Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe - S12 EP28: Emma Doran

Episode Date: April 10, 2026

Joining us this episode to discuss the highs and lows of parenting (and life) it's the brilliant comedian - Emma Doran. Emma Doran extends her Emmaculate UK and Ireland stand-up tour up until 2027, including the London Palladium on 7th February 2027.  Emma will also make her debut at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Pleasance Courtyard – Beside from 5 – 30th August (excl 12th, 19th, 26th) For more info and tickets visit emmadorancomedy.com Parenting Hell is available to watch on Spotify every Tuesday and Friday. Please subscribe and leave a rating and review you filthy street dogs... xxx If you want to get in touch with the show with any correspondence, kids intro audio clips, small business shout outs, and more.... here's how: EMAIL: [e-mail] Follow us on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@parentinghell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: [e-mail] A 'Keep It Light Media' Production  (Copyright 2026) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/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, you're listening to Parenting Hell with Emily, can you say, Rich Whiticum, Widdickham. That's cute.

We're happy with that? Real cute. Hi, Rob, Josh and Michael, hope you're well. This is sent December the 2nd. This year? Last year. Last year.

Not this year. Not from the future. All right, calm down, might not fly. I've been listening to you. I've been listening to you from the start, but never emailed in until now. Here is, I don't think that's a positive. Can I say so?

But you know that joke I did about the Calvin Klein in his pants and might not fly? Yeah, I get that. Yeah, no, no, I wasn't, I didn't want more from you. Oh, sorry. I just, sorry, I know, I just found that joke in that film is so shit, but the delivery is so good it works. When she calls him Calvin?

Calvin, how do you know his name's Calvin? It's written in his underwear. Yeah. Imagine being in the writing office going, I've got an idea for it. Yeah, yeah. They think his name's Calvin Klein because... But you know, it's his mom. Yeah.

If he'd been wearing my pants, she'd have called him son. and it would have made sense. Oh, his name's Baggy's son spell. Hey, Becky's son. Sorry, God. Although, only sending an hour as I couldn't find the email address. Also, you wouldn't have your name printed

around the waistband. All I want to talk to you about is what underwear you're wearing for the Runners World photo shoot. But let's give Haley a moment, and then we'll really deep dive into that. Is that what we're going to deep dive into today? Absolutely.

And I went to five different shops trying to find a copy to show you today, but it's not out yet. It's not out yet. I just want to know why you're touching the floor. Carry on with Haley. Okay. Well, we might save it for one of the longer episodes, Rob, because we don't know when this is going out. People are desperate for this content. People, one comment described it as the most, most anticipated Runner's World cover of all time.

I don't have any doubt about that. I mean, I've got to be honest, run as well, I didn't know, no offense. Runners World existed until you told me he was on the cover. No. Which is fair enough because I'm not a runner. Come on, you must have seen Ramesh on the front. What does he do on the front? He is arms up like Rocky at the top of the steps in...

See, I thought you were going to be arms crossed in a park or sat on a bench, not crouching, smirking, touching the floor, looking sexy. In an outfit you've never running. No, too right. When I saw that, I was like, there's no way he runs in that. Those shoes, can I just say? Are they good? I'm not sponsored.

But to the girls and guys at Ali. Adidas, who did send me those shoes. Do you wear them now? Oh, man. They're good. I feel like I'm bouncing on air. I honestly, it's like nothing I've ever experienced. What was you wearing before then?

I was just wearing normal running shoes, but these are those ones where I'm not sure. They like banned or they're certainly... No, the Adidas ones aren't. It's the Nike super venom or super... Also, it's the first time you've ever watched or listened to this. Joshua's on the front page of Runners World. Google that first, and you'll be on up to speed.

But let's give Haley a moment. 16,000 likes on Instagram runners' world. I bet they can't believe their fucking luck. Right. I'd love to see the demographic of people that are actually runners and people that just listen to this and find it hilarious. I'm going to like that because I'm inspired. No, I'm going to like that because Josh Whitacom is smirking.

He's touching the floor. He's kneeling down. He's wearing very short shorts, so there's no sunspills on there. No. You look sexy and I was disgusted with myself, I know, isn't it? Well, you should see me when I'm out pounding the pavements. Getting your PBS7? Yeah.

I assume the lockdown one was wrong until I heard the correct address on the pod the other day. Amalie used to fall asleep to the pod in the early days. I can only assume she's been listening in the womb. Got used to hearing your voices. Keep up the good work, love listening in when I work from home or commute into the office. Thanks, Haley, 499 months, Monday, 28 months.

Lovely. Oh, thanks, Haley. Emma Doren today, Rob. Emma Doren, very funny lady. Yeah, she's on tour. Oh, I want me all. She based in Ireland? or based in the UK.

We'll find out. Other questions? Other questions that you want to ask her? What her Peeb is? What she wears when she runs? What do you wear when you're running? That's terrible. Where are you based and what do you wear when you run?

You've got kids yet. Do you know what I'm going to ask her? Go on. Why my sales are always so sluggish in Dublin? Well, I can help me with that. Okay. And this isn't a person. All that anti-Irish stuff you do.

No, Ireland notoriously, they don't book a lot in advance. They're very relaxed, almost like a Mediterranean vibe. I'm fully aware of that. But my audience don't book a lock on the day either. Right. Yeah, that's different. That may be a more personal. Do they book a lot after the event?

Because that's what I'm thinking must be happening. The late turn up at my gigs is almost bad. to the future levels. They turn up to see Calvin. Oh, there we go. Here's Emmodoran. Happy with that, I am I? Yeah.

I sat on a stool at a restaurant last night, and by the end, I was fucked. This is a great star for a parenting podcast. What? Was everyone sitting on a stool? No. We booked on the day. Right.

And it was like, you know, you get the one at the, you get the seats at the bar. So are you and your family? No, just me and Rose went out for dinner last night. On stalls at the bar? On stalls at the bar. That's a shame.

Well, we quite like to watch. watch them cook because we don't have anything to say to each other anymore. Okay. Welcome to the parented health. We'll show each other photos of the kids. I'm still, though. You need back support. That's what I think.

Yeah. You need back support. That's what I said. And by the end, my neck was, because you adopt this kind of. Because sitting at the bar, that's where the drunks sit. Where the drunks. Yeah. Like traditionally.

But they're able to because they don't feel anything because they're drunk. I like a stall of them on the booze. Can't sit a stool to eat. No. No. Well, the boo's too much. Too much.

Yeah. Absolutely. I'm not just at the back. Generally. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hello. Hello. Welcome.

Official welcome to the hospital. Thank you for coming. It's very fancy. Welcome to show. I will chat about you being a parent and your kids and your tour. A very funny comedian, but I cannot continue about discussing how weak your tea is. I don't know if the camera can even pick that up or can we angle that towards a camera. Can we take a photo?

