Life with Nat - EP218: Nagging with Auntie Linny #24 - surviving the school holidays

Episode Date: April 15, 2026

Another school holiday has started, and for some people - ended. But how are we getting through it, eh? We talk about the challenges of juggling life continuing whilst adding extra little humans running around shouting for us every five seconds to the mix. Enjoy!! xx Nat on James O’Brien’s Full Disclosure - ⁠⁠https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/2JsSdhJHj5e/⁠⁠ Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here;⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We're on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Nat's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natcass1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Marc's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@camera_marc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Niece's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natsnieces⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tony's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tonycass68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Linny's insta:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@auntielinny.lwn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MORE LIVE SHOWS! 10th May 2026 - The Grief Show with Auntie Linny - Studio, Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TICKETS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 24th May 2026 - Hertford, Beam⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SOLD OUT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book Club: April's Book -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathy Burke - A Mind of My Own - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/A-Mind-of-My-Own/Kathy-Burke/9781398548145⁠⁠⁠ Nat’s solo chats - any rants always welcome. Loads on the radar - living our lives for ourselves, the constant comparisons with others on social media... and the audacity of teenagers! Scraping the Barrel - SCAN AND SHOP VIRGIN NO LONGER! Bonce vs list! - Are you a list maker? Always collecting for Nostalgia Fest! What’s brewing with the Nieces - AGEING & non-negotiables Things we’re nagging with Linny about - More lateness stories and some cleaning questions, please! The Tony talks chatter - Keep your DIY questions coming. What are your favourite films & albums? Nat and Tony's big life changes clinic is open for advice questions A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[e-mail]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by FedEx. These days, the Power Move isn't having a big metallic credit card to drop on the check at a corporate lunch. The real Power Move is leveling up your business with FedEx intelligence, and accessing one of the biggest data networks powered by one of the biggest delivery networks. Level up your business with FedEx, the new Power Move. Hello and welcome to Life with Matt. This is a very special nagging with Auntie Linney on this lovely Thursday. How are you, sweetheart?

I'm good. Good, good. We do a lot of nagging, don't we? We do do quite a lot of nagging. It's funny old word that nagging, isn't it? I've been a nag. It's sort of seen as nagging, isn't it? Is, you know, we're naggers.

We are naggers. Yesterday was funny, wasn't it? Because we were nagging for over an hour on the phone and we could have gone for a walk. And done a pod. Yeah, that was. that was like the old days, isn't it? But it's just funny, because I only, I'm just going to be five minutes. And you only got interrupted how many times?

Too many, is it? No, you did well yesterday. We actually had a full on our conversation with minor interruptions. That was good, it was good. Navy, didn't I suit you? Yeah, you say that every time I wear this blouse. But thank you. It is, it's a lovely blouse on you.

That's your colour, isn't it, Navy? All I do is buy black. I went out the other day. It's not like you. The trolley was filled with black and white. Black and white stripes. It's in at the moment, so you're all right. No, I know, but I've been told that it don't suit my face,

so I shouldn't be wearing it. It's funny, isn't it? Yeah, that is. And I don't see you in black either. I just find it always looks smart, sophisticated. Yeah, it's easy, isn't it? It's safe. But it's meant to wash me out.

Then stick to your name. The pink blouse looked lovely on you on Thursday. I had a few compliments wearing that pink. No, no, suit you. That colour suits you. It's handy. See, the old life when that. There you go. Happy days. What you've been up to? Bits and pieces really. It's been quite a chilled

week so far. Is it? Yeah. I haven't really done any housework. Oh, I made you go yesterday. Did you? Yeah, I love it. What'd you do? I just had a deep clean, because I had a couple of hours. I'm never at home, as you know. No. And like you, it was a bit of chilled weekend. We've had some nice, couple of nice things that we've done of late, and we hadn't organised much for this weekend. So I thought, I'm just going to try and dedicate an hour. hour or two, but having like a proper deep clean. But of what for those two hours? I did all my grouting in my own suite.

Yeah. I dismantled my shower head and disscaled it. Jobs that never get done. I know, but it's, and you know what pushed me to do it? So my shower head was leaking marginally at the bit where you screw the head onto the hose part. Yes, yes. So I dismantled it, put some bicarol in it.

Lovely. Gave it a good old and now it's no longer leaking. Oh no. I've just find the deep cleans. So rewarding. And I've got this product, what's it called? Fucking magic, I think it's called. Is it?

Yeah. And you know what, everybody? It absolutely is. Fucking magic. It really is. But I think it's designed for... What is it? Is it like a...

It's like a phone with a brushed at the end of the tube. Yeah. You just squeeze the head. The phone comes out. Oh, like a Dr. Beckman's. type thing. Yeh. Yeah.

It's bloody brilliant. But I think it's for upholstery, but I used it on my grouting. It's come out cracking. Lovely. I wonder if the odd Dr. Beckman's would be good on the walls and that. So that was what I did yesterday amongst other things. Well, you won't believe what I did on Saturday. Just something you would never, ever do.

