Two Women ChattingHelen Wills | Teenage Kicks
Michelle and Liz are joined in this episode by Helen Wills who is the author behind the Actually Mummy website and the host of the Teenage Kicks podcast. A show that is all about navigating teen-related parenting issues. Covering subjects that other blogs, forums, and podcasts tend not to cover. Including self-harm, eating disorders, body image, schizophrenia, sexism, avoiding dating dangers, and much more.
During this three women chatting, (2 women plus a Helen) episode, they discuss why she started the podcast, how it works and how it can help. As well as talking about some of the things Helen, as a midlife woman, does to remain energetic and healthy while looking after her two children and running two very busy businesses as she heads towards an empty nest.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Your teenager going through some horrible life experiences does not mean that the rest of their life will also be awful.
- A lot of parents worry that talking about difficult subjects with their kids will give them ideas. The opposite is true, it is far healthier to be ready to talk about these things.
- Don´t feel you have failed as a parent if your teenager has serious issues.
- Don´t judge other parents who have children that do have problems.
- Teenagers are fantastic, don´t fear parenting a teenager.
- Using bright colours can lift your mood and help you to focus on the positives.
- If you see someone looking good in something, tell them. Most people love it.
BEST MOMENTS
“There are 1000s of Facebook groups where you can talk about toilet training woes or sleepless nights, but not my child is self-harming, or my child has an eating disorder”.
“I´ve done suicide first aid training and they say… you have to say the word…you have to talk about it... if it´s in their heads that is what gets them to open up.”
“If I dress brightly and I´m surrounded by bright colours, I automatically think brightly.”
“I did try a gratitude journal, but it made me feel really ungrateful that I had to fill this damn thing in every night.”
“Say one nice thing a day (to someone), it takes zero effort, and it makes both people feel good”.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, and review it on your podcast platform. We read every email sent to us at twowomenchatting@gmail.com so please get in touch! Check out our supporting blogs on this topic at www.twowomenchatting.com.
EPISODE RESOURCES
Teenage Kicks Podcast – Rosie – Self-Harming episode
Helen’s website Actually Mummy
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Liz Copping is a networking pro & event consultant, leaping out of her comfort zone to co-host this podcast.
Insta @lizcoppingtwc
Michelle Ford is a professional voice actor and empty nester pressing reset, enjoying a new career in podcasting.
Insta @michellefordtwc
CONTACT METHOD
PODCAST DESCRIPTION
Join hosts Liz and Michelle redefining life over 50 as empty nesters, embracing the highs and lows of midlife with celebrity guests and experts, sharing a laugh on their podcast sofa. We talk about real concerns, issues, and fun topics that affect us, our friends, and our family.
Midlife is not just about the menopause (although we’d be the first to admit it’s right up there!) but it is a time of adventure, change and reset - with plenty of opportunities and challenges along the way.
Whether we’re chatting about ‘boomerang kids,’ diet failures (and occasional successes!), pro-ageing, travel, changing relationships, or inspiration for new jobs or activities, there’s always room for one more on our sofa.