Let's take a phone. Let's take a photo on your phone and then we can edit this. Why don't you take a photo on your phone then put that to the camera? This is tech. We get a Zoom. I don't think that does it justice. Well, it's really looking like with the white cup though, isn't it?

Why do you put your finger in that? Why did you put your finger in your tea? Why did you put your finger in my teeth? You did a move there. That's something you would do at home and you forgot that there was other people around. Yes. Yeah. So he doesn't use a teaspoon to make tea.

He uses his fingers and moves the bag around in it. Yeah. That's not okay, is it? I don't think you can feed questions like that. Sorry, what do you think of that? Well, she doesn't even use a teaback. Look at that. I mean, look, because mine only goes in for a second.

Sometimes I will just whip it out with my finger. But I'm not poking it back in after it's made. Yeah, poking it back in after it's made. It was great to catch that on camera, though. Just so that we don't feel like we're making these things up on that, Josh. Yeah, yeah. It'll poke it a tag back in. Did you lick your finger after you took it out?

Absolutely. Did I? Well, let's not rewrite history. It's caught on camera. I think he might elicked it. Well, the viewers will know. They'll be skipping back now. Or you've wiped it on your colds.

I haven't wiped it on anything. So is it just still wet? No, I just did that. It's dried with the natural atmosphere. The Spotify atmosphere. I don't know. I'll have to watch this and see what you did with the finger. This is terrible for you, Josh.

This is all started off of how weak you make your tea. It's not terrible for me. I'm trying to drive people towards visualised. and I'm doing a very good job. Emma. Also, it's on our Instagram, your tea. Just so you know. So if you want to see it

and you don't want to go visualised, fair enough. Yeah, look, it does upset people, but that's how I like it. I just like weak tea. So it's in, it's out. And I tell people it's weak, but they can't believe truly how weak it is. I wouldn't have made that.

No, you wouldn't have been able to you see. No. That's why I stepped in. Is it lots of milk on a tea that's been brewing? in or is it just in and out? It's just it's in and out. It's not overly milk although I've been told it's a bit milky as well but and I don't, I never make

unless I have people over I never make tea in a teapot. I hate teapots I've never met anyone that ever has I hate teapots and when you get that they just make the tea go cold and weak and you can't get your finger in there can you down the spanker? It's harder just trying to get his little

finger in there. Yeah so that's my tea I'm not even the finger doesn't even bother me it's you leaving the tea bag in the tea more that's I'm so far from a sink what would you do if you're at home honestly so why do you use a teaspoon to like squish it up that's what I do for people when I'm making their tea to make it stronger no he just pops your fingers in yeah yeah yeah they don't have teaspoons so what would you do if you was at home now would you just drink that with the tea bag in and just forget about it or would you leave it on this yeah but no I'd never

I don't want to brag about my house but I'd never be this far from a sink no but you know what he would do is drinking his tea and he'd put a fingers back in and squeeze the bag would you yeah yeah but that's not a prank because a prisoner's really near to a sink all the time no I know I was just having some fun sorry sorry and how many children have you got three three three ages are there's big age gap 22 10 year gap 12 11 whoa big gap big gap little gap big up yeah big cap carbon yeah so wow and so how was that then having

a one, a two and a 12 year old? Yes. Because actually going back then after 10 years. Yeah, that's a... You know that thing of if you've had a baby and then you go back to have another baby

it's like your labour will be quicker on the second time round or it'll be easier. Not because your body then has totally forgotten after 10 years. Oh, right. Yeah. Right. So you're kind of

body wise you're starting from scratch. And then you're like, have I forgotten? So that's why you went with the second quick one. Another quick one because you're like, my body's ready. And I didn't want my mind to kick in. I knew myself if you leave it long enough. I feel like it's harder to go back the longer you leave it. Yeah.

You know, people say, you know, our daughter's five and our son is Jew and April. I'm like, what the fuck? I'm like, what the fuck were you thinking? Get it done. Get it done. Yeah. But you did have a 10 year again? Yeah. I did have 10 years. I mean, I don't know the full details, but I was like, you know, you know.

No, but I was like, I was teenager. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. So, I mean, come on. How old are you? I was 18. 18, yeah.

Still in school. Still in school. Wow. Fair play. Wow. Wow. What? Having the baby are getting pregnant.

Both? Both. I respect it. I definitely wasn't getting anyone pregnant. That's good. Well, I mean, I was shocked. I was very shocked. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So it wasn't as such sort of a planned family at that point. No, it was not. And I taught people, I actually had heard tell of a girl who was like 19, who had a baby, was with the boyfriend and she was planning another one. I was like, she needs to be committed. I was like, she's insane. I was like, that's, you know, I was giving it all the big, wah, where, and then sure, it was me the following week. Oh, my word. Yeah.

Not on the cars at all. So what was your plan? before the baby arrived was you going to study more or did you want to go into comedy or did you know what was going on? My plan was I was going to live at large. I had things to do. You never lived at large. I had two months. I had two months there where I went hell for leather. I just lost my mind because my parents were quite strict. Yeah, yeah. So I had a summer away. Yeah. And I went bloob. Like I went bloobas. Do you think them being strict sort of was counterproductive? Yes. it was

although they were strict on my brothers as well and it worked out with them but my mom said that I definitely was the hardest because when they say well obviously I got pregnant but before that I was the hardest because they would say

you know you can't you're not doing that or whatever I would then come down and present a case of why I should be allowed why you know they said that I would never I would never let it go and I just constantly used to lie to them

they thought I was like professional bowling and Quater. I mean, I was made of films I was supposedly seen. Like, I was drinking in Fields the whole time. But I just had all these made up friends, all these places I was going and I was just drinking and fields having a great time.

So the plan was just to have... Just drinking field? Well, that's what happens when you're drinking in fields. But the plan was, there's no plan, but I definitely wasn't going to... Like, yeah, probably go to cottage, but probably go to London.

Yeah. Get the London look. The London look was big at the time. No one really knows what the London look was. What is the London look? What is the London look? What is the London look? What is the London look? like on the Rimmel ad with cake musk.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It was quite aspirational to go London. Let's go to London. And no, it didn't happen. So like into that very early into that school term say I got pregnant in the August, then in the September. So it's like your big final year, you're going to do a state exam.

Everything rides on that state exam in terms of like what college university course you can get. It's like a big huge thing and then I'm pregnant that year. Oh my world. So I'm pregnant.

All-girls school. Pregnant. So who could it have been? Yeah, I know. But that was the other thing. When I had to tell my mother I'm pregnant, I also had to say, like, I've had sex. That was actually a bigger thing.

Yeah, I don't think she was waiting for that part. No, but I was embarrassed about that. Because she's like, who? You know what I mean? Yeah. Wow, and was it like a boyfriend? It was like a summer... If this is too evasive question, just...

