The Netmums Podcast - S19 Ep2: KELLY SOMERS: Returning to work after your baby, motherhood and doing it your way

Episode Date: June 16, 2026

This week on The Netmums Podcast, Louise Burke and JB Gill are joined by World Cup 2026 presenter and mum of one Kelly Somers for an honest conversation about returning to work after having a baby, rebuilding confidence, and navigating the juggle of motherhood and career.As one of the UK's leading sports presenters, Kelly has fronted some of football's biggest programmes, from Match of the Day and Football Focus to major international tournaments. But becoming a mum brought a whole new challenge: balancing a demanding career with the realities of family life.Kelly opens up about the fears she carried for years after being diagnosed with endometriosis and PCOS, and why becoming a mother felt like something she could never take for granted. She reflects on returning to work after maternity leave, rebuilding her career confidence, and navigating the challenges that motherhood can throw your way when life doesn't go exactly to plan.With the FIFA World Cup taking her Stateside this summer, Kelly shares how she's making family life work while reporting on one of the biggest sporting events in the world. From travelling with a toddler to relying on an ‘army’ of family support, she offers a refreshingly honest insight into what modern working motherhood really looks like.In this episode:• Returning to work after having a baby and rebuilding career confidence• How motherhood changed Kelly's perspective on ambition and success• Living with endometriosis and PCOS and becoming a mum against the odds• Navigating guilt, identity and the pressure to do it all• Why asking for help is one of the most important parenting skillsWhether you're preparing to return to work after maternity leave, questioning how to balance career and family life, or simply trying to keep all the plates spinning, this episode is packed with reassurance, practical advice and a reminder that there's no one right way to do motherhood.Read more expert advice at Netmums.com and join the conversation on social @Netmums.JB and Louise also want to hear your parenting stories, questions and dilemmas. Email [e-mail] and you could be part of a future episode.The Netmums Podcast is brought to you by Netmums – trusted by parents, backed by experts.Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative.

Well, welcome to the NetMums podcast where real parenting conversations happen. We are back with Series 19 talking about all the stuff that really matters to parents, the juggle, the pressure and how we all make it work in real life. I'm J.B. Gill, a dad of two. And I'm Louise Burke, the editor-director at NetMums. Yeah, we try and make it work. I say that sucking on a strepsel today because I am so run down with a sore throat. it's been a lot recently what with sats and sats exams and juggling kids and stuff

how about you what's your week looking like yeah i mean it's been it's been very busy i literally had the week from hell last week i was there and everywhere um similar to you i'm coming down with well i've been down with something or the other but like you say it's the the work never stops you just keep it moving um you were um chelsea flower show yesterday yes i was yeah Robin shoulders with David Beckham and the King. Was it? Always. Well, actually, I've been with the King all week because the King's, the King's Trust Awards

earlier last week. And that was amazing. They had 50 years celebrating that. And then obviously Chelsea Flash out. I was actually had Chelsea with Chloe as well. So the logistics of organising all of that was full on. We definitely had to rely on the grandparents to make sure that we had everything in check and the kids were all well looked after.

Well, I guess today. knows all about the juggle, doesn't she? She does indeed. And I think it's something that we can all relate to, to be honest, because you know, you're always trying to balance work, childcare, and everything in between. There's a multitude of clubs and activities that you're trying to sort the kids out for

on top of all the stuff that you have to do, not just privately but professionally as well. And let's be honest, it's only Tuesday this week, isn't it? I know. I know. It feels like it should be Friday. Now, we all have to work. and make it work as well. But today we're talking about motherhood in a high-pressure career and what it really looks like behind the scenes.

Yes, and joining us is one of the UK's leading sports broadcasters. And you'll probably know her from shows like Match of the Day, Football Focus and BBC Radio 5 Live as well. Oh, yeah, she is all over. When it comes to footy, she is all over it. And she's also a mum of two-year-old daughter and is currently reporting from the sidelines of the World Cup with a toddler in tow.

And so today we're speaking to Kelly Summers. Welcome, Kelly. Hey, Kelly. Hello, thank you having me. That makes me sound like I've literally got my toddler pitch side to confirm. She will be staying in the Airbnb throughout. Yeah, I'm dragging around America. I'm not sure if that makes me give them or not. And there was me going to ask you if I could be a toddler.

It's not as glam as it sounds. Although, I mean, one day I hope she's not going to remember any of it, is she? But I hope one day I'll be able to. Look what you did. Yeah. So just to remind this is that. So we're obviously talking to you ahead of the World Cup. But when this whole cast comes out, the World Cup will be full on live and kicking. So how are you feeling about going out there with, I mean, are you taking the whole family in tow as well to help you?

Yeah, it's a bit of a juggle. It's a second time I've done it because at Euro 2024, she was seven months old. But that Euros was a lot easier because it was in Germany. And this is obviously closer to home. in Mexico and is a lot longer. And actually, you'll know from having children. Sorry if you're listening to this and you think the first year is hard. I actually think toddler is harder because at least she was seven months old.

We could just push around. She was just happy to be there. Yeah. Whereas now she's two and a half. She's running. She's a toddler. She's brilliant. And you know what?

