Mum's The Word! The Parenting Podcast - MICHELLE KENNEDY: Building Communities & Asking for Help

Episode Date: September 7, 2025

This week on Mum’s The Word, Georgia Jones is joined by Michelle Kennedy, the founder and CEO of Peanut, one of the fastest-growing social networking apps for women.After her experience as deputy CEO at Badoo and an inaugural board member at Bumble, Michelle saw the power of online connection and realised mums, women, and parents needed their own safe space to share, support, and find community.The result? Peanut, a platform designed to make sure no woman ever feels alone.Georgia and Michelle chat about:🤝 Why Peanut launched their new book It Takes a Village💛 Shifting our mindset around asking for help as mums🌍 The importance of building supportive communities📲 How online spaces can create real-life connectionsIf you’ve ever felt like you’re figuring out motherhood solo, this one’s a reminder that there’s always a village out there, you just have to find it!A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Mums the Word. I'm your host, Georgia Jones, and today I am joined by the amazing Michelle Kennedy. Michelle is the founder and CEO of Peanut, one of the fastest growing social networking apps for women with over 5 million users. Michelle found the need for a new kind of social network where women could connect, chat and meet. So grab a cupper, get comfy, and let's jump in to a brand new episode of Mums the Word. So, Michelle, welcome to Mum's the Word. Thank you so much for having me. It's been a long time. It has.

It has been such a long time. We met seven years ago now. So you invited me. Now, you might not know this actually, but my first outing without Cooper was your event. No way. I didn't know that. And that is the first time since having Cooper, I'll get emotional saying it. first time since having Cooper that I felt like a normal person.

Oh. Yeah. And then obviously I went down a bit of a slippery slope of post-nail depression. But that one event, that evening, I remember I got dressed up. Yeah. I did my hair for the first time. Gorgeous. My mum would come down to help as well.

I think Danny was working. Mum had come down to like help with Cooper. Oh, they might have been tag team in it actually. No. And I remember by the end of the event, my boobs was so full. Eiki. Yeah. You had the ache.

where you're like if anyone touches me it will literally just come out and stupidly had one the most silkiest like top that was probably the worst fabric you could wear and yeah so I need to thank you for that oh thank you that makes me so happy yeah your event made me feel

a little bit more than just mum oh thank you it's very important it is so important so for anybody that doesn't know you Michelle you are the CEO company peanut founder CEO so tell us a little bit about peanut and what it is and why it is.

Yep. So Peanut is a social network effectively just for women. So just for moms who are going through these kind of key life moments. So maybe you're trying to conceive going on your own fertility journey for the first or the second or the third time. Maybe you're pregnant. Maybe you're a brand new mom in the trenches. Maybe you've got toddlers or tweens or more recently.

Maybe you're going through perimenopause, anything like that. It's just for women. you can join find other women who are around you with similar interests make friends ask questions join groups that are for your like age of child or your local area it's really just a safe space there's nothing that is to boo on peanut nothing too gross nothing too honest it's just a place for women to be yeah and exist and feel less lonely exactly because we talk about this a lot like with becoming a mom is that loneliness even though you might be surrounded by your village that you have just that lonely feeling when it's, you know, 4 a.m and you're on

your own feeding your child and you feel like the only person in the whole world. Yeah. It's so isolating. It really is. There are so many times in my life I think where I've had that moment of I don't want to say that I feel lonely because that makes me almost seem ungrateful and I'm not ungrateful for the position I'm in. I love my son or I love my daughter. But actually there's no one here I don't have anyone to talk to about it you can spiral in your own thoughts as well especially on a night

night thoughts are the absolute worst they're scary and sometimes when you wake up in the morning and you rerun the thoughts you're like silly me weird and totally ridiculous totally irrational totally irrational

but like you can't right you can't at that moment distinguish between the two it is impossible to do it so that's why peanut's really important and that's why I had to build it because I needed someone to be like that's okay it's normal this two shall pass I'm there too I'm with you 4 a.m you're feeding feel like the loniest girl in the world you open the app someone else is there doing the same thing and so can you chat with people then and is there like fun like yeah so you can find friends so