Because you see this is what happens. If you have a child young, you have to be, you have to learn to be quite open about it. Yeah. Because everyone wants to know. Yeah. Because everyone thinks that could have been me. Yeah. Whether it was like in their 20s or whatever.

Or that happened, my friend, Sarah, or my brother, John, had a kid when he, you know. Everyone knows a girl at school that that sort of happened to or in the area. Yeah. So everyone always wants to know. So you kind of, you get very comfortable with telling everyone your story. So he was like a summer kind of dalliance. So like very into him, but like not... You're not pushing through that as a relationship, are you?

Come on. There's only so much you can do. Was he what at school at the time? He was like, I think he had just finished and he was, yeah, he was going to go to college. Right, yeah. So I met him, I was... God, I'm working in a chipper.

What's a chipper? Chip shop. Chip shop, yeah. and it's the night he's getting his exam results. So that's the night I meet him. So I'm saying salt and vinegar and then. But we were seeing each other for a while while I was there. Yeah, yeah. Hello, all that.

So I've seen him for a while. I'm living in a, sorry, I just actually remembering the story. Living in a mobile home. He was living in a mobile home? No, I was. You was? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Near your parents' house or your own place?

No, so my friend's parents had in Wexford, you know, like by the sea. have like a caravan or whatever so me and my friend were living in that working look at you turn out to be judgment I'm not I'm just trying to it feels like a pitch for a sitcom idea yeah so

it's your actual life and I need to remember to be respectful because I'm really trying my best not to say something bad you were you're like okay I'm not very good poker face so me and my friend are living in the mobile home

the caravan you're in a caravan in Wexford you work in a chip shop this child walks in getting his grades results and you two are lovingly each other. Yeah. And so... And does he move into the mobile home?

No, he doesn't move in, but we see each other. No, no, it's not that ridiculous. Come on. I see... I'm kind of seeing him a bit while I'm down there. But I have to go home because I'm not finished school yet. Yeah. So at the end of summer, I have to go home. And how fast home was... Oh, like, it's like an hour and a half.

You know what I mean? Like, we're just down, like, you know, seaside town. I go back home and then very quickly. I'm back at school. And I find it very quickly. I'm pregnant. Oh, and so how do you tell him? I told him. Because I think from watching like films or something,

I was like, okay, you have to tell the dad. He's the next person that needs to kind of know. Before your mom. Before my mom. So my friend who I was with knew. Yeah. So this poor friend of mine. You're only reading it in the newspaper of the chip show up here.

Yeah, this poor friend of mine, I mean, I told her everything. You know what I mean? So she's my confidence. She was there. Like, I mean, she wasn't in the room, but she basically would have been. Like, there's no soundproof. It's a caravan. Oh, so she knows.

So she knows. Right. She was with his friend. She was with his friend. Oh, this is actually, what I tell you this bit, this is funny bit. So we're in the mobile home the night I got pregnant, right? So I'd seen him before, whatever. And we are kind of like pair, oh, Jesus Christ, we're pairing off right, but it's only one condom, right? Oh, my God.

We kind of say he's going to get it. So me and him get it. She doesn't get it. Oh, my God. Right? We get it. But it doesn't work. Oh, my word.

Yeah. Oh, wow. Only one condom. And you got it and still got pregnant? Yeah. Jesus, what's this guy got to use and that? I know. Powerful stuff.

So she knew the whole story, right? Yeah, of course, she's like you. She's trying to sit there kind of just go, oh, fucking escape that one. Sorry, I'm smiling too much, aren't that? It's a great story. The condom, the faulty condom, is giving you an air of over security

that she didn't have. Yeah. So she's got lucky by not having. having the faulty condo. Yeah, yeah. What was it, what is it faulty? I think he put it, I think he made a faulty. He put it on wrong.

I think so. He put on his head. He had on his nose. Because in my room in the mobile home, the light didn't work. So it was pitch black. So he didn't know where his penis was. I've not been funny ever. In the dark, I know where my dick is.

I've never lost it once. All these years I've been sticking up from. That's how long I'm. In his defence, it was dark. Oh, wow. But you're a kid as well. You're not experienced in condoms? I haven't a clue.

You know the main TV? Do you ever see that thing? I'm still not 100% convinced I know what to do. You know, when did you put in condoms and bananas? When are we going to do that in school? I think we should know that. A condom on a banana in daylight. It's a lot different to a dick in the dark in Westford.

In the school and now we're going to turn the lights off for the next lesson. Out in the field. With the lights off. Try to do it with the lights off. So how did he take it? So I found him and very, it's actually now, not funny at the time,

but it's very funny now to look back at it, obviously. Chris Rock does a bit that I then later discovered years later when a woman brings a man to tell him that she's pregnant if the guy's response is, what are you going to do?

Yeah. You know? Yeah, fuck. And that's what he said to me. He's like, what are you going to do? Yeah. I was like, well, I don't know what I'm going to do.

Like, I don't know. I'm going to have. I was like, I'm going to have the baby or whatever. And he was like, okay. And that was kind of it like. Because he was like, are you coming down? I think he was like, you know, because we were still in touch actually. We were still in touch and trying to think of ways to meet up.

And I was like, oh, like I'm pregnant. And then just this big silence. And I was like, he's still there. Oh my God. Yeah. So what are you going to do? Oh, God. Oh, my.

It's not the best. And I was trying to be very grown up like things to me. I won't message him. It doesn't help that he's the first person you've spoken to, so he haven't even kind of spoken to your parents at this point. No, no, no, and I don't have a plan. Nobody knows. Nobody knows.

My parents don't know. Nobody knows. Oh, my word. I'm telling him was if he's, you know. Obviously, it's been a long time when you laugh about it now, but would you completely devastated and panicked? Big star, panicked. Yeah.

Oh, like, panicked. Yeah. Panicked, like, fuck. Like, I just was on all. follow pilot for like all that time like when I was growing up like all girls school

you would chat about it as like oh my god what would you do if you got pregnant what would you do if you got pregnant I'm gonna kill myself it's so lie oh my god you know what I mean like that is the worst thing that this is like you know nauseous

there was no like abortion wasn't available in Ireland yeah island as well it's a level up island I think with that kind of thing you see and as well we wouldn't have we would have had like laundry up until the 90s. So now I don't know anyone

who went to a laundry but you know what I mean? What's a laundry? Lonsories are... Do you ever hear of like the Magdal and Laundries? It would have been a thing where back in the day

in like Catholic Ireland if a woman had gotten pregnant she would go to a laundry to work to be put to work so it was run by nuns she would go there to work in a laundry you know like

doing bed sheets and all that and then her baby would be adopted through the laundry. Oh. So that would happen women who say were from like very poor backgrounds or if they had been abandoned. So their family was like, is the only place they could go.