As far as toddlers go, she's pretty easy and she's good company. But yeah, it's the second time I've done it. And Germany was different because I could, we actually flew out there. Then my partner, my mum flew out because obviously flights for like 100 quid. It wasn't expensive. Then my partner flew back and drove the car out over a few days. Oh, cool. Great idea.

Everything you need. And then we had his mum come, my mum. And it was a bit of a holiday for everyone. It was lovely. But this time, America, I'm still doing that, but on a lesser scale, my partner's coming out, coming back. My mom's coming out, coming back. And then my partner's doing the end. I'm feeling like, have you got a spreadsheet?

going on about this. No, I've just got a brain that's about to explode. It's not as scary as it sounds. It's not as the only thing is England are based in Kansas throughout. So I'm looking at it as we're just relocating to Kansas for six weeks. But obviously England could go out at any point. And then I stay out there. That was a conversation I had with the BBC.

And because a lot of their productions coming from Sulphid, there's not loads of us out there. So they actually said that they were like, we're happy to keep you out there if you want to. because I said nothing, there's nothing worse. In England getting knocked out in the 95th minute and me sitting on Skyscanter trying to find flights next day from my mum. Do you know what I mean? Whereas now we know we go on this day, we come back on the 20th. It's just the in-between and we're going to be adaptable

and it's all going to be fine. Do you know what? It's funny that you say that because I've worked away from home as well, actually, a few, well, I think Ace was, he's probably about a similar age, actually, I think, to your daughter. He was two, two and a half. And we were working on the show called Dance, Don't Dance. So we were out in Amsterdam and it was a similar sort of thing

my parents-in-law had to drive our car out to Amsterdam They effectively acted as nannies if you want to call it that And kind of looked after us while both Chloe and I were in the studio You know filming and recording and doing all the things we were doing for that And then it was sort of like in the afternoon or the evening If we had a little bit of downtime That was kind of when we got to sort of spend time with him Is that what it's going to be like for you

How much planning are you having to go into in order to actually pull this off and make it happen. Yeah, it's quite a lot of planning, but I think what's key with tournaments as well as you don't fully know what's going to happen and you just have to embrace it. Things can come up. So I've got a schedule and the FA are brilliant and they've given like a schedule of when, obviously we know when the games are.

So the other thing is we're flying to Kansas on the 10th of June and then England actually play quite late, which helps. The World Cup starts on the 11th. They're doing a pre-tournament camp in Florida and Miami. three, four years ago, I'd have been going, BBC, please, can I go? Can I go? I'll be that. It was too much for me this time. And the games aren't on BBC anyway, so it didn't make sense. We're sending just a couple of other crew members. But I fly out on the 10th, and the first game is the 17th. And so every game, I have to fly the day before and then fly back the day after.

Right. I can't fly on the day in case I miss the game, in case flights. It's not worth it. But I'm flying back on the 6 a.m. flight the next morning. So the FA and the FA have sent us a schedule where I can see, oh, this day, there's media access. This day there's nothing. This day we're just watching training. So I've got all of that. But obviously this is the biggest World Cup ever. There's games across the BBC constantly. They will request like packages for half time, live updates into other. So although I vaguely can go, oh, I've probably got a day off there. You don't really know. You're thinking on your feet as well. Yeah. You never know what's going. And it's just constantly going,

okay, I think I'm off. But that's why like I always have to have someone out that. I can't say, I actually Max, my partner, you can fly home that day. I've got a day off there. Mum can fly back the next day. Like, it just, there's always someone there. I'm always available. Yeah, you're both very lucky that you've got parents, grandparents who will step in because not everyone either has grandparents around.

How do people have kids without grandparent? It's crazy. I'm so grateful. How do they do it without parents? I know. Yeah. It would cost you a fortune to hire a nanny and take them out for, you know, six weeks. I wouldn't.

I really does. Yeah. I'm just, I am just so. so lucky. I'll never forget Gabby Logan actually, obviously one of the best sports broadcasts in this country, one of twins. She texts me when she saw my pregnancy and she gave me some really lovely advice. It was a really nice message out of the blue. And one of the things she said was, it takes a village, our job is visible. You can't hide away from it, except the help when you got it. And it's such basic advice, but it's always stuck with me. Like, I have

got the help, so I have to use it. And yeah, yeah, I'm not moaning at all because I'm really, I'm really lucky and a lot of people aren't. But do you think if you didn't have, I mean, you said briefly then, but if you didn't have your parents to help or Max or Max's parents, would you've been able to return to work as quickly and to take on the jobs that you're able to do? It's funny because if you'd have asked me before I had my daughter, I'd have said, well, yeah, I'll just get a nanny, yeah, I'll just get a child.

Yeah, people leave their kids all the time. I was that person that said that. But I think you only know when you don't know how you're going to feel until you become a parent. Yeah, absolutely. I had my daughter. It's such a cliche, isn't it? But the way your brain changes, only recently, so she's two and a half, she only started preschool last month because I didn't want to leave her with someone

outside of family. Don't get me wrong. Now she's there. I'm like, why didn't I do this before? It's been great for me. It's great for both of us. But, yeah, so before I had her, I was like, well, if mum's not around, I'll just have a nanny.