you can talk one-on-one so you'll see women who are around you and you wave at them and then you can engage with them and have and you can chat or you can join groups so more like a forum so you can ask questions people will post and engage with you and it really is amazing women share everything we were talking about it yesterday there's a really big group on peanut that's called line eyes and it's all about women who've been trying to conceive for a long time right and they're really desperate to know can you see like the line on this pregnancy test oh wow the community is amazing they all get involved they're like yes i can see it and then you're waiting and then that woman comes back and she was like you were right oh my gosh or whatever it is and it's so gorgeous

and butful peanut like how did she have that you know you can see that women are feeling vulnerable or lonely or just how can you have that conversation where else where do you go and say like what do you think is there a chance you can you can't and it's i feel like it's a lot easier almost online to kind of say how you're feeling. I found that even with Instagram. Yeah. Like sometimes I've done a post and one of my friends has called me and went,

you didn't tell me that. I'm like, no, I didn't because it's really hard sometimes to pick up a phone and say, I'm not okay. Whereas just typing it out, it almost is like, it just goes out there and you don't need to deal with it anymore. And that's it.

And then you'll get people coming back and you'll go, oh my gosh, it's not just me. Yes. That is, honestly, that is exactly what it's about. It's that feeling of, I don't even know that I feel this way necessarily. Yeah. But I'm going to ask it in a certain way or I'm going to say a certain thing. And then everyone kind of comes together and they're like, oh, it means this or don't worry, it's this. And all of a sudden you do, you breathe.

Yeah, you know. They do. It's so hard. When I first had my daughter, she was late to talk and it was COVID. And I was, honestly, I was beside myself. It's really scary because you're like, what is happening? Have I done something wrong? Is it because I'm working?

Like, what is like the norm? And you don't want to say it because even if you tell your girlfriend sometimes, what they say is, no, it's fine. Yeah, yeah, they'll try and make you feel better. Feel better. Don't worry about it, it's fine. Which is lovely, but also sometimes you just need them to go, actually my child did do that as well.

Here's what happened. Here's the trajectory we went on. And when you put it out to the big, wide world, as opposed to maybe five of your best friends, you know, there's so much more likely that there's going to be people that have been through that. Because not everyone does go through the same thing. And I hadn't with my son. And it was one of those. And all of a sudden, I just posted it and I thought, you know what I'm just going to say it.

And I was like, how did anyone else get through it? And immediately, firstly, I felt better just for saying it. Yeah, yeah. And immediately all these other women were like, I've been thinking the same thing, actually. And, you know, it was actually quite common at the time. because kids hadn't been having any interaction because we were at home. So it was this amazing moment

and we just get loads of those pure moments of joy. Women have met on peanut and started businesses together. Oh, wow. Or they like are each other's bridesmaids or... That's incredible. One woman in the US was a surrogate for another woman because she had cancer and then she carried her baby for her. Like it's some of the things are unbelievable

and I feel really like lucky that that's my actual job. Oh my gosh. I mean, it's incredible. It is. Absolutely amazing. It's so funny you say about the speech thing. I did the exact same thing. Posted about Cooper,

because Cooper was slow with his speech. I mean, to be honest, I think it's because I honestly feel like. Because I remember my mum saying, she was like, I think it was my mum, was like, but you don't let him answer the questions that you're asking him. Because I'd be like, do want some water?

Yes, you do want some water. I'm going to get you some water. I'd go and get the water. And poor kid would be sat there like, okay. Okay, so I just didn't give him the opportunity. And I was a bit like, hmm, so I did change that. When I changed that, I did actually know it's a difference with his speech.

And you don't realize you're doing it. And now I notice other friends doing it. And I remember one of my best friends I said to her, I was like, just let him answer. Let him answer the question and see what happens. And I think the problem is with our lives, we're always in such a rush for everything. Busy, busy, busy. Doing it. Yeah, that you don't allow time for that child to think of that answer.

Because it's going to take them a while to say water if they don't actually know how to fully speak yet. That's it. And you don't allow them that time. And there's so much going on around. You know, I remember my mum reminds me of this all the time, but Nula was sat in the back of the car and we were on holiday. And she hadn't really been talking.

