E67 - Its OK to not be OK, Transitions as a Parent - The Hidden World of Women

We’re back for another year, and in our first episode, Emma wanted to talk about transitions. As schools, unis, and TAFEs go back, how do you cope when your baby isn’t a baby anymore?

When your child starts kindy, there’s an outpouring of support. But when they finish primary school, high school, or even uni, no one really talks about how scary change can be. In this episode, Emma McLarty joins the conversation to unpack these transitional moments—why they can hit harder than we expect, why it’s OK to not be OK, and how to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of letting go.

We do want to give a little warning: we might make parenting sound really scary and overwhelming in this episode, but we promise—it’s not as bad as it sounds! This is just a space for parents to feel overwhelmed, teary, and to acknowledge that sometimes, change just feels like it’s happening way too fast.

 

Tune in as we explore:

The unexpected emotions of your child growing up

Why these transitions can feel so big and isolating

The importance of finding your village and normalizing these feelings

How to balance “letting go” with celebrating growth

Practical ways to support yourself (and each other!) through these big milestones

If you're feeling daunted by school starting back this week, this episode is for you. You’re not alone—we’re in this together.

 

Read the blog post that inspired this episode: It's OK to Not Be OK: https://wacpps.org.au/when-older-kids-go-back-to-school-its-ok-to-not-be-ok/

 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Share your experience with us—how did you feel when your older kids started a new chapter?

 

You can find Emma McLarty: www.emmamclarty.com.au

or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mclarty-a9a8735a/ 

or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmamclartycounselling

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