And they'd have no choice they'd have to give up the baby. They'd have to give up the baby. Oh, God. Or like, so say, and this would be like, you know, all sorts of women would say if it happened to a young girl. Yeah. And if the family didn't have the money to maybe send her off somewhere,

you know, like say maybe to an aunt, somewhere else that she could hide away of for a while. Was that to stop sort of family shame as... Family shame to do something with the baby. So now there was only, I think, it had all been winding, winding down. But, you know, like that building was, there was still one in Dublin.

Yeah, and you would still know people that was their life experience. And you would hear stories from your own mom of, you know, friends that had gone away. You know, there'd be lots of adoption stories. or that women had gone away, you know, may not have been in a laundry, but would have gone away to, like, say, I think it would have been quite common to go to, like,

a kind of a nursing home. Yeah. Stay there, have the baby, come back. Blimey. I was away. Work, yeah. Jeez. You know?

God. So I'm not saying that was happening when I was growing up. You got to tell your mom and dad about it. Yes. This was a thing that happened. And you're an 18-year-old kid. Yes. So how did they take it?

They were actually great. Yeah. They were great. So, like, now I knew it wasn't going to be because they were going to kick me out or they were going to feel shame. I just, I knew that they would feel like, oh, like, everything's going to be so much harder for her now. Yeah. You know, it's going to really, it's going to really change everything.

My mom took it really well. I wrote her a letter and I, like, left the letter and ran out the door. And then she came and found me. I just had gone to my friend's house across the road, like, and she just came over. You know what I mean? I run away. Like a child. Yeah.

I ran away to the end of the road, like kind of thing. And she came and found me and she just said, she gave me a big hug and she was like, come home and you're ready. And my friend was like, what's going on here? And then my dad, she rang my dad and I'm like, oh, God, because I'm an only girl. And I say, oh, God, he's going to flip. And he'd been at, like, would have been like one of those dads. Like, close the door.

You know, those dads, dad's going to know. But he was like, oh, I quite like the idea of being a grander. So they were really nice about it. But then once I tell them they went into like action mode, right? What do we have to do? We have to tell the school. We've to go to the doctor. You know, and I'm just worried about my final exam in school because I want to get that done.

So it's like my... Because if you get that done, it does give you options in a couple of years' time, doesn't it? To defer studying when the baby's older. Yeah, you can do all that then. You need to have that to move on to third level education. So I want to get that dawn. But the dates are very tight. Okay.

So the exam, I think in the end, I was basically, I had my daughter and then 13 days later I start the exams. Oh, fucking Nora. But you have to do those exams. Like English paper one happens on the Monday morning at 9 o'clock. You have to sit that exam then. Right. Yeah. There's, I still don't think there is.

Because it's the same exam. It's the same exam and it's locked in a case and, you know, all that kind of stuff. There's no dispensation for someone that's just had a baby. No. And I, actually, when I went to the exam, the maternity hospital like when I was doing my checkups and it was getting really close. Yeah. And I was worried about...

So you were going to do the exam? Oh yeah, doing the exam. So say originally with her due dates I would have had four extra dates. Yeah. So say she was due on the 18th but she ended up being born on the 22nd. So I'm going in for appointment

on the 18th I think. And it's my due date. So I'm like, okay, well they're going to tell me to stay because she's due today and I have an exam to do. And I was like, they just did the exam. Yeah, everything great. Fantastic.

I said, sorry, it's my G-day today. What's going on? And she was like, no, it's fine. Like, this is totally normal. And I said, yeah, no, boy, I have to do my leaving shirt. And she was like, don't worry. She's like, plenty of girls that have done their leaving certain here. And I was like, I'm not doing my leaving start in the maternity on the maternity ward.

I was like, no. So I start freaking out. I started freaking out. Not freaking out. It's like, eh. But then, so four days later, I had her. So I had her in enough time to get back in and do the exams. Where was the baby when you were doing the exam?

Yes, the baby, my little baby. I have my baby. Also, most people are juggling, I might miss a hen do if I'm pregnant then. You're trying to get an exam in. I want to get that exam in because I want to move on. Is it one exam? No. I want to move on with me like.

I want to, because I don't want to be a great. grown up then still in school. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? I was just like, oh no, this is too much. No, it's a load of exams. So you've two exams in English. You've like your Irish. Basically everyone does.

Is this equivalent of A levels? Yes. So you do six, seven subjects. Everyone does six. You take the marks from, but most people do seven. Right. So you have like your language. Some you might have like a sign subject.

Yeah. You know, loads. And you're 18. You're 18. Yeah, you're like 17, 18. I'm 18. So this is so much you to sort of like deal with. Do you think when your daughter, you know, who's older than that age now, she's 22, when you saw her 18, did it sort of give you these mad flashbacks of like, oh my God?

Because when you're 18, you feel like the old, because you are the oldest you've ever been. Yeah, you're old. You want to go back and do uni gigs and I see 18 year olds. Oh, they're all be rowdy. They're not. They're scared little boys and girls. They're babies. Yeah.

Oh, well, I tell you this. not only when she's 18 yeah she's in my old school so she's in my old school in the exact same uniform she's got red hair as well

loads of my teachers that I had then had her I go back for a parent teacher meeting for the big year you know the exam year and one of my old teachers says to me they all know me like they all know me do you know what I mean and they were all the people that saw the bump

and then they're teaching this bump And one of the teachers said to me he's like He's like be honest with me now Did you cheat in that history test that time? I was like I am I getting slack For stuff that

For I got homework I didn't hand in 22 years ago I was like Are you for real But honestly when I saw her at 18 Child Baby I couldn't even

And it was during She was in her last year of school During COVID as well Yeah So it was all you know It's even during COVID It's such more like The intensity of that

You're only just staring at each other anyway. Oh, God. And I was just like, it did really make me think. I'm not going to let her work in a chip shopping works for this summer. And no caravans for you. But I was like, oh my God, I was so young. Yeah. You know, because you don't have time.

It doesn't matter what age or what circumstances are when you have a baby. You don't have time to really reflect then anyway. Even if everything, even if you have your ducks in a row, like your career, your house, whatever it is, you don't have time. No, it felt like absolute chaos to the mess with like 29 me and Lou but yeah. So when they're older you kind of

you kind of you know. So then when you settle and you've got a baby yeah and you're 18, 19 by now. Yes. How do you go? What's next in your life? Like because you presumably need a job

and stuff. You've got a baby and so what I do and my family's very supportive of this I go to college in the September so I get my... Locally? No.

Well, like in Dublin. So I get my marks. Yeah. And I do, I actually do all right. Do you stay at home with the baby? I stay at home, yeah. And you see most people in Dublin, a lot of them would stay at home. Yeah, yeah.

And go to. So that's quite a normal. That's not like you're the anomaly at the college. No, no, not in that sense at all. So I get enough marks to get into this like degree course in an IT. You've cheated at history. Yeah, I've cheated history. I've gotten in.