We still don't have a nanny. Like, it's taken me a long time to get to grips with that idea. in short, no, I probably wouldn't have been able to. But then the cost of preschool is huge as well, isn't it? Yeah. You know, having a kid in preschool. Not everyone, you know, can afford that because it is so costly. But it's super helpful.

I think there was a skit on social once and it was like a clip where a comedian was like, should we put the kid in like for half, just half a day a week, just half. And then it's like slowly as they do it. I've seen this. Okay, five days please. Five days. I'll take the five days. But I think your daughter's one of the older ones as well

And my son was quite old So by the time he got to four He was ready to be in school And he still had a full year before he was able to join So it was really really difficult Because he was more than prepared, more than ready And you kind of just, you know, bided the time Almost wishing it away

Which is not a great thing to do But do you know what I mean Because you're like, he's ready He needs to go in He needs to go to school So you talked about how Becoming a mum shifted your perception on how you look after your kids and the juggle of work

and the balance of work and children. But has it also shifted your perspective of work and your career having a kid? Yeah, massively. I know that I still need work. Like I love what I do and it's a big part of my identity. But it's not the most important thing. And again, I know that sounds like you're stating the obvious,

but ask any of my friends from when I was, I moved down to Bournemouth when I was 21. took a job in their media department, away from home, didn't know anyone down there, worked six day weeks, like we'd literally do Monday to Friday, travel to Hull or Preston or somewhere ridiculous on a Saturday. I'd have a Sunday off and then I'd go back into, I dedicated everything. Then in my spare time, I started trying to make a show real reporting. I literally dedicated my, from 21 to 30 to that really. And then I missed so many social things and that was all I ever wanted. And I knew I wanted to be a mum, but it was like it wasn't the.

be all in end all. It was just, it all happened one day. And then I found out that it might not be as easy to have children and your shift to, that's the first shift that happens. Yeah. I think when you're used to, when you're so driven in your career, you think you can plan everything and you think you can plan having a baby. And it just, you just have to go with it. And I remember everyone, like, because obviously a lot of the bosses at work, all the places I work are parents. And they're going, yeah, yeah. But they rolled with it with me and they enabled me. I went and did a game. And actually driving up there, I felt awful. I was like, why have I done this?

What am I doing? But she was with my mum and my partner. And I remember the titles running and going, do you know what? I'm not as prepared as I usually am. But this isn't the most important thing anymore. And that's the best thing I think I've ever presented to this day. Because I was free. I wasn't burdened by, if this goes wrong, my life is over.

I just, I can remember the perspective shift. In those titles running, I can remember that moment of going, this doesn't matter. The more important thing is that I pump at a half time and ensure my supply doesn't go down. And if you'd have told me that six weeks before, I'd have been like, oh, shut up. Absolutely not.

Yeah. So would you say that it changed your ambition then or just the way you approach the things that you're ambitious about? No, if anything, it's sharpened my ambition because I'm determined to show you can do both. I'm so lucky to have the people around me. Like my mum is. literally an angel. My mum's a massive football fan and I'm really lucky because she understands,

she gets it, she wants to hear about it, she wants to be part of it. I think she loved in the early days, I did take my little girl with me and my mum, I think my mum just likes it. I remember her seeing Tierra-E and I'm walking past him and being like, how about, and I was like, mum, stay calm. But I also like that she was getting to see that side of it. So I'm really lucky that my partner works in football as well. So we all all understand the importance of it. And my career hasn't stopped, it's carried on going. And so I think I've shown that you can do both. You're just more efficient. I think every parent will say that. You are more efficient when I am on it. And that's why preschools help me a little bit because so she's at preschool right now. It enables me to

talk to people like you guys. And to keep my brain going. And then when she comes home, I've had a couple of hours of work stuff. And I think I'm a best of month for her. Yeah. And you're ready to be with her. Yeah. I think Paris Fury said that, didn't she? She said like, if you have that nursery time or childcare, use it. Like, do your work. Do you what you need to do? Be organised. So that you're...

I almost cram-to-mise and you're going to be honest. You plan too much. Yeah. I was going to ask about, when you mentioned then, about sort of pumping in the lose or whatever you're doing it, as you're in-between broadcasts. You know, we all have to, we all have to do it. And, but obviously football, I know we've got the lionesses and women's football teams and there are some female football managers, but.

It is mainly male dominated. How do you feel as a working mum in that environment and then having to, you know, I don't know whether you have to seek permission to go off and breast pump or, like, do you feel? I think they just, I think maybe they just thought I went to the toilet and had a bit of a problem with my tummy or something because I just went off and I was sitting in the toilets. It was at Aston Villa and it was in the posh hospitality toilets. Oh, well then. That's all right. If anyone's just, yeah.