And I've never done it in my life. Slept all day? I sat on the sofa at 1 o'clock. You did not. With Kathy Burke's autobiography. And like your husband, I read it in one sitting. I got up at 5 o'clock. I sat on that sofa and I was engrossed and I read a whole book.

Well, I would never, I mean, the fault of it is amazing. Did it? Oh, my God. But it's funny, though, you say that. I was listening to her pod with your now new friend, LBC. Oh, yes, James O'Brien. Yeah. I listened to her pod.

And yeah, I had to, I couldn't not finish it. One of the best books I've ever read. Oh, I've got to read that. Yeah. I'm not going to go into it because I should do it on the book club. Right. But that's how engrossed I was. Don't get me wrong.

I got up and had a wee or Joni. Oh, that's good. You know, but Joni popped in. She's got a cafeteria put in. But Joni, yeah. So on a commode. But Joni, Joni was just playing as she does. You know what she's like.

She's in and out and whatever. But it was just, I can't believe it. Oh my God. I've read a whole book, but it was so satisfying. How long did that take you? Four hours. Wow. It was so satisfying.

Isn't it nice, sort of self-indulgence? It felt so indulgent. Did you feel guilty after? No, I didn't, because I'd learnt a lot and I enjoyed that experience. Oh, I got to read that book. Let's downstairs. She's an interesting. Incredible.

Her life. Incredible. The start of her life. That's amazing. Yeah, her insight. You should listen to this. I will do now. I mean, now you've read the book.

You probably know more. No, but he's good because James are right. I mean, we don't want to keep blowing smoke up his bottom. But, yeah, he's great interviewers. Yeah. He was with yours. But wow. Yeah.

So that was what I did. Well, bloody good, isn't it? It's all right, isn't it? Treat yourself and all that? Absolutely. Nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you have just got to take that step back, haven't you, and go, do you know what? Everyone's out.

I've got a couple of out. I mean, the trouble it is. Housework is relentless. God, it's bloody hot in here. It's really hot, sorry. And I've got a thin little blouse on. Tony's going to kill me in the summer. All he said is he's going to get his air con man round and I've not done it.

Oh my goodness. I'm going to have to get one. What was he saying? Brain fog, brain fog. No, no. Take a couple of hours. No, I don't know. Let's move on.

Sorry, guys. Talking of rain fog. We had so many messages about our last chat regarding the menopause. I've got little telephal. off, didn't I? No, it wasn't a telling off. There was a correction, which again, I'm going to, right, no, I'll let you speak and then I'll have a pen to. No, all I was going to say, a few people came on and just said, well, I'll read this one. This is from Alex. Hey, Nat, I'm on a pod catch-up. I'm just listening to the menopause one. Lennie mentioned about someone coming off HRT as they

were retiring, so able to allow the menopause to happen. This is wrong. H.R.T doesn't delay it, and the biological transition still happens. What it does do is manage the simpsum. It's so hard to get the truth on this subject and I think it's so important to get the right info out there on your fad pod. Big love, Alex, so thank you. And there were a lot of others, so thank you also. As we've said from the beginning, we're here and we're learning. And doesn't this just tell you?

Yes. Misinformation. Well, I'm not, guys, because I'm definitely having a little spell of it at the moment. We don't know. No, and who told you that information? It was my headmaster's wife, professional, educated, beautiful lady and they were her words.

I'm now, I've retired, so I'm going to stop taking HRT. Because I delayed it. And I was like, that's what threw me. I thought she mean, delayed. But when you're talking to people having conversations, you believe what people say. Absolutely, I believe that.

But maybe her terminology was incorrect. It doesn't necessarily delay it. It just means that when you do come off the HRT, you probably still get the tail end, I guess, of some of the symptoms. Of course. And who knows how long this menopause goes on for? Absolutely.

No one's told me I'm through it. No. I'm just made my own assumption. But, I mean, I'm sleeping. I'll break up in the middle of night, take my night off because I'm so hot. It's funny, isn't it? And I'm not a hot person. No.

You know, so. Now you're sitting in an oven. He's like a sauna. I might lose a pound or two. You never know you look. So. But no, it's good to have. And wasn't that amazing, that screenshot, what I sent you earlier today.

So one of our local pubs, how bizarre was that? I'd even seen it. Yeah, absolutely. Somewhere local to us, it's a local pub. They've organised a ladies' evening to discuss. And of course, in a safe space. Second Tuesday of the week or every month. Brilliant.

And it's fantastic. This is what it needs. Absolutely. You could have a, a social night out, but you might meet like-minded people and see you might learn something and not feel like you're on your own. No.

No, very good. Very, very good indeed. But thank you all and you thoroughly enjoyed it and we do, we do love to touch on subjects which we talk about and think, oh, that'll be good. So, yeah, really pleased you all enjoyed it. And subjects that, yeah, many of our listeners are going to be able to relate to.