I'd spent most of the flight telling my mum basically knew and she's not talking. It's so worrying. And we get in the car. and we drive to where we're staying and everyone's getting out and we're pulling all the bags out and whatever and Nula out of nowhere went Hello

anyone get me out Oh my gosh And my mom went Sure I thought you said she didn't talk And that was it And I was like Wow we just never really probably gave her the opportunity Do you think she was listening to you as well?

All the time Yeah And maybe was like Ah now's my time That's it And I told you earlier She's watching and listening everyone all the time she's very like smart like that oh they do you know and she's like

and we're all talking around her why did she need to she's still got exactly what she needed yeah exactly the right and it was just this funny hello hello anyone getting me out and we were like at the time went was that nula i really surprised like wow she she speaks yeah she wants to get this girl with that little one yeah amazing so you've got too so you've got nula and you've got Not Finn. Yeah. So Nula's six, did you say? Yeah.

And Finn is 11. 11. Oh, wow. Lovely. And was that kind of like the starting point to Peter? Or did you have that idea prior? It was much later. So I, when I had Finn, that was in 2013, we were building what became Bumble.

So I was in a completely different world, completely different industry. So, you know, by day you're like building these cool products. And then by night, I was scound. empowering online. I can't tell you some of the weird things that I did. You know when they don't sleep and no one really is honest with you. I think we're much more honest now. But you know, I didn't have a podcast like this when there was nothing to really zone into. No, there wasn't. So you're like, this child never sleeps. All day he's awake. I'm pretty sure babies are meant to like nap. He doesn't even nap. He's awake all the time. And then he's awake all night.

And I'm exhausted. I was buying PDFs off the internet for like $90. I can't. I did some very strange things. What, a PDF document? You would download a PDF. About what? How to get him to sleep. Truly. I didn't know what I was doing. And I remember telling one of my girlfriends and she was like, are you okay? Like, you wouldn't do that for any other part of your life. But for your like most precious thing, you're downloading from a random website. I was like, I don't know what to do. Yeah, I'm lost. I'm, I was so lost. So I lived with that for many years actually and it wasn't until fin was nearly three that I was like actually I'm going to go and build this product I'd been living it with it for that long the bigger the kid the bigger the problem

like there were just more things that I didn't know actually yeah then it was like nursery and then it's like milestones and it's thing after thing and it's never is and never will be linear because that's the thing it's like and it's difficult because when you see people posting things online and going please tell me this fair ends and I would never be a mother to go oh yeah but but the reality is yes that phase does end something else comes right in the next phase starts and they're all very different as well aren't they because our cooper was a terrible sleeper as well fin and cooper sound very similar but he was also a winter baby he was january i wonder whether like winter baby's just i don't know something about them i don't know it's that well maybe it's these

boys yeah could be these boys but yeah he was the same terrible sleeper but i had no way of working out how to get him to sleep, no support network. Now, I did have my support network, but all my best friends, I was the first to have a baby. Yeah, same. So they didn't know. You can't check in. They can't check in. Had my mum and my sister, but my sister had two little ones. Mum, it was a long time ago. She can't remember. Yeah. And it was so funny because I remember I used to say to mum, so what did you do when I was like this and what did you do? And mom would be like, I can't remember, darling? And I used to get so offended. I'd be like, how on earth can you not remember what you were doing with me? Yeah. Now, now.

When someone says to me, so what age did Cooper stop doing this? No idea. I'm like, no. I'm very out of sync. So I'll be like, are they rolling? And it's like a newborn. They're like, no, obviously when I'm rolling. I'm like, okay, I've got...

Cats apart their own neck. Yeah, totally lost, like, any of that. It's really weird and you do forget. But how do you do it if you haven't got anyone to ask? And I had, I lived this exact thing. My girlfriends didn't have babies. My mum didn't remember and actually didn't live near us. When I went back to work, she came to stay with us Monday to Thursday, but to look after them.

But it was really hard. You don't have anyone around you. And you're like, what do I do? Who do I ask? And then the husband goes back to work. That's it. And then you're left, literally holding the baby, aren't you? And you're like, ah.