You know what I mean? What a sad case to remember. that. All you've gone on and done. You sort of like left school, raised this baby, had another two kids. Now you're as a comedian, there's travelling the world doing gigs. And then another teacher was there asking me about

my mates. Like, oh, he's still in touch with Zan and all this. And just like it's like, oh, look at all the old crew back together. I was like, you are... I remember when you was in here and she was doing that exactly. We show me for a pint or someone. I was like, what the fuck? Yeah, so I went to college in the

September. My parents were very now like supportive of that like go get your degree you know and I wanted to I wanted to kind of see like to do like to get I was like right get a degree right don't you know what I mean because I was like I'll get that I'll get

a job but I have to get out because I was like I want to be independent you know so my mom is at home minded my daughter I go to college but now that was all good and made mates in college and people I'm still friends of but like it's weird because everyone's like I mean, they're in college, so they're all, like, going to the pub after and whatever.

And I'm, like, flying home. Or, like, you know, people are so... People are like, I'm wrecked. I'm so tired. Oh. So from a very, like, very quickly then, I never really spoke about parenting around other people because it was so alien to them.

Yeah, of course. So I was never coming in and going, oh, it's up all night. Because no one gave a fuck. Yeah. And do you... Obviously, their presumption. Of course.

course. Like their presumption, presumably, is you haven't got a kid straight away. Yeah. So you're constantly having to break this. Yeah. Is that quite weird and difficult? It's very weird because of what you find. Because you're like, do I lead with it?

Yeah. Or do I wait for a moat? Like. You're constantly, it's the big fucking. Yeah. Well, especially that guy comes up to you in a bar at the union. Yeah. And then you have to go.

So my system there was, if I didn't like them, first thing. enemy mate. First thing I like it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. First thing I was saying. And then they'd always oh my sister had a baby

and I was like, oh my fuck thank. And then if I liked somebody I would kind of be like but then even still I didn't want to like be in a relationship with anyone so I was kind of in that regard

I'd be like Cinderella and kind of check in with the male gaze and say have a smooch and I'd be gone if she'll be on the ground because I even if I went out with college I'd always be like

I'd like I'd kind of leave at 12. You know, because so I kind of be like, I want, I need to get home and like, because I'll be up early the next morning. Yeah, yeah. So it was always very sensible. So I don't,

it kind of created this like, bit of mystique around me, whatever. And then you're like, oh, I have a child. And then, it's cool, it's cool. That is a lot to tell. A 19-year-old fellow just trying to get his hold, do you know what I mean? Like, he thinks you're going to say,

oh, I'm working tomorrow or something or whatever. You're like, no. So, and then I think in my final year, it was when I worked in a pub. Right. But like just a couple of nights a week. But I just wanted to like, you know. Have a bit of your own time. Yeah, just a bit of money and whatever.

So yeah, that was kind of working on the pub is kind of my social life. But I didn't really, I think towards the end of that degree, like say in the fourth year, I was kind of starting to loosen up. Because then the other kind of reveal was I'd never been like very interested in school or academic or wouldn't. You know, I just been like, if I hadn't had a child and I'd be going to college, I was like, oh, let's just go and watch how in the way. Or, you know what I mean? Yeah.

Like, I'm too home home over today. But because people were making sacrifices so I could do it, I had to be, you know, I had to be, I had to take it seriously. So I kind of as well would like be saying to people like, oh, I'm not actually like this. Yeah. I'm not a big nerd. Just so you know, I was mad and I fucked the whole thing up and now I have to be sensible. So I'm just, how you know.

So what you're saying is, if you want to do you well at uni, have a kid. Yeah. It focuses your brain. really quickly. When your youngest got a bit older and it was a lot easier like in school and stuff like that and child care was easier

and they had clubs and stuff and not the intensity of it in your sort of mid-20s at that point did you have a second go crazy period where like you go to go to your nans for the weekend and you were like

fuck it, I'm 26 but kids all right let's just go for it. Yeah do you know what I say that's probably when I met my fella that I'm with now I'd say hi I think And still all...

You move quick, don't you? No. No, I was five years. Four or five years. No, I mean, as soon as you just make the decision, you're in. Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, I was mad about him because I actually...

I think at that stage, I was working in this community of radio station, which I was delighted about because it was short hours. It was close to my house. And it was kind of something media, something career. This is how I feel about work. You know, if it's short hours near my house, I'll do whatever. It was. and I used to see this guy going around

he was an electrician in this new shopping centre and I used to be doing this thing this is how like how starved of any romance I had been I'd be going down the escalator and he'd be coming up and I'd try and be like making eyes at him like I'd be trying to flirt with strangers in real life

you know what I mean so I'd just don't do all this I'm sure he's like oh that boy girl I never understood making eyes I always felt like I was just really staring at women and it felt uncomfortable you still do that you've obviously never had a huge dry spell in your life If you have a big dry spell, you're throwing eyes of people out at 10 o'clock in the morning on the street. I've had some dry spells. You're like making eyes of people on the boss.

Like it's bad. So I was doing a bit of that, but obviously he just thought I had something wrong with me. But I met him out on a night out then. And I ran and I said, oh, like, ah, da-da. So I went hell for leather with him. And I remember one night, now this is when I was, I was seeing him, but I would kind of go to his house and I would set an alarm to get up. up to go home. Do you know what I mean?

To kind of go back to bed for a few hours like basically, hi morning, mommy's here. So she never knew. Yeah. But one morning I forgot to set the alarm and I woke up with the brightness outside. Oh my word.

And she got up very early. And where's mommy? Yeah, I said. So I ran out of his house. And this was like a lad's house, you know, like young fellas in their 20 and I was like, somebody's locked the door. I can't get out the door. And I couldn't get out.

and one of the guys is there and he had just come in. He's like eating a burger. He's like, I'll give you a lift down. And I was like, oh my God, nice sandwich. So I couldn't get out of the house. I went out the back. I was like, I'll go out the back and go over the fence.

The fence locked. I had to jump over the fence. I had gotten a taxi. I lost a shoe. I left the shoe. I was like, I get the shoe again, went and got into the taxi. Now his house was very close to mine,

but I just got in the door just as she was getting up and my dad was up at her. She was like none the wider. And I was like, I was so distraught. I was saying to my dad, I was like, oh my God, I can't. I just, I fell asleep, I fell asleep. I was like, I'm like, you're going to, take right? Oh, you're fine, don't be worried about it.

I said, okay, okay. And then I was like, then he was totally cool about it. And I was like, well, you know, he knew I just fallen asleep and I think he could tell by me. I was like, because I had nothing that had ever happened. But then the sudden real life isn't up, it's like seven o'clock in the morning and I'm now up for the whole day. And I'm just like this. Like, I'll probably, I'll probably, I'll probably, fell asleep, I like five to six or something.

Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. And then that old day with a kid as well. You know what I mean? Yeah. So it was kind of like, I was kind of mad with that. Because it was hard.

I didn't know how to like have a relationship and like date somebody. Yeah. But also be a mom because obviously you're like, you don't want to introduce somebody to your child too quickly. No. But you also, if you're like falling in love with, like, you know, you're kind of like. I mean, I had a UTI every other week

and my mom was like, Emma, you're burning the candle at both ends. And I was like, you know. Yeah, but it's hard because that's so everything, but then you have to split your sort of... Yeah, and you don't want, because, like, you don't know when to introduce the person and obviously that's a big deal,

but you kind of want to try and keep it casual as well. Did he have any kids? He didn't have any kids, no. No, no. And he's always been cool about it from the start then. Yeah, he, and he knew because we kind of had like, friends in common and stuff. That's good.

Yeah. So he kind of knew, I didn't have to really do like a big reveal kind of thing. And he knew. But you've got some great stories of the big reveals where it's gone wrong all right. Oh, yeah. Men just run, no way. It's, yeah. Oh, totally. Like, sometimes it was very useful.

But he was all good about it. And I think he was kind of, for his age, he was kind of mature in a sense. His mama died when he was like 14. So I think he kind of looked at family in a different way. as like not a burden but like a positive thing or whatever I was going to say that's good but that's not the way to respond to his mum died of 40

oh that's a relief you bastard but you know he had kind of lived a life or whatever so but I was probably going out with it might say for about six months before I did an introduction and it was very I thought it was very low key he was off and my daughter was off

I was collecting my daughter from school so it was just real I was like well I've I've can come like if you're like and he was like oh you can come and I'll drop you home after that and he's okay cool and I got her just car and I was like oh this is my friend change she's like oh hey so it's all very low-key I thought isn't that way and then years later she said oh she's like my eyes are out and stuck she said I knew exactly what was going on oh really they're all worked out

but I thought it's been so chill they're so on it kids yeah they know yeah of course he sniffed this stuff out straight away and then when did you start doing comedy in that was that like a late thing where you're like, yeah. I was 29. Yeah. So I was 29. Now I would say I wanted to do something funny

but like I don't know how you felt about like stand up. I didn't really think I just didn't I didn't I was like how'd you do that? How'd you go about it? Yeah. I didn't really know that it was a thing. Yeah.

And then I kind of I thought I would have like I thought maybe acting or something but maybe something funny but that to me seemed a bit over the top. You know? Yeah. Going off and doing acting after school. Because it's just how we're saying people who did acting just didn't work then.

Yeah. You know? I was just like, how is that? What's the story with that? I was like, that sounds crap. So I never would have done acting. And then I think I had been starting to do like some little things. So basically what I would do is I do kind of add mini jobs.

And then if I got the chance to do like something, a runner or something, I do that. On TV shows and stuff. Yeah. And my plan was that hopefully somebody would kind of say to me, Emma, you need to get out in front here. That's what I don't know. Everyone says they get discovered. Yeah, of course.

So I was waiting. I was like, if I put myself in the right place, I'll get discovered. Nobody discovered me. If it only gets discovered after 10 years on the circuit. Yeah, yeah, I discovered. I mean, like, yeah, you didn't. So then I think a couple, some guy, I made some videos. I sent them to a TV guy and he said to me, like,

real trial away comedy. He's like, you should be stand up. and I just took that as, oh, like, you know, just somebody who was like in the biz saying it to you? Who was just thinking, what can I say? What can I say to end this conversation? To put a full stop and just say best look with everything, goodbye. But I really took that as like, okay, that's like my license. So I was on maternity leave.

Yeah. So I'm settled now. I'm with Shane, Ella, we're all having a great time. I planned pregnancy, how I, you know. Yeah. How new for me? No judgment if you have or haven't. Yeah.

It's an open house here. Survival. I'm loving life. Yeah. But I haven't really done anything creative. It's too easy for you now. Life's too easy. Oh, second baby. A baby at 29, come on.

I don't have to do any state exams. I can drive. I don't live with my parents. You know what I mean? You moved at the mobile home. Yeah, I'm in a double bed now. You're basically also, presumably your first daughter. Yes.

It's quite useful. Like, it's not like too. kids that are arguing, presumably she's quite excited. She's very excited. It's a great age because I was worried, God, she's been the focus for so long. But you're not,

it's such a big age gap, you're not in competition. Yeah. But they have their, I'm but I was like, God, are they going to even feel like siblings? Is that going to be weird? But they have their own little buzz, the two of them, that I, it's nothing to do with me. Yeah. And they, both of them are very

academic. They have a very similar kind of personality like traits that aren't me at all yeah they have oh wow yeah I'm like you never know what's nature or nurture yeah I'm like oh what's going on there but it quite quick the conception the second time you just give him a condom in the dark and say go to work very quick came off the pill straight away because I thought oh if you come off the pill yeah it takes time no I don't bother like give it sick don't even bother talking to a doctor or getting any way where until like six months or a year.

Yeah. Now straight away. So I got a bit of a shock. And then with a third as well then. Bang. Bang. Wow. You're the most fertile person that's ever existed.

Yeah. So I'm in constant fear all the time. I'm constantly... You've got to get a miracle grow advert or something. Yeah, yeah. I'm real fear all the time. I'm just like... Get up.

Don't breathe nearly. Yeah. Just in case. Wait. Because now I'm very happy, but I'm like... No. I'm finished now. I have a 22-year-old.

I couldn't... I mean, for perfect symmetry, one in 10. years time would be great, wouldn't it? I mean, well, you will get a stand-up show out of us. Yes. This episode is brought to you by Tesco Club Card. Here to help you save with EasyJet holidays. We all know the club card can help you save on shopping,

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People thought denim on denim was peak fashion, inline skates were everywhere, and two out of three women rocked, the Rachel. While those things stayed in the 90s, one thing that hasn't is that fuzzy feeling you get when WestJetting welcomes you on board. Here's to WestJetting since 96. Travel back in time with us and actually travel with us at westjet.com slash 30 years. Thanks. What was your daughter?

He was 12 or whatever when you were? started stand up, how was that for her? Yeah, because actually, so she's kind of being there from like the very, very beginning. So she really remembers the whole thing. Yeah. And she only watched a show of mine

for the first time the other week. Oh, wow. Wow. And she's in it loads. Oh, wow. How was that? I was actually quite nervous. Because I think when I started, you know, the way, I don't know, it took me a while to actually share my actual life Because you know what you're doing open mics

You're like nobody cares about my life They're like I haven't an admin job What's the, and then the second you quit your job You're like, oh, you're working this place It's so funny But you're like, you could say that while you're in the job But so I didn't really And you're doing clubs

So you're like right people are out on a Wednesday night They mightn't want to hear about me And my family life and kids and whatever So it's only like as I've kind of developed It's and obviously it's easier to write material That is about your real life So she came and I was quite nervous because she was in her, her boyfriend was in her.