Of course. That's what it's about, isn't it? Which is bringing us to tonight? subject, I guess. Tonight's subject, school holidays. A lot of people are still in the midst of them. They're halfway through. Hours have ended in Hartfordshire.

But we were just talking about how people do it. Because what have you been doing? Well, I guess in an employer's point of view, obviously we find it challenging because your staff that have young children, male or female, naturally want to either take time. off during that period to be with their children. Of course. So everyone's crying out to have holiday at the same time.

Yeah. Which I fully understand. But we can't always accommodate because we're a very small team. Well, I had that at EastEnders. There was all of the mums wanting exactly the same holiday off and you can't do it. Can't leave everyone off. Yeah. You then have the scenario where now working from home is in high demand, in particular when

children are off school. Of course. Of course. Because that enables many moms or dads to be able to share having the children whilst working from home. That's a whole other subject, I guess. People's thoughts on how you can work whilst having a child at home. I think it's very difficult and I would imagine I haven't done. And also from an employee's point of view, their thoughts of having staff that are working but actually child-minded at the same time.

Mm-hmm. It's so... Well, as in, in, are you doing your job properly type thing? Well, are you able? Are you able to concentrate and stuff? I mean, I can only put it... I can only say... And is it even right that you're...

You know, one could argue, I'd say, well, just bring them to work then. You would never say bring your child to work, would you? No. You're in an office and you say, well... Well, no, that's true. But childcare's so hard for everybody. No, Natalie. It's so expensive.

I mean, it's ridiculous. So I totally get it. Yeah. And, you know, I support mum's, dads. I've been that person. I know the challenges that comes with it. But there's someone who was it that said to me, you always play devil's advocate.

Yeah, I like to view things from everybody's standpoint. Yes, yeah, you do. You always do. Because it's important to, you know. I totally get an employer's, employee's point of view, but then you have to factor in you the employer's angle of it. Of course, of course. But no, you've just...

I mean, if I think about being at home, Joni being here, going back a couple of years, because she's, you know, she's nearly 10. She can watch a telly or play, or have you. Well, she can let you read a book for five hours. She can let me read a four hours. I'm not going to let her live that one. But I didn't feel guilty then because I am on hand. I'm reading the book.

I'm on the sofa. But if she needs me and we're there and she wants something or I'll do a bit of lunch or have you, that's fine. Whereas if you are on. You're doing it now. You're working from home now. Absolutely. We're doing it. We are doing it.

You're quite right. And how many times in the past doesn't happen so much now, they're brilliant, the girls, would be on the pod and one of them would just walk in. Be coming in or they're shouting or they want something. So it would be no different if you're working. I know you're self-employed. I mean, the difference is it's in a comfortable environment and you can stop it. And you're self-employed.

Yes. Yeah. But if I was on a very important Zoom meeting at home, I used to really worry. You know, you find yourself snapping up and go out and it's not their fault. Oh, cool. It's not their fault that you're at home. Your brother used to do it to me. Yeah.

He'd be on the phone. And he'd love to work from the kitchen because obviously the garden and he's got a nice view. And I'd walk into the kitchen and put the hot tap on or do whatever I'm doing. It's my kitchen. Yeah, yeah.

And the old hand would come up as it to say, don't speak, don't breathe. Yeah. So I get it. I think it's wonderful for people to have the flexibility now. It's unbelievable. And there is more support coming in. I genuinely don't think enough.

Just in terms of working people, they work so hard and that wrap around childcare still isn't really there you know and again that's then schools who wants to be there at 7 in the morning till 6 at night I get it it's just it's just a very hard

subject to navigate yeah I mean I go you know I've got staff with young children I just don't envy those days because you're juggling it's the juggling that and it's that element of last

You know, it's the element of surprise, isn't it, being at work, and then all of a sudden you get the phone call. Oh, your little boy's not being well. Your little girl's got there, and the panic that that instills in you, because not everybody works driving distance to their child's school. Absolutely. Absolutely. It's just, it's really incredible.

It is, because like you say, when both Mark and I say we were working, not that Mark works all the time, but we were both in Bore and Wood, that's 50 minutes away. Yeah. And then you get a phone call to say, I don't know, Joni's broken her arm.

Thank goodness I was always around the corner when she did that. But there are scenarios in which people work a long way. People commute to Lincolnshire, from Lincolnshire, Peterborough, much further, you know, people do two-hour commutes on trains. It's hard for people. And not everybody has that network of, when I analyse, say, the girls in the last two weeks holiday, what they've been able to do. But we've done it as they've.

family. Yeah. The first, well, you saw Thursday, you come to me. Yeah. I had all the kids and people popping in and now and whatever. Yeah. They, you know, then they have their in-laws doing the same on another day. Then between them all, they all juggled having, who had one one day.

Dominic had them Wednesday, and Elia was with Dominic on Wednesday to help him, and Friday, Annalisa had another one. And they've done it. So they're very lucky that between them, there's, but not everyone has that. Of course they don't. And once again, we all live really close together, as we were saying, last pod, with the girls. And that is, again, it's just so important to have that backup, isn't it? And yes, there are all the after-school clubs, you've got all the tennis clubs, the football clubs that they can go to.