It's so lonely. Yeah. And then you go to a group. You go to a class. Yeah. And baby massage was one of choice because that's one of the earlier ones you can go to. She can't really go to anything else. And you go and other people look like they've got it together

and you're like, why doesn't she look exhausted? Yeah, why is that baby happy? Right, and your baby's vomiting because they've like, you know, got reflux or something and you're like, well, I have to leave now. And she looked like maybe I wanted to be like chat to her. But and then you go next week and you never see her again. No. It's so hard.

It really is. Or like, you know, your baby might, you turn up late and your baby might just cry the whole way through. That's it. And you're that one. Yeah, you're that one. And you just spend the whole of the class. in the like corridor, trying to shushing, shush you be, feeling like a terrible mother. And then you're like, well, that was pointless.

All of that, all of this stuff, you don't know that everyone feels it. And literally no one's thinking that you're that one, by the way. You think that. It's just you. No one's interested because everyone's so obsessed with their own little world that they're going through. And it just kept on going, like more things that would happen, the more, like, new things would enter. Noolah didn't eat. Oh, did she not?

frightening really frightening what do you do you're like why not every test under the sun she must be allergic no just just not a hungry baby not really you know and maybe a bit of attitude and it's not really very strong-minded you know what I mean and it's things like that and you just again brand new situation didn't know how to navigate it and that really I think I had a lot of feelings of like I'm getting it wrong and I just wanted someone to be like it's not you yeah she's a little person You can't like make that. It's all of us. It's all of us. And it's just, and that's the thing like, you know, if ever you see like a baby crying

and the mum, you can see the mum's getting a bit flustered and stuff, I always think to myself, oh, bless her, like, I know, I know how she feels. But that mother that's going through it is thinking, well, she looks like she's absolutely fine. Little does she know. It's exactly that. You know, your kids having a meltdown and you're like, please stop. Yeah, please. And no one else is thinking, oh, everyone else is like, oh, poor house.

I'm glad it's not me today. And unfortunately, some people's faces don't show that. That's it. I mean, I'm probably guilty of it because all my friends tell me I've got the worst resting face. I look like I want to murder someone. And I have no control over it. Also, you're not even thinking about that. Half the time I'm lost in my own thoughts.

Again, thinking about myself, my kids, my work, my job, my this. I'm not even interested in what's happening over there. But it is so, it can feel so isolating. So I think that's the beauty of. of like having somewhere which is just for you. Yeah. Do whatever you want. Do you have an insatiable fascination with the paranormal?

Are you ready to dive headfirst into the eerie realms of the unexplained? Brace yourself for the supernatural world is about to reveal all of its secrets on the paranormal activity podcast. And who better to guide you through this hair-raising journey than myself, Yvette Fielding, renowned paranormal investigator? Every episode of paranormal activity takes you on an unforgettable adventure into the unknown. I share my own encounters, chilling experiences and exclusive insights into the world of the paranormal. But that's not all. The true heart of this podcast lies in the stories, evidence and questions shared by our devoted listeners.

Like you, whether you're a seasoned paranormal enthusiast or just starting to dip your toes into the waters of the supernatural. Paranormal Activity with me, Yvette Fielding, is your ultimate destination. Will you dare to join me? Listen to Paranormal Activity with me, Yvette Fielding, wherever you get your podcast from. We talk, me and Kelsey talk a lot, but Kelsey especially talks a lot about her village. Yep. And how important having your village is, no matter who it is. Yeah.

Whether it's your friends or someone you've met on an aunt. or, you know, your family, if they're close by. Amazing. But similar to you, my family are all up north. My sister is in the south, but she has two kids and she's a doctor and she's very busy. Yeah. Very, very busy. So you have to create your own village.

Now, you have written a book. Peanut. Just to add to your list of wonderful skills, you have written It Takes a Village. Yep. So tell me what that is about then. So we all know the phrase it takes a village to raise a child, right? But actually, it takes a village to raise a mother as well. Yeah.