I'd had this real freedom where no, and my children hadn't really engaged with my material. Yeah. And she came, but she really enjoyed it, but she was like, oh, that was really good. And we changed conversations straight away. And I was like, perfect. Do you know what I think is, well?

I think your kids really know the real you. Yes. And when they see you on stage, for most public, obviously it is still us on stage. But it's a certain version that's turned up in order to get the job done. And it's real stories, but you have to tweak things

so it works in a room. I've never liked. And I think a friend or family that really knows you can watch that and go, I understand what my friend or family members do in here. Yes. But that's them at their thing. Yes. Not what they truly believe or feel because they can understand the tone and intonation.

So I do think kids are aware of that. And like when I started, I did, like I had her in a lot of sketches. Yeah. I've always filmed like kind of a long story of that. I always filmed sketches on my phone. I used to get her in loads of sketches. She's to do loads them, but she's not any way in client. Like she can really act and stuff, but she...

Doesn't want to. Did she tell you that she did want to? The worst would be she can't, but she wants to. Oh, can you imagine? You need a stage name just to show people off the same. She's no judge. Is that the tour you're doing now, which is Immaculate? Immaculate, yeah.

And you're doing, you've got Soho Theatre at Walthamstow, which is an amazing new venue. Have you been there? I have been there Well just outside I'm glad you said it because that's a bit of a long word for me now Walthamstow

Yeah Walthamstow Waltham Stowe I'm just kind of say Well it's sort of out London a bit But he's right on the Victoria line So if you are Yeah

It's a really good And you've got more dates Being added in March and April That's your fourth London date Of this tour A tour which is 85 dates in UK and Ireland Jesus

You've added a couple more Vicar streets in Dublin I'm just gonna add it You've got an earpiece in It's good this isn't it I can't believe it. 35,000 tickets sold. Jesus Christ.

There we go. Unbelievable. Well, well done both of you. You've thrown tickets. You've found like something was happening. He's ever done that in six years. I know,

I'm quite impressed with myself. I want to know what he says, and then one of us reads it really quick. Yeah. That's great. So there we go. Emaculate. Where can you get tickets?

But you're going to add more London because that one's about to go. Yeah. Have you got a mailing list? I've made an list. Sign up to the Emma Doron.com. is my... Emma Doran Comedy.

Yeah, or Emma Doran. You'll find me on the... On the web. On the web. And you worked in IT, didn't you? Got your degree in it, so your website's probably great. Did you not know whether? Is that what they took...

Was that year one or two, they took you? The old fingers happened. Yeah. Do you feel like now... Rob asked that... Did you have a moment in your 20... when you were late 20s where you had a freak out? Have you gone...

Now I'm... My kids are older. Now I've... It's my time. Yes. So my youngest is 11. Yeah. And I actually took me a bit of like a little while to twig that they didn't,

like they still need you, but they don't need you in the same way. Yeah. Or even I suppose maybe that guilt of, you know, when you'd go somewhere and you kind of have to look at your partner and go, I'm gone now. So I hope everything works out while I'm gone or, you know, that guilt. Or I'd always like if I was in Ireland, I'd always drive home from gigs, really. Yeah. And then like, you know, sometimes now recently I'm like, no, I think it's, I should

just stay and just, I know when I'll drive out in the morning, there's nobody up. So I can't just go, what was I? You get back at what? You'd get back at 2 a.m. woke up at 7 and they're all asleep until midday. Yeah, totally. What was I killing myself for? How are you feeling about the potential to one day be a grandma,

a young grandma? Well, no, this was the fear. I did have the fear. I was like, this could happen me and my 30s. Yeah, you could be a grandmother in your 30s. Oh, my word. I mean, you don't want that to be the show, do you?

I think, ideally, you want to be hitting, like, earliest possible. It's like late 40s, early 50s, really. Yeah, but I did think about it as well of, I was like, if this ends up happening to my daughter, imagine if I reacted poorly. You know what I mean? When did you just be like, the bloody cheek of her? Did you learn nothing from me?

What's the light on when you gave him a condom? I did really, this is a funny thing. I actually made a conscious thing of when she was a teenager. I was like, right, I'm really going to talk to her. Now, my mom did try to talk to me about stuff, but it was very like riddles, you know, like. Yeah. I always kind of came away going, what has she just said to me?

Yeah. I haven't really, I don't know. And she, like, oh, you know. And it was all very like kind of watch out for the boys. And the boys are only, you know, the boys are only after one thing. And, you know. Rather than talk about it was almost throw away lines. Yeah.

So I thought, okay. And I did the thing with my daughter I did talk to her but still incredibly awkward I don't think there's any way to get around any of that without being awkward Yeah but also you knew what was going on You were just unlucky in that instance

The condom didn't work, you know what I mean? You did all you could to not conceive Oh yeah but you think that I would feel comfortable then talking about like sex and everything with my daughter I was sort of... Well so my 8 year old asked me the other day I couldn't stop laugh at what I was trying to be

sensible. She said, can the hamsters call muffin? Can muffin have a baby? I said, Muffin can't have a baby because she's in the cage alone. There's not a male hamster in there and she's a female hamster. And you need a male and female hamster to have a baby. And she was like, all right, so like how do mummies and daddies make babies?

It's like you need a man and a female to have babies. Well, how does it work? Well, the man has a seed and the mum has an egg in the stomach, in the ovaries, in the womb, and that seed needs to go into the egg. When that works, when that goes into the egg, then the starts to grow in the mummies and put it on yeah well wait too and then and so then if that seed gets into the egg it grows in the mum's belly right she's great

well how does a seed get into the egg yeah classic yeah so this is the big this is the hard question right and you knew you were you're heading that direction but I was and there you this is this is quarter to 8 am. on the school run by the way and I'm not a morning person so I went um and then she went does the daddy just spit in the mummy's mouth. And I'm like, fucking out. What did you say?

Yes. Luckily, that. No, luckily, by some sort of divided intervention, something happened

outside the car, like a weird van went past. Oh, that's a weird van. And then no one asked me again. Brilliant.

And I didn't want to bring up the speed. Because also, what's difficult is like, I'm comfortable in telling a bit, but hey, he's very young to actual

it's too graphic where I said, so I spoke to Lur about it and we said, it was fine because that sort of went away. and I said no, I said no, they don't spit in the mouth. And then if she asked again, I think we're going to say,

oh, there's a book about that so we can read the book together. Yes. And then, because Lou has got a book. Not the spit in the mouth. That's a pamphlet. It's hard to know, isn't it? Because it depends on the child, and I do think as well, like, it's different boys and girls. Yes.