It's a fortune. It's a fleming fortune. Absolute fortune. But when I look back at the children being younger, I had no help whatsoever. No, I know. Absolutely none. I know, you didn't. I did everything through paying for it.

Yeah. Paying through the nose. Be that private nursery for Eliza. and Joni but very, very rarely very rarely. Have I ever really had any help in terms of

yeah, still get nannies or childminders or babysitters? You cancelled Monday night because you didn't have a babysitter. Yeah, absolutely. Because you're totally reliant on, yeah, it's hard now, it is hard, it is hard.

People are grateful when they've got grandparents like yourself. But I think if they didn't have it, they wouldn't quite believe what it's like. Yeah, the pressure that falls on them. Yeah. And the cost.

Yeah. Can you imagine if I did up on my childcare? Well, if anyone did, if we all sat down and did it properly and added it up. Well, again, I was only talking to Dominic today. We went to lunch together to view a property. Yeah. Talking about, you know, the practicality of being near each other, so that's picking up from schools and blah, blah, blah, blah.

Yes. And he was saying, you know, just the child, you know, even at the moment, they're paying for two children. children that are in... Of course. They don't classify for the free 30 hours that you get for Amelia. So they're paying for Amelia because she's still at nursery and they're paying for Frankie because it's a lot of money.

It is a lot of money. It's like a mortgage. It's, yeah, it's crazy. And unfortunately, the second person's salary, it's like going back in time, isn't it? A second person salary is enough. to be able to be going to work, it's viable to be going to work and paying the childcare between two of you.

Oh, course. But I bet it's not mad. Do you know what I mean? For some people, I bet that is not a lot, but it's what they need. And it's just not that 1950s. No, mum stays at home,

don't goes to work or whatever. I'm not saying people want it like that. But life was a little bit simpler. And also like... And the cost of living worked. Yeah. The imbalance now is so huge. It's huge.

Yeah. Huge. Let's listen to some of these very interesting messages that we've had. Hi Natalie. This really resonated with me. I ran my own small business, train and track play. And when I started it, my boys were only six and four. So school holidays were full on from the very beginning.

They were literally with me the whole time, setting up, being around during sessions, sometimes even half asleep in the background. Now they're older. they actually help me properly with the setup and clear down and earn a bit of pocket money too, which I love. It's kind of grown with them. I've actually always loved half terms. I really relish the no routine, no alarms, slower mornings and doing things together, although now they're teens, it's a bit different because getting them out of their rooms is a challenge in itself. Tell me about it.

By the end of it though, we definitely all need that routine back. It's definitely not easy and yes, you don't get paid for the days you don't work, but for me, being self-employed has meant I didn't miss the important things. I could go on school trips, be present when it mattered, and worked around them rather than the other way around. Constant juggle. Some days are a lot. Overall, it's been a win-win for us.

We'd love to hear our others manage it, Mandy from where. So thanks Mandy. I mean, yeah, she's chosen to set something up which sort of works around her children, and I get it. And isn't it amazing to be able to achieve that? I mean, not everyone can, Natalie. No, but that's her own idea. She's set up.

So good for Mandy. Yeah, absolutely. And also her sons have learnt some work effort along the way because they've watched their mum. And I'm sure there was guilt when they were little and she was dragging them to this hole and that hole and setting it all up and they were tired and they didn't want to be there. I'm sure she's been for all of that. It's interesting this. I know we've spoken about this before. No, go on.

The whole mum guilt thing. The mum guilt's huge. You cannot get it right. You're just guilty all the time. But, like, is it that, you know, I think back to mine, and I know it was different times, but my parents. I know, exactly that, but my parents worked. Yeah. And I don't look back and think, oh, I've been deprived.

No, but they might have been guilty and you didn't know that. They probably were guilty. But the child doesn't feel, you as a parent feel guilty. Yeah. It's more about how you feel than they feel. Yeah. When I talk to Eliza about it, she's absolutely... Fine.

Mom. Go to work. Go to work. But even when she says, I remember I will always think my mum work really hard for us. So we have nice things. How lovely is that? Absolutely. Again, it's at work ethic.

It's nice thing to have. And then on the other side of the coin, you have all the mums who decide to stay at home, want to stay at home. And that is very, very rewarding for them. And amazing they can. But that's a very hard thing to do in itself as well all day long with the child getting up, doing their dinner, doing their lunch,

play dates, getting them out the house. That is, to me, as hard as going to work. It is a job in itself. Agreed. Agreed. And just sometimes even the structure for the child, like when the kids are off school, like last night it was at Annalise's helping do bedtime and stuff

because Don was out. And Amelia was on mine. I don't want to run me a bath, do you? Do my bedtime tonight. Yours person? Yes. I didn't do it for Anisa. I did it for the children.