And so the point of the book is it's not my story. It's truly nothing to do with me. It's the story of hundreds of women from Peanut who have done it their way. And it's just giving us all examples of how to do motherhood. And I think that it's so important. We all have different experiences. Some people are doing it on their own. Some people are doing it and they work.

Some people are doing it and they live with their extended family. Some people are doing it and they're in the same-sex couple. Whatever is your flavour of family, you will find yourself represented in this book because we just need examples of how people made it work. And we need to know this two shall pass. So it's stories of women from the community who are sharing their first year. Yeah. But it's also coupled with experts.

There's OBGYNs. There's therapists. There's doulers in there. All of them saying, you know, here's what's going on behind the scenes. and here are some tips to help you through it. So for me, it was a way for us to gather all those amazing stories because women are telling those stories every day on Peanut. Yeah, yeah.

And it's just to curate them and put them into a book which is, here's an example of how other people have made it work. You're not alone. It takes a village. Here's your village in the palm of your hands and read it, you know, dip in and out of it as you need to throughout the first year. It almost is like it. You know, obviously like when we first had our kids,

There was all the typical self-help books of like telling you what to do. These are the stages, blah, blah, blah. I feel like this is like the modern day, like help book for mothers because it actually is everybody's account. And even if you can pick just one thing from the book of, that's me. That's that. Yeah. You know, because I did have the books too, right?

We read the books. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And the books, let me tell you, from my perspective, told me, here's what baby is doing now. Yeah. Here's the next milestone. Here's how big they should be. Right?

Yeah. But no one actually said, here's how you, mother, can exist, make it work, return to work, get to sleep, have intimate relations with your partner again, whatever it is. I didn't know any of this stuff. No one spoke about it. They did at all. And so this is really about a companion for you. if your sister, best friend, cousin, whoever is having a baby and you don't have a baby, get the book.

That's the book they need. It's that story of here's all the ways that you can make it work. And it's exactly that, dip in and out. You can cherry pick. I like that part of what she did. I like that part of what she did. I like that expert guidance. This is my version.

Yeah. Because that's what you really need. And I feel like it's one of the ones that you can probably like keep going back to. Like if you then experience it, you can be like, oh, could a swaner. read about that in the book. Let me just go back and find it and find out what, what she did and how she dealt with it. It's exactly that. Yeah. It's just, it is the book that I wish had existed. I needed something more that was just basically like, there's loads of ways to make it work by the way. Yeah. And I really feel in every walk of life, not just motherhood, if you see another woman doing

something in a way that is maybe different to the norm, it all of a sudden is like, oh my God, yeah, of course I could do it like that. Yeah. I never thought of that. It's like very, validating. And that's the point of the book. Oh, I mean, it's incredible. As you say, I wish that had to have existed when I had first had Cooper. Because I honestly do think, like, now we're getting there. We're moving in the right direction, aren't we, of being really accepting and understanding mothers and how it all works and how everything's not always as it seems. It's not always as it seems. It's not always as it seems. And I think the more we kind of like show that, the less women are going to feel

alone. Because the suicide rates in women with personal depression is so high. Ridiculous. Yeah. And totally avoidable. Oh, yeah. Totally avoidable. Yeah. It's exactly what you've just said. The consequence of not having a place where you can share, where you can talk, where you can feel normal, where you can feel heard is that you become more and more isolated. You live more here. Yeah. And you do compound an issue. which is completely avoidable by helping women find their community, find their village and find support. So there is absolutely in this day and age no reason that women should be dying because they feel that no one can support them. It is completely avoidable, particularly in this

country. There is no excuse for it to happen. Yeah. It's so true. Yeah. Michelle got really serious. Really serious. It's something that has affected my family and my extended family. And I've seen it firsthand, and it's such a, it is such a serious issue because we can totally avoid it. The Maternal Mental Health Alliance are doing an amazing job and they do amazing things in this regard. And we need more support and more. We have to shine a light on more of it. You know, women are saying that they're okay, they're not okay. Let's talk about it.

