The holiday season can be beautiful — and brutal — especially when you’re a single parent.

In this end-of-year episode of Now What, Rachel speaks directly to the quiet, complicated realities that so many single mums carry through the festive period. The grief of waking up without your children on Christmas morning. The sting of moments you assumed were guaranteed. The comparison traps — to the other parent, to two-parent households, to families with bigger budgets, bigger holidays, bigger support systems.

This conversation is an honest acknowledgement that Christmas doesn’t magically become easier just because time has passed. Whether it’s your first Christmas post-separation or your fifth, the feelings can still surface — and that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

Rachel explores how to hold both love and grief at the same time, how to release the pressure to “replicate” old traditions, and how to gently redefine what this season can look like now. She reminds us that children don’t care about dates on a calendar — they care about how they feel, how loved they are, and the moments we create with intention.

This episode also speaks to the mums spending Christmas without their kids, offering permission to take up space, to create rituals that soothe rather than distract, and to honour your own experience without shame or self-blame.

It’s a conversation about comparison being the thief of joy, about letting go of perfection, about creating magic within the reality you’re in — not the one you imagined. And about choosing, again and again, to feel the feelings without getting stuck in them.

If this season feels tender, heavy, or quietly lonely — this episode is for you. You are not broken for finding it hard. You are human.

Rachel closes the year with reflection, compassion, and a reminder that you get to decide what comes next.

Wishing you a gentle, intentional holiday period — however it looks for you.

Now What will be back in your ears in January 2026.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever had the quiet thought — “Could I become a solo mum by choice?” — this episode is a must-listen.

In this powerful and deeply informative conversation, I sit down with Dr Daniel Lansberg, Fertility Specialist at Melbourne IVF and one of the leading experts in fertility care (and known from the TV series Big Miracles). Together, we walk through the entire journey of becoming a Solo Mum by Choice — from the very first “what if?” all the way to what the path can look like in practice.

Dr Lansberg breaks down every step with clarity and compassion, covering:

• What to do if you’re just starting to think about solo motherhood
• How to understand your fertility picture
• The full medical process from first appointment → donor selection → treatment
• Egg freezing — when to consider it, who it’s right for, and what to expect
• Common fears and emotional hurdles women experience
• Unexpected things that can come up along the way
• Costs, timelines, preparation, and lifestyle factors
• How to make an informed, empowered decision about your next chapter

Whether you’re actively planning, quietly curious, or supporting someone on this path, this episode will leave you feeling informed, grounded, and less alone in the process.

This episode is part of our Solo Mum by Choice Mini-Series, designed to bring clarity and confidence to any woman navigating this possibility.

Learn more about Melbourne IVF and book a consultation:

https://www.mivf.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I’m joined by Fiona, the founder of Mama Matters, for a deeply grounding conversation about what it really means to be a good enough parent.

We unpack the origins of the term, why it’s become such an important reframe for modern parents, and how releasing the pressure to be “perfect” can radically transform the way we show up for our kids — especially when we’re parenting on our own.

Fiona breaks down how good enough parenting supports single mums through overwhelm, decision fatigue, guilt, and the invisible load, offering practical ways to soften the self-criticism and hold more compassion for ourselves in the hardest seasons.

We also dive into Circle of Security, the attachment-based framework Fiona teaches, exploring how understanding our child’s emotional needs — and the patterns we bring from our own upbringing — can strengthen connection, reduce conflict, and create more ease in the everyday moments.

This is an episode for anyone craving reassurance, clarity, and a kinder way to navigate the complexities of solo parenting. You’ll walk away feeling steadier, more supported, and better equipped to trust yourself.

Follow Us:

Rachel: @rachel.maksimovic

Fiona: @mamamatters.au

Now What Podcast: @nowwhat.podcast

Mama Matters website: https://www.mamamatters.com.au/

Circle of Security program: https://www.mamamatters.com.au/circle-of-security-1

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.