But I still was like, this is a bit weird, isn't it? Like, this is really odd. And I'm sure other moms will relate to this. That moment when you have to throw milk down the sink is so depressing that you've pumped. Yeah. It's like, oh, this is liquid gold. Yeah. But if I'm honest, I didn't really think about it because I was just like, if they want me to come to work,

the broadcast that I was working for then were absolutely amazing. They booked me for loads, for a fair few bits across. period because I said I wanted to be booked and they had someone on standby for everything and they checked in constantly. Oh, that's amazing. Yeah, they were they were really really hyper aware. I did have to, I was meant to be doing something the day after and on the way back in the car I text my agent and said, I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I was like I loved being on air. I was in desperate to get home. I was like, but that's me done for a while now. Like I've done what I need to do. I almost had to do that day as well to go this can work. I didn't, now I look back

on it. That moment for me was actually this is wildly early. I'd had a C-section as well by the way. So when they suggested I walk on the sun at the stand to do a piece to camera, I was like uh-uh, can't quite, can't do that. But that was one day, but I did that one day, Jody. And then I was like, yeah, yeah, yeah. I actually, I don't regret. I didn't talk about at the time because I was worried about shame and I didn't know how I'd feel. But now two and a half years on, I can look back and go, I know why I did that. I did that. I did that for me to go, I've still got it. I can still do it. That world still works with this world, but I can

leave it. But that's amazing that your employer was so supportive that it gave you space to go, I'm going to do this but actually, I'm a bit broken now so I'm going to step away for a bit. But there were people that I've known for years. The bosses there were some of my first bosses in TV so they knew that I don't shy out of things. I'm quite an honest person. I'm kind of like that. I'm I don't really, I say if I can do something, I say if I can't. Yeah.

Particularly since I've had my daughter, I'm pretty now. No, it doesn't work for me. It just changes the way you think of things, doesn't that? Would that be a piece of advice then for mothers returning to work from you? Like, don't be afraid to just really say how you feel or? I want to say yes. It's not that easy. It's not that easy.

And I don't want to sit here and say because I've had a good experience everyone else has. I want to talk about the good experience to say you can have the good experience. out there. And I genuinely believe that if you have really good relationships with your employer and if I only really now work for people that I really like and that understand my situation, because I think it's really important to me. I need to go to work knowing that the employer, I never forget actually, this strikes back as well. There was another boss that I worked with. I was doing the England Games for Channel 4 at this point. It was done by IMG Media and I was heavily pregnant. Are these all male bosses, by the way?

Yeah. And this is why I sometimes think men can get a hat. Not all men are great and understand it. But what you have to remember is that a lot of men are fathers, have seen their own wives go through it. And so there are some really understanding men out there. So I sometimes feel like when we hear of, oh, this male boss didn't do it. I'm not saying people I'm telling the truth.

There are some really understanding men out there. And I think it's changing now. And this mail bus, I was sitting on a coach. I think we were doing England, Scotland in Scotland. And we're on a coach going from like the airport to the hotel. or something. And I was very overcompensating with everyone. I'm going to be that. I was reminding everyone. I'm not going anywhere. I was so scared of disappearing and being forgotten. And he said to me, I remember I'm saying, you can disappear. You won't disappear completely.

If you go, you go for a while and you come back. You've reached a level in your career now where you don't get forgotten about. And he said some of the most rounded people in this industry are mothers because they have perspective, because they have life. experience and they understand being a mum makes you understand things you don't understand before and I remember thinking what is he talking about. And we're great multitaskers as well. Yeah and he said don't assume that because you're a mum, everyone will assume you're useless again and that you've got baby brain and that you're a mum and nothing else.

Women now, he was like his wife was a broadcast as well which helped I think. But actually that stuck with me. So I was really lucky at that point to be supported by employers. I haven't even mentioned the BBC in this, but the BBC were amazing. I said, look, I'm not around November and December. I was due to be on air. I gave birth on a Friday night and I was due to be on air

in Manchester on the Saturday. Oh my God. Yeah, I was going to work right up until it and when I pulled out everyone knew but they knew not to text me and wait for me to text them. Yeah. They just said, do you come back

and do what you want when you want and I did a game at the beginning of January and I was like, actually too early. Yeah, yeah. Every FA Cup round they'd ring me and go, what do you want to do? This is where the game is. It's up to you.

So I think that's all you can ask for really, understanding. Yeah. So did you, at that point, did you feel like you had to prove yourself because you'd become a parent? Or was that just a way of kind of, I guess, ticking it off, you know, and just saying, this is still possible? Yeah. Be honest. Be honest. I thought I was going to think I had to prove myself. I really thought I was going to have to come back and go, well, I need to work straight away because I need them to realize I'm the same person that was before. and actually having a baby is not going to stop me. I'm still available all the time.

I'm still. But actually, like I said, I did that first game. It reminded me that I, with a lot less prep, I'll say that now. I wouldn't have told them at the time that I prepped a lot less. And I don't now. Now I'm an overpreper again. With a lot less prep, I was able to do that. So that gave me the reassurance.

They were really happy with me that night. And I was happy with myself. And it's very rare that I can say that. I actually felt really proud of myself. And I think that just gave me. me the confidence to go, if I can do that, then I'm going to be okay here. My big thing for me is I just need to keep communicating with the BBC because they are being so open and so helpful and they want to help me. I just opened that back. I went and did the games

for them at the beginning of January because I love the FA Cup and BBC don't have live football. I hated missing out. And I did two games and two days, only local. My daughter was with her dad and it was the wrong thing. I remember someone there, one of the big bosses saying to me, you don't have to do this Kelly. Come back when we get further into it, have this time. These games are happening every year. And I was like, oh, he was quite a senior person. I was like, okay, maybe JV.

then going back to your point, maybe I did think I needed to prove myself, but I didn't realize it. Yeah, because if someone had to tell you, then maybe in honesty, you did. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. What was it, I was going to say, or was it more pressure to do it all?