But there are amazing women like you who will share their story and say, yeah, do you know what, it wasn't okay? I didn't know. And I went down and I felt myself going down and I didn't know how to say. this doesn't feel like me help and we do have to share those stories and not everyone can share those stories on a public platform because not everyone has enough people who care

yeah or they might not want to and that's fine but that's why you and me are here to share our stories and try and help that's right exactly normalise it yeah but also what we need to try and do is support the women that because I think a lot of the thing is when you have a baby you kind of lose

the person you were before And I remember a therapist saying to me, you're never going to be that person again. You're a different person now. You have a baby. Yeah. You can't rewind and go back to that person before Cooper because he's here now and that's that.

And so you are a new you, but it's learning to like that new you. And who that is. Who she is. Yeah. And I think when I accepted that, rather than trying to get the old me back, when I accepted it's a new me,

but it can be just as good, if not better, then that would, was like a bit of an epiphany for me. And I was like, oh, okay. But then also it's regaining control of your, you and your career, whether you want a career or whether you want to be a stay-at-home mom.

And it's owning that. Because I feel like the shame in being a stay-at-home mom and the shame. Hardest drum in the world. Yeah. Yeah. And the shame at wanting a career. Yeah.

So you can't win. We can't win. Yeah. We're never winning us women. Yeah. We're always fighting this battle of nothing's ever. the right way to do it. Totally. How did you navigate? Obviously, you are a very strong career woman. How did you navigate this? Did you ever feel kind of like guilty for going down that path?

Yeah. Weirdly, I didn't feel necessarily the guilt with Finn because I think I was so deep in with Finn. I was so truly, I think I was in shock. I was in so much shock about this new like part of me and this new version of me that actually the only chance I could get to tether myself and feel like me again was working. Yes. And then I felt like I was being a better mom as a result because I felt more like, okay, I can control this part. Yeah. And therefore I feel a bit more, it just I felt more in control. In control. I feel like that's more connected to me. A real common thing of when you have a baby, you don't have that control anymore. Like up until that point, you could really control every aspect of your life.

To the time, like the second, like I will get up at this time. I will go to bed at this time. That's it. I will have a full night's sleep. Only impacts me. Every decision really, unless you were doing so, really was just about you. Yeah. And all of a sudden you can't control that.

And that is really, really hard if you are used to controlling things. Yeah. Because that loss of control was very hard. So with Finn, I didn't feel guilty. I just felt better and more in control. with New, I have continually felt guilty about it because for whatever reason, I felt like there have been times that she's needed me more.

Really? Yeah. I have felt that there are decisions that maybe I made where she may in the future feel like I didn't prioritize her. And, you know, so I definitely, definitely have felt it with New. And I think the challenge is everything is the right decision if it works for your family. Yeah. And that's the truth of it.

If it works for you guys, that's the right decision. If it works for you to go back, that's the right decision. Yeah. If it works for you to be working at home with your children, that's the right decision. And the problem is, I think we've all been told for so long you can do it all, have it all. And there's just zero infrastructure to have it all. Oh, it's not set up for us to have it all at all. Totally.

And to be honest, physically, and mentally, I'm not sure we could literally do it all. Show me out, please. It's pretty impossible. And we keep trying. Exactly. It's that. We're running out. You fail.

Yeah. We're running ourselves into the ground, aren't we? All is women. Yeah. Do you feel like Nula maybe vocalises it a bit more that she misses you or that she, you know. Most definitely I get a lot of, are you working from home today? Are you going to be here when I get in from school? You know, there's a lot more of that.

Or if I'm going out to an event or whatever it is, are you going out again? Again. I know. I'm like, I went out. I think I've been out once. in this month but okay i remember cooper one said to me mommy you never pick me up from school oh my gosh i was like because normally danny does drop off i do pick up right i pick you up pretty much every evening cooper what do you mean yeah i was like how what are you see it and i was so offended

i drop my kids off both of my kids every day right if i'm not in the country i miss it but other than that i drop them every day and nula will say they say you never pick me up i'm like okay so i drop you every day I try as many times as I can to pick you up and also my mum never ever drop me off I walked to school Oh I did yeah right So I ever got dropped off

And I certainly never got picked up Unless I was going to a play date with someone And then you got to like go home with them But otherwise I won't I never said that to my mum ever They don't know the bomb these kids wish I did Do you find that you start saying things? Yeah

It can't know because I'm not Do you ever find yourself saying things That your parents have said and you're like now that makes sense. Now I understand. Very much. I mean, like both of my kids think I'm really strict, which I think is really hilarious because my mom was so strict that I'm like,

you've got no idea. Yeah. You think Grandma Tricia would have let you do that. Is your mom strict with your kids? Or is she a bit, oh, she is? Oh, yeah. No, she is. No, she's quite a formidable woman, my mom.