I know, but I'd like it. Oh, sorry, Honolid. You know, Amelia was all mine and I could see her, Lisa was tired. She wasn't feeling 100%. She just wanted to go to bed. But she was ready for school. She needed that structure of school. Oh, yeah, generally the same.

Yeah. Absolutely ready. Yeah. She was all ready this morning, up, dressed. Yeah, amazing. Ready to go. Because she's going, actually. We are also extremely lucky to have children that like to go to school.

Because you don't even think about that. Yeah. Honestly, everything you talk about, there's 500 scenarios that you don't know about. Yeah. Which is why I love what we do here. Yeah, absolutely. But the mum stuff, working from home or being a mum at home, stay at home, stay at home, mom, full-time mum, all of that.

I'm doing an actual chat song because I've got loads of messages because I spoke about it. Full-time mum? That is just a different terminology. which I understand offends people because full-time mum is as if to say If you work, you're not a full-time mum Yeah, but I don't think it was meant in that way

Right, interesting. I just think, again, it's that different terminology which people use. But you're always a full-time mum. You can be a stay-at-home mum. In my opinion, that's just my opinion. And I know why that voice note

that lady was angry when she said, oh, I'm, you know, full-time mum. And it got her backup because she's like, am I not one? Because I go to work. I'm permanently a mum. Yeah.

Which I completely get. And again, it's something else that makes you feel guilty, doesn't it? You're not classified as a full-time mom. Yeah. Yeah, the whole juggling the work, the home, the children. Everything. Your husband, boyfriend, partner, girlfriend, fitting them in.

But what they are giving you now that never happened before, Natalie, I didn't get free school out, like three 30 hours a week. No, no, that is wonderful. So the government are trying to assist. Again, it's all means tested. Of course, of course. But at least it's some kind of. Absolutely.

And it needs to be means tested. Not everybody can have that. Some people can afford it. My mum was a childminder. Was she? I've never told you this, I thought of it the other day. When we were talking, when we spoke about that we were going to do this subject. Yeah.

It just occurred to me. I mean, it wasn't her only job. But when I, yeah, when we came over to the UK, when she, they came over to the UK and she had a family, family, she had four children. She became a childminding. Really? And I always remember going home. And having a house full of kids.

I was a house full of kids. I mean, don't get me wrong, guys. There was no legislation in place. I dread to think how many kids she looked after. But yeah, she used to. How funny. She used to, so she could have us look after. us and be able to earn some money.

Well, so funny, you've said that. Have a listen to this voice note. Hi, it's Karen here from Bath. I just thought I sent you a quick message after reading your message about this week's podcast. I am actually an Ofsted registered childminder and have been for 23 years now. So I'm looking at things from the other side of the coin, really, and that I open my doors to children, 48 weeks of the year, four days a week.

I'm fortunately enough to have lots of families on my books, but it does come with its ups and downs, obviously. One of the main thing is children coming in and out all the time. We build quite an high immunity for germs and bugs and all sorts, but we still do get things, and it is our own family home. I only have a two-bed house, but we make it work, and I do love having the children. That is the main thing. Regards of small business, we're also a small business. we've had a lot of changes to put up with the last few months, one of them being the government funding that we receive. I just like to add, it's not free childcare, it is funded childcare.

And if we only had one child, then that would actually be less than the minimum wage. Like I say, I'm fortunate enough to have a lot more than just one child at a time, but I do work alone. So it can have its pros and its cons. I absolutely love it, but there is the business side as well, which people don't always notice when you're obviously just looking after the children. They just think we sit and play all day, but there's an awful lot more to it than that.

We have to follow protocol, make policies to all our own business planning, all our own planning for the children. So yeah, it's a lot. So yeah, I just thought I'd let you know. I know it's tricky for people to find childcare, but from a childcare provider's point of view, we do work really hard as well, which I'm sure you realize.

Yes, we do realize. Brilliant message, thank you. What great message. Hello. Oh, as we were saying, we never get interrupted. I spoke too soon. Well, that was a treat,

wasn't it? I'm going to lots of pop in there. Hey? You just love them. See? I haven't seen you all day. I want to talk to you. Guilt, guilt.

You've been out all day, love. Yeah. Yeah. So she's been out. I've been out. I've been home all day. Where's she been today? She's in the cheek of it.

She's not at school? No. Goes back Wednesday. Oh, she's not even at school yet? No. Oh, so she's been out all day and now because you're working, she wants to talk to you? There you go. Yes, great, isn't it?

Don't you just love them? They're funny the old teens. Funny the old teens. Hi, Nat and Auntie Linney. Adore this podcast and all the family. Nat's niece is a firm favourite. Find myself laughing out loud listening to those episodes. Well, thank you very much.