Did you feel that? Because, you know, sometimes you, much as I thought. Okay. Well, that's, yeah. Because it doesn't sound like you're someone who gives into pressure like that. But, you know, I'm sure we all feel it at times, you know, when you think, you say, ah, do you know what?

If I, if I don't do that. There's a bit of people pleasing in all of us, right? Do you know what I also? Yeah, there is. But also, I think you get better at now. I have a real, like, I write a lot of lists. And if I can't decide, even now, if I can't decide whether to do a job. Because before, you know, before you're a parent, how much time do you have?

You don't realize. Yeah. I don't realize. What do I do with all that? that time. Actually, the answer there is I did work every job, whereas now I'm very, even last night, I sent a text to my agent. Something got cancelled this week and I'd had another request him. I'm not always this in demand, by the way. I'm so busy all the time. I'm not. It's very rare. And she still, I'll go back to this other company and say you're available now.

And then late last night, I was like, looking at my week and I've got other things, I've got appointments and I said, actually, I can, I'm available, but it has to have X, Y and Z. It needs to be, they need to meet this criteria for me. And that's, not being a divot, that's just me protecting my self-work and protecting boundaries. Yeah. Boundaries. And that's what I think I'm better at now. I'm, I don't say yes to everything. I say yes to the right things. And I was saying this to someone else who's recently become a mum in the industry the other day. I said, mum guilt is, doesn't go anywhere. And probably dad guilt too. Like the guilt doesn't go. True. True. Sometimes I imagine if I'd said yes to a job, imagine if I'd said no to a job and then

work out what the better feeling is. And I also think. how I feel three weeks after the job if I'll have care that I didn't do it or if I'll think oh that was a good job to do you just have to be comfortable being uncomfortable and realise you're not going to get every decision right with your gut yeah I think it's a bigger picture isn't it

and ultimately that's what I do as well if I'm taking it or looking at a job is potentially going to take me away for a week or two weeks or even three weeks or even longer sometimes you're in the same situation industry to me aren't you in terms of it's not normal hours no exactly I mean it's all around the clock

it can literally be three weeks weeks on and then six weeks off or vice versa and you know funny the funny the other day i was away for about five days and my daughter's really i called her and i said to her on saturday i'm coming home on saturday um i might not be home before you're in bed so i'll see you in the morning and i meant sunday morning and i think she just heard saturday and thought it was saturday morning and she was be even she didn't want to talk to anyone but it's little things like that obviously when i hear that story from my wife i'm literally just like oh my days obviously i yeah a little bit of a messed that up but do you know what I mean it's that that never goes if you're away for a week or

away for two weeks or even if you're away for a day and you know especially obviously for you care well for all of us you know I'm sure I'm very hands on when I'm at home I do pickups I do drop off I go to their matches I do all that stuff so it's a big deal when you miss that and like you say you've got to be really I'm really strategic about what I choose and when I do it and why I do it and ultimately it's a whole for me anyway it might not be the same for everyone but it's a whole family consideration you know it's a decision the family because it affects the family. Yeah.

My partner gets sick of me sometimes going, I've got this job to do, but I don't know, but I'm an overthinker and he's a lot more black and white, and I think that's why we work. I'm lucky that he understands it and he knows the value of me working, like literally, financially, for all of us. And I think it's made my daughter, she's used to being around other people. Yeah, more sociable.

I just think that a lot of people say, oh my gosh, how do you do it with your job? It's such unsocicial. Wow, it's so hard, did it? And I say, you can look at it or you can flip it and go, I have the freedom to say no. I didn't have to put my daughter in to nursery at nine months old. I could have if I wanted to. But a lot of my friends have not wanted to go back to work when their child is nine months old.

They've had to put him in nursery five days a week. I'm so lucky that, yes, I have to occasionally go away overnight. I don't have quite as much travel as you, J.B., but it's, I still have quite long days. And sometimes, yeah, it means I don't get to put her to bed. But on the whole, today to do this, this is the first time I've not done preschool, drop off, my partner's done it. So it's not like I've got a random to do it.

But I'm very present. So when people say, it must be really hard, I go, well, I want to go to them, it must be really hard for you and you drop them off at nursery for the first time after nine months. It's all hard in different ways.

And I try and focus on the positives that my jobs can bring. So you've talked about how you decide about choosing jobs and weighing up the balance of, is it worth it? But in terms of day-to-day life, Have you decided to drop some balls because now as a mum and juggling work and family life,

some things just aren't worth it or lowering expectations around life? If my partner was listening to this, he would say she's ready to be on, tidy up after herself. It's probably true. I do now, when she goes to bed, I just tidy up everything. And I try not to, but the balls do get dropped. And I think it's just working out which is the one draw. What bothers you and what doesn't? That isn't the glass ball.

As long as the glass ball doesn't drop is the way I always think of it. So what's your glass ball then? There are cells that can't drop. Well, her and her eating well and her. That sounds so obvious. But as long as she, I'm quite hot on her eating and like eating well. And I try and make better decisions where I can and home cook things. And that's important to me.