So I do. No message. I have some type, that's the ultimate, like if I say I'm going to tell grandma, they both go. brilliant yeah yeah there was always that like once like that you knew you just couldn't mess with them my mum was is the was is the softest woman in the world however if she gave you that look you knew that's it that it was really bad news and you had been really naughty like dad was the really strict one but mum when it was that look it was just like pushed it too far no you can't no you can't

get back oh when they go we'll talk about this later oh that's no that's nothing worse that's heart racing Even now, if my mum says, I need to talk to you about something, my heart's like, no. Just talk to me right now, right in a second. Tell me, because I'm not going to be able to relax for the rest of the morning. No, it's awful. It's horrendous. I love it. Yeah, that's one thing I'll try and never do to go for it.

Because I just think it's like anxiety inducing. No, it is. And your heart, do you remember that? And your palms get really, like, sweaty because you're like, what's it going to be about? What have I done? No, and you're running through your head. Did I write something in my diary? What did I do?

Like, what is it? Like, what is it? Like, what is it? Oh yeah, it is. So mine would normally be if I'd like been showing off when my friends were around and like taught back at my mum and like, just had a bit of attitude. The showing off is like, have you noticed it with Finn because he's a little bit older. Most definitely. I have to call him to the side. You can't do it in front. You have to call it. My best mate from home, he's a head teacher. And he's always like, you can't discipline in front of people, Michelle. Really? It's not effective. You have to call them to the side. So I've always got that in my head. I've always got that in my head. I I feel like Jamie's judging me, so I have to call him. Is that because they don't, what? Is that because our children would, like, rebel if you did it in front? Humiliation has a separate impact or a separate effect that we shouldn't be striving for.

Right. So you have to discipline to the side in private. You can't do it in front because it's humiliation provokes a different reaction. Do you know what? Thanks for telling me that. There's going to, Jamie Bean. Thank you, Jamie. I've learned something you today.

Right. I will start implementing that. There is going to share that. It's really, no, and it is, because now you catch yourself, you're like, I try and never to, sometimes it's impossible because it's like, Dula. Yeah. Please, stop. The dog down. Yeah.

But apart from that, I try and always do it. Right. Interesting, isn't it? Yeah. I'm taking my brain. There you go. So, if anybody would like to go on peanut and what do they do? How do they find?

Yeah. So peanut is available on the app store and Google Play. You can just search peanut. And honestly, the one thing I would say is you won't regret it. that's the thing once you've joined that platform that's you you won't regret it you've just got thousands of women just like you yeah and you can have that conversation and you're not shouting into the abyss and you're there and other voices are like sending you message back it's it's amazing so if you're feeling lonely peanut is it's gonna be yeah just have a question yeah just don't know just a

question anything just fancy like or you know you just don't you need a bit of positivity yeah that's the other thing there's some great stuff I don't know what outfit to wear to a wedding. That was a post this week. Everyone got involved. They were like definitely the one on the right. Brilliant. I mean, that kind of thing.

So it's just like a lovely community. Yeah, it's really good. A village. It is a village. Yeah. It's your village. Well, Michelle, it's been so lovely having you on. Thank you so much.

And thank you so much for all the incredible work. Thank you, and you. That's a wrap on another episode of Mums the Word. Thank you so much for joining us today as we were joined by the amazing Michelle Kennedy. Don't forget to leave us a review. Follow us on socials at at Mums the Word underscore pod and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Just search Mums the Word. Until next time, I'm George Jones and this has been Mums the Word. And we'll be back with another episode, same time, same place next week.