You guys have... I'm Nat's niece's mom That's niece's ma'am Nat's niece's auntie's auntie's He? You guys have actually made it so hard for me to listen to any other podcast because I just don't get the same vibes

I actually started listening after hearing you and Joe Page on off the telly. Ah, brilliant. Anyway, I've just completed the Easter holidays with a seven-year-old and a three-year-old and my God, I'm exhausted. Me and my partner have both been working

our usual shifts alongside juggling the kids for the whole two weeks. They do go to grandparents a couple of days a week whilst we work, which is so, so needed and breaks up their holiday a bit. We've still managed to go on lovely days out, trips to the park, dog walks, meeting up with friends, etc. But still going to work and juggling the house on top of that is a killer. I think everyone is looking forward to getting some routine back. I actually find it way easier to be away during the holidays, but that's not always possible financially. Love and thanks to you all, Becky. from Sheffield. Nice.

So there we go. Yeah. Again, shift work, tag teaming. It's just hard, bloody work. And so imagine people that are doing it on their own without a partner. Oh, of course. And then you have people that haven't got any children. And they're seeing all the posts on Instagram of Easter holiday, Christmas holiday,

do this with the kids, do that with the kids. And that's hard as well. Being very moral tonight, thinking of everybody. You are? You are? Right. Yeah. And the kids have got to be doing things every day. They haven't.

Mine don't. Well, our lot. My lot. Oh, my God. I feel exhausted just watching, like, seeing the photos because they send videos, don't they? Of course. Every day. Yeah, see, I'm...

You're a bit more. A bit old school. I mean, the only day I think they've had at home was with me on Thursday. I mean, we had, well, we came to you Thursday, so Joni had a nice time with the kids. So even that was an ordinary day because there was all the kids, plus Joni, plus you, plus Elia, plus few friends. We went out to Harlow Town Park, me and Elia with Alfie. Yeah. That was lovely.

They spent hours, hours picking up sticks and making a den. See, but I love that because actually that is just a park. It's lovely. Yeah, just a park. I mean, it's an amazing park, all the way. Yeah, and it's all free, which. blows my mind. It's brilliant.

Yeah, it really is. But that was a lovely day. But we haven't done loads and loads. Maybe not. No. No. I just don't want to. You say that though.

They've done stuff, but they're not gone mad. We're used to, we're in Swanage for a whole week. Oh, I know. Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Then they went to Willows Farm. Oh, yeah, they did Willows. Then they went to Gruffalo.

Gruffalo. No, they have not. It's been, no. But you say that. People go mad. and do loads and loads and loads. I like having them at home. I mean, Eliza's been out and about sleepovers,

this one over, that one over. She's older, it's different. I like all the friends coming in and them doing what they want to do. But Joni really enjoys being at home and playing with all her stuff. Yeah, she enjoys it. There's nothing wrong with that.

No, but then I think, oh, should probably get her out a bit more. Again, the guilt. Well, should I get her out a bit more? She's quite happy. She's happy. She'll soon let you know if she's not. Yeah.

And if you were working every day, Oh, I know. You wouldn't be able to do that. Absolutely. Should be going to. But I just always think I don't want to go when it's really busy. Isn't that terrible? Just think I don't really want to go to so-and-so, whatever,

the theme park, when it's absolutely heaving. I'd rather go on a random Saturday and go early in the morning. I know weekends are still busy, but Easter, everyone's doing the same thing. I think, oh, fuck that, do it another time. Becky, our hairdresser, sent us a little fact. Oh, yeah, she loves the fact old betts. There we go. She was going to send a voice note, but she hasn't, so there we go.

Mothers in the UK face a substantial and long-lasting financial penalty for having children, losing an average of £65,000 £618 in earnings in the first five years after the birth of their first child. Reduction is often driven by a combination of reduced working hours, slow pay progression, lower employment probability and with monthly earnings from mothers falling by 42% 5 years after the birth of their first child compared to their salary a year before.

There you go. And also the growth of their career. Absolutely. You have a career break because you've had a child whether you've had just your maternity leave off or your career path. When I had mine, because obviously I was self-employed so no maternity, you know, I wasn't employed.

So you're taking that year I out. with no money. And you also could have been building up your character at the time. Suddenly you're out for a year. What's going to happen? You know, it's all... And there's still, as much as dads are very much involved now, we don't...

They are. Very much so. It's still very much... I feel like it's a male-dominated workplace still. Yeah, because women, ultimately, yeah, I would still say that probably seven... 70, 80% of women are the ones that are going to be at home on maternity leave. I know you can share it now, can't you.

Yeah, you can. Absolutely. And it's brilliant. But I do think, well, again, we'll be told off, won't we? We'll be wrong. Yeah. Again, we don't know. Just having a chat. We're just having a nag.

We don't know. We're just chewing the fat, guys. We're just chewing the fat. Oh, dearie me. Chewing the fat. I've still got that fat you gave us on Easter Sunday. What are you going to do with it? I'm probably throw it in the beer

but I'm nice in the fridge the meat all got eaten, don't worry Yeah, but the fat's super Yeah, right that in the spuds Dave will use that, I mean, yeah Lovely That's all Natalie's left over Easter dinner That she gave us

We had a lovely time didn't we And the roast potatoes You must have frowned them away No, I think they were eating They were on the side They got eaten They didn't They didn't take them home

I know he didn't I've heard the girls They're terrible, aren't they I'm stuck up for him I said, I heard you I'm so glad you do Because I'm shouting down the pod.