I mean, you know, like a girl could be walking around have her period at nine. Yeah. Yeah. You know, but like I look at my son's at nine. No. No, no. Babies. The other side of it.

is not how you related to your college friends, but you was thrust into other parents. When you were 24, you were like dealing with presumably 35-year-old parents at the school gates and stuff like that. Oh, yeah. What was that like? We, some of them are really, I created enemies. Like, I really, and when my daughter was going to school,

that was like kind of when the, you know, the class WhatsApp group was in its infancy, I feel, that was only beginning. But it already did WhatsApp exist by then? No, I don't, but you know, like kind of parents messaging each other and stuff. I think it was still very...

It's a mad jump between the laundry rooms to WhatsApp and it in one generation. Look at this man. I thought I thought that I was the alien mother. I thought that they all knew that I was like the younger mom and stuff and there was a few. And there was a few of them who would get to the school early to get

first in the queue. So the way it was is they, the teacher would send the kids out. So the teacher would, like, keep the parents away from the classroom door. I'll poke my head out and see what parent is there and I'll send that child out. And that would be a cue. It'd be a cue. So there'd be a particular

group of moms that would get there early to get first in the queue. Yeah. Yeah. You see, it's a power play thing. Right. And I really start to despise some of these moms. Like just the politics that was that play there and who you got in the queue with. And then somebody letting their friends skip up to the top of the queue.

And then the younger woman in the group that's part. And then all the child minders treat it like dirt. They're treated like dirt in the queue. Yeah, yeah. Because they're not the parents. They're not the parents. Not by me, I'm just saying by those moms that skip the queue. Was there ever a moment though where it flipped the other way,

rather than sort of you being slightly put to the side because you're the younger mum and not the same age, where they would go, oh, you're the younger mom. and be shocked that it was you and then you'd be like hang on obviously I am

what I'm why else isn't that obvious it does move on because there is that moment where you know for years

you have the thing of like having the other thing is this is my daughter because people assume that it's your sister

that your mind and your sister and then gradually over time people stop asking you to explain

what the relationship is that they know what it is and nobody that conversation ends then oh you must have been very young or whatever it's gone that she's sorry I thought she was

your sister that leaves and then you just go oh it's not me anymore you know what I'm like oh okay I'm now do I yeah I'm like alright grant so that happens so that you can't have to and that's a little bit a little bit yeah it is because there's a period time

and they're pretty really annoyed you at the start yeah you're like she is mine I wish I didn't look so young people didn't keep ask me what age I wasn't there And then it's like, oh, it's gone now. So nobody asks anymore. And, yeah, it went then. And then my sons, I mean, I really have tried to have as little contact with other parents as possible.

I would say that. Did your husband do more of it, your partner do more of it now? What do you think? So you have very much the default parent still? He can't, he can't do WhatsApp groups. No. But he can, he doesn't want to do. It's that can't cook, won't cook.

He can, he won't. He won't. Look, the way the our class WhatsApp group works, it's 20, you know, 27 women in that group. And there's one man. Mick is floating around in there. And Mick is just giving the thumbs on. Get on me.

And I wanted me his wife or whoever he's with and say, what happened? How did you add him to the class WhatsApp group? Was it an argument? Did he have an affair? Things have to change around here. What happens is he trying to get out of? Yeah, yeah.

what happened or is he there's some men that love me in the i'm in the whatsab groups both times and the music tour okay so yeah it's good i i'm indifferent in that i don't mind i yeah yeah yeah i like being in it so i'm aware they're not that active to be fair they're they're they're not inactive but they're they're they're pure they're not social they're purely um uh whatever you call it i know what you mean pragmatist has anyone got a record has anyone found a coat with this name in it yeah it's that Is netball on? Yeah.

That's, yeah. You know, the one, I'll tell you something out, the one that really got me going. So my son went into secondary school. So that's, in Ireland, it's like from the age of late 13 to 18. That's your secondary school.

Some people trying to keep the WhatsApp group going. Oh, no. After they'd left? Yeah. Just for sort of lows? For laws and just kind of checking on the school. So they're all, they've got, like, you know,

a load of different teachers for all the different subjects. Oh. They keep them going. to keep the class, once I've been. Then somebody went in and said, I nearly,

I nearly lost the law. They said, do we get presents for the teachers now? What? Once the kids have left? No, no. In the secondary school.

Oh, no. Misses whoever who's the Spanish teacher. Maybe a phone tutor at the end of the year. Oh, I'm insane. No offense. I was like,

yeah. Pardon. It was the Spanish. Not the Spanish. Not after what? Spanish. Not after what they did in the final of the year. I was like, have you lost your mind?

I was like, you're making up jobs for yourself now. Some people haven't got enough on. Would you say that on the group? No. No, no, no. Somebody else said her. I think old thumbs up. Somebody said, no, no, no, you don't need to do that. And then somebody else piped up and said,

oh, no, maybe just a bottle of wine. No. Oh, no. But suddenly you're getting a case of wine because there's 10 subjects. Of course. You're having to drive up to school and to your boot. I know, at a harvest festival because it's end of term.

And this has been amazing. Good luck with your tour. Thanks so much, for me. So, sign up to the mailing list if you want the new dates that are coming out. Anyway, thank you so much. Thanks, Mel. Cheers, thank you. Emma Doran.

I love that episode. Hall of Famer. Look, first of all, let's say you are quite keen to jump to favorite episode we've ever done. You've got history of that. For me, one of my favorites we've ever done. And I think that holds a little bit more weight than when you said. Exactly. I don't know.

No, no, no. I think that's a fair comment. Totally. The way she spoke about being a teenage parent, hilarious, brilliant storyteller, but also really inspiring for people. Yeah. You don't know how many you're counting. All right, yeah.

I can do more. Yeah. Got a degree in IT. Yeah. I thought it's brilliant. Brilliant. And I think as well, like, when people talk about, like, a teenage pregnancy,

it's sort of delivered as the worst possible thing that could ever happen to anyone. as a parent, but I think it's quite inspiring because it does happen and that's life. You can try and do all the right things, all the right lessons, all the right sex education, the right parenting. It can just be unlucky, and that happens.

But I just think the way she spoke about it was amazing and, like, the way her parents rallied around her and they navigated it. You never know what's going to happen. 22 years later, you could be a superb podcast guest. Exactly. And an excellent comedian, travel the country. Go and see it.

Thank you very much for watching. Bye. That's the outro. parenting hell listeners, recognize that voice? Yes, it's Josh Widdickham here. I have got a new podcast, Josh Whitickham's Museum of Pop Culture, and I'm going to say it. I'm about 85% sure you're going to love it. Here are the reasons why. Number one, I'm confident if you're listening now, you don't hate me, and possibly think I'm funny. Number two, I'm confident if you're listening now, you like podcasts. Number three, I'm confident if you're listening to me and Rob, you prefer pop culture to people talking about

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