It's important that she's happy that I get to. some time to play with her. We've just moved, we moved into this house just over a year ago and it needs to be renovated and we've got nowhere with that. So that's probably the thing that is on the back foot at the moment. But life is busy, isn't it? And see, I don't know. I think probably messiness and the house is probably what gets dropped.

I used to be, when I've got three kids and when they were, I had three under three at one point. And so it was quite intense. Yeah. Oh my gosh. And I wasn't working at a point during those early years. And so I was just in, you know, I was at the kitchen sink, knee deep in nappies, etc. I have so much respect for people that do that, by the way.

So much. It's harder than going to work. It's really hard. And I used to say, I used to like to have a tidy kitchen. So the mess thing was a bother to me because I felt because I was in it all day. Yeah. I didn't like it. So it used to stress me out.

And I used to sort of, I guess, not want a perfect home, but I wanted it tidy because then I felt happier and more confident and positive. But then friends would say, Louise, just leave the dishes in the sink. Like, nothing's going to happen to those dishes all day. Just deal with it. Like, enjoy your day and just leave it. And I was, I just can't do it. Because it had to have, like, things cleaned up in order for me to then crack on

with my day because I just wanted things like organized but I guess that's all I was doing like that was my job was being at home and raising kids I sometimes think as a mum there's an element of that where you have to embrace so much of it but that is like almost you clinging to a bit of your identity of like I am a tidy person so much of my life is changed I'm good at what I do as well yeah so much of my life has changed I'm surrounded by children but the one thing I've always done is I've had a tidy kitchen and I want to keep that so I can understand that it's almost like a clamour for our own identity, isn't it? And our own...

I think so. In amongst... There's so much as well that you can't control in parenthood. That, yeah, you're probably like, I can control that that kitchen, that's the one that you've got control of. Not that I'm saying you can control your kids, but that's sometimes harder, isn't it? Yeah. But yeah, sometimes I look back at that and I think, yeah, she was right.

I could have just left those, like, feeding bowls in the sink or the feeding bottles or whatever and left them and gone to the part. You know, because sometimes you are not doing the... fun stuff or the present stuff. And I know. I also think it's good for your kids to see you doing that kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah, because someone's got to do it, right?

The fairies don't do it. That's why I say now. Now they're sort of tweenagers and teenagers and they get up from breakfasts leaving their plates around. I'm like, guys, come on. Get it. Yeah. Ace is stuffing at the moment because I'm like, listen, you've got clear the table.

I know. You've got a table as well. Yeah. Exactly. I was going to ask you for that, obviously you're doing some lots of travelling over the summer. Do you have ahead of the holidays for families, do you have travel tips with your toddler? Have you got any hacks for travelling? Pray.

Do you know what? She's pretty well travelled. And travel tips and travel hacks. Do you know, I've seen one on Instagram recently that I'm going to get out. I've not used before. Have you seen you can get like for an aeroplane? There's like an inflatable thing that you can. blow up and it fills the gap between the air they're like the airplane seat and the seat in front so you can put this inflatable thing so they can like lie down and sleep oh that's cool yeah it's

good so i'm gonna buy one of those i have no idea if you're not sleep on the plane yeah there is that um also previously on previous flights my daughter was breastfed and now she's not so that was always like my partner always used to say to me it was like a go on whip out without because it was like the emergency yeah whereas now get them to sleep yeah he did exactly that and it was like you say it's a dream yeah he'd be like another bottle of milk just just do it so they've got a full belly of milk actually now I think about it I wish I was still I should have carried on the breastfeed until this summer really didn't really think about that snacks um I just am always prepared like we were talking last night actually about what we're going to pack for the US because for six

weeks for a family, like, I am on air, so the clothes, I've got a lot of stuff. And I actually said last night, I'm not going to take, I'm going to take her plane toys, but when we get out there, let's just go to a shot, we're out there for six weeks, it will be cheaper to just go and buy her, a baby's pram. She's really into, she's in that era at the moment. Yeah, a cheap baby's pram, another dolly, some Lego, like, I'm just going to rebuy it and then we'll go and donate it when we leave rather than, but then equally I was like, but we have got a 10-hour plane journey to get through. So I'm going to buy some little toddler headphones.

She doesn't watch, I don't know if I'm going to sound like a real witch of a mum here, which she doesn't watch a great deal of TV because I'm very aware of screen time. She wants you a little bit and there's a time and a place for it. And I think one of those times and places is on a plane. So I'll get some toddler headphones. Yeah, I don't really have hacks. I'm very lucky that she's good. I think snacks toys and I'm hoping this inflatable thing is going to send her to sleep.

Is she a good sleeper? When she goes to sleep, she's good. but getting her to sleep. And what we've actually noticed is she's worse at going to sleep for me at the moment, but she's a real mummy's girl but the last few nights

my partner has put her to sleep and it's, whereas with me she'll just go to start going to me oh, mommy and start playing with my hair. She's very sweet. Mommy, you're beautiful. Mommy, I love you.