Pod. Or down the phone, whatever. Opinions here on holidays with kids. As a primary school teacher, I am so lucky that I'm at home with my two, but it is also super hard as human as there are literally zero hours without tiny people surrounding you at work, at home, and in all holidays, there is no break. This can be really tricky. Yes. Steph, who we met in Leeds?

Oh, well, Steph. Lovely, Steph. Did I meet Steve? I do hands up. I don't know how you do that, love. Hands up to the teachers. Yeah. All day long.

To the teachers. To child minders. Just people with children in their professional life and normal life. It's so, imagine. It's just a lot, isn't it? Yeah, you're a teacher. And then when you're off work, you've got your own people. As soon as you get in.

It's just relentless. And they're just very demanding. It's so demanding. Very selfish. You're just a. Like, want, want, want, get me this, want that, I'm angry, do this, do that. Thursday, by 945. I love them really.

Yeah, so do I. But we're going to have them rant. Thursday by 945, I think I heard the word non-na. Oh, yeah, I know. At least 30 times. Oh, and the rest. Maybe it was more. I just was like, in it.

Joni still does it. Mum, mommy, mommy, mommy. I see you haven't got to say Mommy before you say everything. What about that? Why don't you say? I'd like that, Mommy, Mommy, Mum, Mommy, Mommy. And then I'm down that end, and she's up here and I'm going, yeah, and she's going, what, yeah, what, what?

I can't do this. Mommy, yeah, what, what, yeah, mommy, yeah, what. That's what goes on the whole time. We was rapping there. No, I know. The mum rap. Oh, God. Oh, my God.

I mean, the teacher. I don't know how anyone all. day long for six hours can be around 33 children. It's got credit where it's due. Incredible. I did it for a little while. Bilingual assistant.

It was a little while. Yeah, it was. It wasn't for me. That's incredible. You shrank down there. I know, because I can feel bad, saying it. No, but if that's the way it is, that's the way it is. And then now, like as a 60-plus year old,

I had helped, was with the kids last night. I've got them all. But that's very, very different. Babes sitting Saturday night, yeah, you can give them back. And they're yours. You love them with all your heart. Yeah. That's the bit I don't get.

What don't you get? Well, if they're not family or friends, I'm not really bothered. Is that bad? No. Oh, I'm polite and you go, oh, that's lovely. Oh, yeah, brilliant, fantastic. And they go, well, yeah, my so-and-so is, and I just think I don't really care. It's a funny thing, isn't it?

But surely that's what you can't, unless you, again, if you're of that disposition, I think, where you're a teacher or childminder and you just love children, just love children. The same as I love being in an elderly people's home. People, there are loads of people who go, oh my God, sitting with old people all day. No, I could do that. There's your comparable. I could do that all day long. Yeah, there's your comparison. All day if they're aggravated, cantankerous.

And not yours. Nothing to do me. Loving to death. There you go. That's your, and that's so people, so therefore, people that do these jobs, they do. It's in them? Yes. Like being a nurse, isn't it?

Absolutely. It's got to be in you. Yeah. Paramedic. Yeah. Imagine working in A&E. Incredible, isn't it? Yeah.

Unbelievable. So basically everyone, Natalie has just said she doesn't like anyone's kids. So, so that's how I feel. No, you know, I don't mean that. But what about loving your grandchildren more than your own? kids. I look forward to it. That's a strange one as well. And you definitely do. Maybe love is the wrong word.

You're more protective over them. Adoration. You adore them, don't you? Yeah, you just, the sheer, you just want to protect them. You just want them to just have every bit of love and nourishment and growth and just everything, yeah, you just wouldn't want to see them, I can't even bear to see them upset. No, no, I know. It's just, but I get that, I get that. And I feel a certain amount of that with my nieces and nephews and great nieces and

their nephews. But it's that thing, did you ever feel, right? And we are digressing here because not what we should be talking about. No, it's fine. When you know, you have your first child and you just adore that child. Like when I had Maria, it was just, it'd be all and end all. And then when I got pregnant with Dominic, I thought, how am I going to love that child? Yeah.

But then you do. So I guess it's a similar thing. Then the grandkids come along and you just, yeah. Can't believe it. Emotions that you feel for that, those little beings. Lovely. Well, anyway, digressing again. Sorry, we've got to talk about Frey Bentos pies.

Here you're a lover of them. That's cute. No, shall I tell you where that comes from? Freight Bentos Pie. I can't believe it. Do you know what the weird thing is? When one of you said, yeah, that's meat in a tin, in a larder, for how long? That didn't even occur to me at the time.

So I'm telling you where this comes from. So coming from an Italian background, they don't really eat meat pies. Well, fair enough. It's not really a thing. So my mum was a brilliant cook, way better than I could ever be. But she didn't make meat pies. So that's where the Freibentos came from. So having a British English pie.

