation about whether gender really plays a part in how difficult parenting 

Plus, remember earning 20 bucks to watch your neighbour's kids? We question the death of the teen babysitter and ask whether our lost village is fuelling modern parental burnout.

Also, do you know a 'parasocial baby' that you'd recognise across a crowded playground? We dive into whether this is a harmless social media phenomenon or a worrying trait of parenting in the digital age. 

RECCOS:

Stacey recommends a 'pick-up pop-up station' as an after-school activity for your kids using toys they already own. Basically just rebranding the stuff they no longer play with. 

Grace recommends the children’s book All The Ways I See by Nas Campanella and Eliza Hull.

Amelia is loving Emily St John Mandel’s novel Exit Party.

Take our three minute survey for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher AND help shape what we do here at Mamamia.

Plus, check out the Parenting Out Loud newsletter.  

What To Listen To Next: 

• Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
• Sports Parents Have Lost The Plot & Ending A Friendship Over Wet Wipes
• "A Second Baby Ruined My Life" & The Phrase We Apparently Can't Say
• The New ‘Mummy Wine Time’ & CDs Are Sooo Back
• "You Should Leave Your Husband" & Is Weaponised Pooing Really A Thing?
• The World’s Worst Kid's Party & Is This The Gold Standard Divorce?
• Why You Should Cancel That Playdate & We Have Oreogate News
• Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts 

What To Read Next: 

• OPINION: 'Girl Dads' are a symbol of exactly how society should be.
• ‘I’m a mum of 4 boys. These are the questions I get asked constantly.’
• 'My son does something most toddlers do. But the world keeps telling me it's wrong.'
• The men that we forgive. And the women we don't.

Get access to Very Peri, Mamamia's exclusive perimenopause series, for just $59. 25 world-leading experts, over 20 on-demand sessions, available now. We’ve sorted through the noise so you don't have to. Go to veryperi.com.au and join me today. You hot? Same. Buy today and save 40%

GET IN TOUCH:

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

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

Follow us on Instagram @parentingoutloud

CREDITS:

Hosts: Stacey Hicks, Amelia Lester & Grace Rouvray

Video Editor: Matt Perry

Associate Producer: Tessa Kotowicz

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