And it's lovely, but you know when you're like, it's quarter past nine. And I love now. And I love to sleep two hours ago. Yeah. So she's good when she gets to sleep. And you mentioned food

that you're quite hot on food and how you feed. your daughter and you mentioned snacks on the plane. Do you, one of these people that whips out the tappelware on the plane with all these handmade, homemade snacks? I would love to be. I'm not that good. When I say in the food police, I read labels and I try and make better decisions.

But I don't want to sit here and pretend that I'm the perfect mum. Yeah, it's important, but we can't do it all the time. I try and make better decisions where I can. And I'm actually already thinking it's going to be tough in the US, actually, I think. because also I'm used to over here what is good and what's not and yeah it's just different food there's a lot of processed food in the US yeah yeah so we'll do a bit we'll like I said we're acting like we live there so it'll be on the case of the first day going and getting yeah like we're spending time in the supermarket and looking through I'll look it up beforehand as well but I'm I'm not here

for fair play if you're a parent that can always home make snacks and always make the perfect food decision because it's very, very hard in the world we live in. So now I'll, I might make a few, she likes making these little healthy cakes with me. So maybe we'll make a few of those and take them. But on the whole, it will be packaged snacks. I'm not under any illusions. The last few days before I go away are going to be chaos in terms of packing things. Busy, busy, busy, busy.

I'm not going to be baking in the kitchen. Well, let's talk about it then. Let's talk about the World Cup. What are you most excited about? Of course, it's going to be lots of travelling about for you, I'm sure. But you're going to have the basic, in Canada. us with the family. What are your thoughts about that? And what are you most nervous about? If anything.

So, yeah, I'm nervous about quite a lot, actually. I think it's just the unknown. But I mean, I think once we get there and we can say, I think it is just the unknown. It's not knowing. Like at the moment, I know where the local shop is, where the local, like you know where everything is should you need it. I think it's the unknown of that. But once we get there, we've done the first food shop, we've worked out where the local park is. We've worked out where like the local zoo is. I'm going to look up and see if there are little toddler groups and things out there because I want her to feel normal. She needs to have children interaction.

I'm very, I'm conscious of her world. She's excited and she loves travel and like she came to the Euros in 2024. We went to, she came to Switzerland when the women's won the Euros only for a few days. And she came to New York last summer when I did the Club World Cup. So she's used to the travel. Yeah.

She's talking about going to America as well. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. a lot of people. She's quite sociable. But I'm conscious of, I just want to get there and imagine, make her world

settled. And then once her world is settled, and that's why, I mean, like I said, we get there on the 10th. I don't think England arrive in Kansas until the 13th. So I've got a couple of days to just find everything. My mum comes down on 14th. And 14th, 13th, 14th, be my first days of work. And I just feel like by then,

that we're going to get a higher car. Everything will feel yeah, it's the setup. So once those few days are done, I think I can breathe. because I'll do all my prep work before I get there and then I can just kind of go head first into the job which is pretty much my favourite job I do I really like what a privilege to be England reporter it's amazing will the family get to go to many games

or will she be a bit too young she's a bit too young so I'm a Watford supporter and we took her at the end of the season poor girl but we got there and I mean Vickridge Road isn't the loudest And we got a little bit late And when we sat down We weren't, we probably We weren't close to the front

The first time Watford attack She burst into tears And I was like, oh you just forget That you can't brace a child But anyone else following the game knows it's going to get a bit louder Because they're getting towards a goal She's not following the game

In the same way, she doesn't realise it And she has got ear defenders Which we've used at fireworks and things And I should have taken those So she's just a little bit young Though she does love football We'll take her to football But everyone says it's like

My mum Are you going to get to go to games and my mum is like, well, no, I'm there to look after. No. If there's like, there are other games. I don't know that I was clear, but. There are all the games in Kansas, and if I've got an evening off,

we'll try and get to get to it to her. My stepdad's coming out too, so they could go to a game, but on the hell no. You mentioned that your mum is a fierce football fan, and I imagine that influenced you growing up and the career that you've now taken. And then obviously you've got your daughter

now in tow and you're taking her. to the Euro, the World Cup, games. Is it really important to you, which is great, is it really important to you that she sees the world of football and has role models within the world of football? And obviously we've got the brilliant lionesses.

But how, is it a purposeful, sort of, you know, you're doing this with an intention that she has, her eyes open to. I don't think it is actually. Do you know what? That's the key phrase actually. I want her eyes open to the world and I want nothing to be out of reach.

And I'm so grateful to the lioness. I'm grateful firstly that my mum has been a season to get a Wattford since she was five years old. That was in the 1960s. I can't imagine there was many young girls going there then. No. My mum has always been a football fan. Her mom was a football fan. So I'm immensely lucky that like there's all these amazing role models now.

Yeah. But I have all of these. I had all of these role models. But my mom never forced me. to it. I didn't go to my first football game until I was eight and I only went because what's been in the playoff final and I begged to go because if one of the school was going. My mum didn't force it. My mum went every weekend. She had a break when I was really young. But my mum and my nana and my granddad then went and I wasn't interested. But that was fine. It was

never forced on me. It was me in the end. It was no I want to try that world. And I just feel a responsibility and I feel like a lot of parents feel like this. Our responsibility is just to open our children's eyes to as many things as possible and let them choose. There is no pressure. My partner works in football as well. So she knows Daddy goes to football. She just thinks mommy does podcasts. That's what she talks about podcasts. I'm like, but you've seen on the TV. I do that as well. Yeah. And also often I do it like situations like this where she's upstairs and I'm doing a podcast. That's the beauty. That's another thing that makes this whole world a lot easier that you're working when you can do stuff from home, by the way. We're very lucky. Yeah. Absolutely.