Yeah. That is brilliant. So then I used to buy them when the kids were little. And then I haven't had one in years. I might have to buy myself one. Oh, we saw it in the shop. That's it, me and Briya. And then we had a story where I don't know why Dominic was putting Freibentos in the oven.

And he just stuck the whole tin in the oven. didn't take the lid off so I'll leave the rest of your imagination Did he break your microwave? Oh no, it was the oven Oh Put it in the oven With the tin on

With the lid on You were meant to Of course Yeah So what happened Just exploded That's brilliant Yeah

Brilliant But no we loved a Frey Mentos No comment I think this pod has Yeah I think we're That's going down here I think we've trumped each other.

I might have sat on the sofa for four hours, reading a book, but Auntie Lilly likes Frey Bendos. I think we're even. Talking about Auntie Linney. Today, the expression at work, one of my staff went, Bob's your uncle, and I went to him, and who's your aunt?

And he looked at me really blank. He's only young, and he went, Auntie Linney? Brilliant. Silly. Oh, very good. Very, very good. So what else we've got coming up? Oh, we've got...

We've got our grief pod coming up soon. Live grief pod. Amazing. Saturday. Chelmsford. Oh no, it's not Saturday. No, ignore everybody. Sunday.

10th of May. 2 o'clock. Chelmsford Theatre Studio. I'm really looking forward to it. It's coming around quick. Looking forward? Yeah. No, I am.

Yeah, it will be good. Oh, I feel like it's going to be very... fulfilling. And we can have a lovely time, being open, honest. Bring your tissues, but we're also going to have a laugh as well. Yeah. I'm looking forward to it. Now, anyone who is coming, please could you bring a photo. A friend or two would be good. Or maybe a neighbour or someone that you find on the street, you could drag them in with you. No. If you are coming, please bring a picture or a few pictures of people or pets or whatever, things that you've lost, people that you've you've lost. Bring a picture. You'll get it back at the end, but I'd like to peg them all up.

Lovely Emma, producer Emma, has bought a little stand with pegs. And I would love to collate a few pictures that can be with us on the stage so you can see them. And if we pick one up, we can say, who's this, and you can talk about them. And that's what I'd love to do. So if you are coming to the show, bring a picture of who you've lost and who you'd like to talk about. And that would be really wonderful. Be lovely. Oh, it's going to be, yeah, well, it's the first, isn't it? So it'll be special. Yeah, it will be very special.

So we look forward to seeing many of our listeners there. Absolutely. And the tickets are on www. Life withnap.com, and you'll find the link there for Chelmsford. And 0778, 2019, 19, 19. Let us know how you enjoyed this pod. Comment, let us know what you think. Can you believe that she eats Fremantos pies?

She's only, I thought the girls were joking, but she's only bloody told us. I hadn't eaten on one for about 25 years, if not longer, to be fair. I'm wrapping you up for your birthday. Didn't even know they're still made them. Yeah, I'm going to get a load of Freight Bentos. What I will say is I cannot say a word to you because I love spam. Spam?

Pork luncheon meat in a tin that sits in the cupboard. I haven't had it for a long long time, but mum used to spam and a little spam sandwich in white bread with lots of butter. Delicious. Yeah, isn't it mad, these old, the old corn beef, that was another one? Corned beef in a tin. Lovely. Do you remember that?

Yep. So I can't say a word. But it's just sort of the meat and the gravy and that in the tin that. It's a bit, not sure. Anyway, there we go. It didn't kill us, did it? No. No, might have sent us around the bend, but they were arriving, sort of.

Anyway, I think Natty's rushing this pod, everyone, because she needs to go and read a book. Five hours. Who's the people who is next? I don't know who's next. It will never beat it. So I'll have to get a cracker in. Let me know some book recommendations, please,

because that would be excellent for the book club also. Right. Have a fantastic weekend. And before I go, next week, we are celebrating two years. Two years of the pod. Two years of us. Two years of us, Loonies.

Nat's niece is Monday, which will be really brilliant, and on Thursday, I'm going to be talking to every single person individually, all the different groups, so you're going to hear from all the fam, and it's all about British things that we like to do. How do you take your tea? Do you always ask someone for a cup of tea? Why do we always talk about the weather? Why do we always do, oh, sorry, sorry, excuse me, oh, I'm sorry, oh, is that all right, I'm sorry, permanently saying that. And anything you can think of that you do that you think is a very English-British thing to do because it's St George's Day next week, everybody. So I thought I'd tie it in with that. It's clever, aren't I? Yeah, that's brilliant. Well done. 077-88-201919.

We'll see you for a very special week next week and have a fantastic weekend. Thank you for listening. Lim, thank you for being here. No, it's been a pleasure other than I think I need a fan. Because I'm... Are you hot? Is it just me?

You've got lots of fans. got a fan club. See ya. Bye! How hot is it in here? Are you hot? Am I having a hot flash? No, no, it's baking.

Oh my God.