Young Millennials and Gen Z are currently spiralling over the ultimate 'Why Now?' question: To procreate, or not to procreate? To help, they’ve resurrected an unlikely guru from the 1980s — Merle Bombardieri — whose decades-old 'Rocking Chair Test' is currently trending as the ultimate fix for biological-clock-induced brain rot. We unpack whether a 40-year-old therapy book can actually solve the most high-stakes dilemma of our lives.

Plus, Amelia Lester, Monique Bowley, and Stacey Hicks are diving into the rise of the 'Empty Parenting Weekend'. And, from Matt Damon’s viral 'don’t blink' dad take, to the obsession with Paul Mescal’s mum, we’re asking: Why is Hollywood parenting suddenly so wholesome?

Our Recommendations:

🏝️ Stacey recommends Survivorseason 50 on Stan, an all stars season that spans 25 years of the show's iconic winner. 

🏃‍♀️ Amelia recommends trading the solo gym sessions for rugby preseason drills with the kids.

🌙 Monzrecommends ‘Mummy Mondays’, her ritual for getting kids to open up about their worries by simply looking at the ceiling in the dark

Support independent women's media

What To Listen To Next: 
Don't miss an episode of Parenting Out Loud
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
Michelle Obama’s Parenting Truth Bomb & A Middle Finger To Mothers
The Beckham Family Estrangement: When Does Control Become Controlling?
Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts 

What to read: 
There's a new parenting trend, and it's basically the excuse we've been waiting for.
'It's never the big stuff that derails our family trips. It's... everything else.'
'Australian Survivor has restored my faith in reality TV men.'
'I help women decide whether or not to have kids with these 5 questions.'
'I'm child-free by choice. But when my friend told me she was pregnant, I felt grief.'

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

Senior/Audio Producer: Leah Porges

Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz

Young Millennials and Gen Z are currently spiralling over the ultimate 'Why Now?' question: To procreate, or not to procreate? To help, they&rsquo;ve resurrected an unlikely guru from the 1980s &mdash; Merle Bombardieri &mdash; whose decades-old 'Rocking Chair Test' is currently trending as the ultimate fix for biological-clock-induced brain rot. We unpack whether a 40-year-old therapy book can actually solve the most high-stakes dilemma of our lives.
Plus, Amelia Lester, Monique Bowley, and Stacey Hicks are diving into the rise of the 'Empty Parenting Weekend'. And, from Matt Damon&rsquo;s viral 'don&rsquo;t blink' dad take, to the obsession with Paul Mescal&rsquo;s mum, we&rsquo;re asking: Why is Hollywood parenting suddenly so wholesome?
Our Recommendations:
🏝️ Stacey recommends <a href="https://fave.co/4rd6hbd">Survivor</a> season 50 on Stan, an all stars season that spans 25 years of the show's iconic winner.&nbsp;
🏃&zwj;♀️ Amelia recommends trading the solo gym sessions for rugby preseason drills with the kids.
🌙 Monz recommends &lsquo;Mummy Mondays&rsquo;, her ritual for getting kids to open up about their worries by simply looking at the ceiling in the dark
<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/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></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/michelle-obama-parenting-truth-bomb/">Michelle Obama&rsquo;s Parenting Truth Bomb &amp; A Middle Finger To Mothers</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/parenting-out-loud/brooklyn-beckham-controlling-parents/">The Beckham Family Estrangement: When Does Control Become Controlling?</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/stress-free-parenting-tips/">There's a new parenting trend, and it's basically the excuse we've been waiting for.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/family-trip-smart-tips/">'It's never the big stuff that derails our family trips. It's... everything else.'</a><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/single-mothers-coparenting/"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/australian-survivor-2025-men-opinion/">'Australian Survivor has restored my faith in reality TV men.'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/kids-or-child-free-clarity-coach/">'I help women decide whether or not to have kids with these 5 questions.'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/grief-of-being-childfree/">'I'm child-free by choice. But when my friend told me she was pregnant, I felt grief.'</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
Senior/Audio Producer: Leah Porges
Junior Content Producer: Tessa Kotowicz

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

Empty Weekend Parenting & The Viral Rocking Chair Test

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/a1c0d808-d599-44b0-8644-b40400303a99/transcript