It didn't have many benefits, but I think it's helped a lot of parents. It did shifting. I don't desperately want to. If she wants to go into football, amazing. All I want her to know is that if she wants to, it is there. She goes to ballet on a Saturday morning as well, and she loves dancing. Like whatever she wants to go in is fine by me, but I just want her to know that I did this. So if you want to, cool, no problem otherwise. It's early days, yeah. I'm going to hand you over to J.B.

For a quick fire little question. Yes. It's not difficult questions, I promise, Kelly. But yeah, if you're ready, it's quick fire time. Yep, go. Okay, one word to describe a motherhood. Bonkers I didn't want to go negative

and I didn't want to go positive I didn't want to say chaos because then it sounds like it's bad or maybe unpredictable Love that Your biggest parenting fail so far If you've got one I've got loads

I think they've blocked them out of my mind This makes it sound like I haven't got any I've got loads we'll come back to that one then we'll come back to that one one one one one that you think makes the juggle easier parents family parents yeah that's a good one absolutely

one thing you've completely let go since becoming a mum if anyone sees me out and about where I live I'm sorry the days when I'm not at work because I have to wear so much makeup for work I look like a scruff hair on top of my head no makeup on big glasses on track suit me that's what I've chill

that's the mum uniform brilliant brilliant I love that okay one thing that no one warned you about when it comes to parenting people say it's full on

but I don't think you understand the mental full onness of it the mental someone described it to me and I'm sure you've heard this before is like a computer with loads of tabs open and I just always feel like that

and sometimes that can really get on top of me and I have to write things down I write lists like never before. You can say that you can be warned of the mental load, but the reality of the mental load only becomes known when you are a parent. Yeah, yeah, fair. Okay, this is the last one.

It's not really quick fire, but it's a good one to end on, I think. Dream day off. Well, I should say, a lovely day at the farm with my daughter. Do you know what, though? A day off for me is, does involve her because actually,

as much as we all need time away from, my children and it really helps us. I really enjoy the days where she goes to preschool in the morning. She only goes for three hours because I know she's then been educated, fulfilled, literally constantly entertained and kind of stimulated. But then I also need, like I've really really value after the end of a busy week. She's got a trite and we walk 15 minutes to the park. And that walk, she chats away and she commentates on everything.

And actually I've realised for me that's quite a good place for me because it takes me into a world into her world. So, I don't know, or. I'm like you. I think, you know, especially when you've got a busy, busy life and you're working and you're away and whatever. Like for me, dropping the kids at school and obviously having that six, seven hours or whatever it is where I can do stuff with Clow or we can even go on like a breakfast date. Like dinner dates just don't exist anymore. So, do you know what I mean? A breakfast that wherever, a little posh brunch somewhere or even a trip into A conversation where you can finish the sentence, you know, the sentence before someone interrupts you. And also I think it's, I think it's about balance too, isn't it?

Like, I could say this, I have far mask one, like escape for a day, but actually having a day where you've seen your kids in the morning, so you know they're okay and you know they're happy. But then you and your wife get tired. And it's, I think it's about, for me, it's about balance and knowing I've catered to all of the people and all of the needs. And I've filled my own cup and I've done the things that I should do. That makes me feel better. Yeah, well, listen, you are smashing it. As every parent, listen to this, is smashing it as well. And you're certainly smashing it on a professional front.

And we're wishing you all the very best with the World Cup. I'll definitely be tuning in and watching. Yeah, I'll be following you on Insta for a little World Cup diary. Yeah, and fingers crossed for England. If Insta goes quiet, it's because I'm struggling. Well, she's not posted for a few days. We'll send messages of encouragement. She's not posted any home main recipes.

All good. All the best with it. Thanks for having me. That was great. Thank you, Kelly. Ah, wonderful. Wasn't she great? You know, what I loved about Kelly Summers just there

was really giving an honest take of that return to work feeling when you're feeling like pressure to be your old self, go out there, smash it. But actually you are torn in honesty after having this baby. And she waited for that baby. She waited, you know, a few years. is for that baby with various struggles. So I thought, yeah, kudos to Kelly for opening up about that. I really enjoyed that chat. Yeah, well, it's bespoke, isn't it? You know, and you can clearly see that she's

very highly ambitious. She's very driven in her career, but also family life means a lot to her. You know, and I think, you know, I can definitely resonate with her and some of the things that she's feeling because, of course, you're ambitious and you want to achieve things and you've got to earn money for the family. But at the same time... little squiggly little toddler in your hat, baby or toddler in your hands. You can't say no. It's the most important thing. Yeah, they're the ones that will be there when, you know, when you're too old to work and, you know, I think to protect that in its earlier stages is really, really important. Yeah, it was great. So if you enjoyed this episode, make sure you give us a follow

or share it with another parent and we will see you next time. Do it with indeed. Bye. Bye. Bye. You know,