Thriving Parent-ing

Motherhood can leave many women feeling stuck in survival mode—constantly rushing, reacting, and carrying the invisible mental load of family life. In this heartfelt conversation, breathwork facilitator and mind-body coach Tash Forbes shares how chronic stress, anxiety, and a dysregulated nervous system can keep mums trapped in fight-or-flight without even realising it. Tash explains the powerful connection between breath and the nervous system, why so many women have forgotten what true calm feels like, and how simple breathing practices can help create more presence, patience, and capacity in everyday life. She also opens up about her own journey through postnatal anxiety, burnout, and healing, and how breathwork helped her move from merely surviving to genuinely thriving again.
Tash Forbes is obsessed with helping people stress less and live more. As the founder of Breathing Space, she uses breathwork and nervous system coaching to help people create more space within, because life feels a whole lot better when you're not constantly running on empty.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why shallow chest breathing can keep your body stuck in fight-or-flight mode
How belly breathing signals safety to your nervous system and promotes calm
The difference between functional breathwork and transformational breathwork
Why many mums struggle to relax, even when they finally have time to themselves
How chronic stress and unresolved emotions can be stored in the body
Tash’s personal journey through postnatal anxiety, burnout, and healing
The surprising link between self-worth, anxiety, and nervous system regulation
How breathwork can help you respond rather than react during challenging parenting moments
Why stillness can feel uncomfortable when your nervous system is wired for busyness
Simple ways to weave breath awareness into everyday routines
A practical breathing technique you can start using today to create more calm and clarity
How becoming a more regulated parent can positively impact your children and relationships
Why you don’t need to do more to feel better—you may simply need to reconnect with your breath

Connect with Tash Forbes:
Website: https://breathing-space.com.au
A 5-minute reset for when your body is tight and your mind won’t stop. https://breathing-space.kit.com/howtostopanxiety
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashforbes_/ https://www.instagram.com/breathing.space_/
Book a breathwork: https://breathing-space.com.au/breathwork/

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or simply craving more calm in your day, this conversation offers practical tools and gentle encouragement to help you reconnect with yourself, one breath at a time.
Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/
For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 115 Show Notes
And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.
And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!
To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.
Until next time, Thrivers

“Why won’t my newborn just sleep properly?” If you’ve ever found yourself asking that question at 2am while bouncing, feeding, or googling wake windows in desperation, this episode is for you. In this honest and reassuring Baby Bitesize conversation, the host unpacks why newborn sleep feels so unpredictable in the early weeks and what’s actually biologically normal. Instead of chasing perfect routines or trying to “fix” sleep, this episode explores how feeding, nervous system regulation, connection, sensory nourishment, and developmental immaturity all shape your baby’s sleep in the beginning. Most importantly, it reminds parents that while you can’t control everything, there are gentle, supportive ways to work alongside your baby’s natural biology as it matures.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why newborn sleep feels chaotic and unpredictable
The biggest misconception parents have about newborn routines
How biology, feeding, and connection drive sleep in the early weeks
Why trying to control newborn sleep can increase stress and anxiety
What changes around the 8–12 week mark in your baby’s development
How circadian rhythms and melatonin begin to mature
The powerful role of morning sunlight in regulating sleep
What “sensory nourishment” means and why it matters
How under-stimulation can sometimes make babies more unsettled
The balance between healthy stimulation and overwhelm
Why connection and co-regulation are essential for healthy sleep foundations
Gentle ways to support your baby’s nervous system and overall sleep development

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, confused, or like you’re doing something wrong because your newborn’s sleep isn’t “falling into place,” this episode will help you breathe a little deeper and approach this season with more confidence, flexibility, and compassion.

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/
For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 114 Show Notes
And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.
And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!
To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.
Until next time, Thrivers

What if self-care in motherhood wasn’t a luxury, but a necessity?
In this heartfelt episode of the Thriving Parent-ing, the conversation explores a powerful reframe around self-care — not as something mums “earn” after everything is done, but as an essential form of stress management and nervous system regulation. Through relatable examples and practical insights, this episode unpacks why parenting overload can leave mums feeling reactive, exhausted, and disconnected from themselves, and how small, intentional moments of self-care can help restore calm, resilience, and emotional balance for both parent and child.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why self-care should be viewed as stress buffering, not selfishness
How motherhood changes your nervous system load and emotional capacity
The difference between fight-or-flight mode and a regulated nervous system
Why your child “borrows” calm from your nervous system through co-regulation
How small “boring” self-care moments can prevent emotional overwhelm
Practical stress-buffering ideas that fit into busy parenting life
Why traditional pre-kids self-care routines often need adapting in motherhood
How to recognise when your emotional “cup” is overflowing
Simple ways to regulate your nervous system in everyday moments
How consistent self-care can help parenting feel calmer, steadier, and more enjoyable

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/
For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 113 Show Notes
And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.
And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!
To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.
Until next time, Thrivers

Stepping from one child to two is one of the most emotional and identity-shifting transitions a parent can experience. In this honest and reassuring Baby Bitesize episode, we unpack the guilt, fear, and uncertainty that often arise before welcoming a second baby—especially the worry that your first child will lose something or that your love won’t stretch far enough. Through lived experience, this episode gently reframes those thoughts, reminding you that these feelings are not only normal, but part of the process. With practical insights and grounded reassurance, you’ll learn how to support your older child through the adjustment, release perfection, and trust yourself to navigate the unknown—one moment at a time.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why feelings of guilt, fear, and “not enough love” are completely normal when expecting a second child
The concept of “good enough parenting” and why meeting every need perfectly isn’t required
How to emotionally support your older child through the transition to becoming a sibling
Simple language and reassurance strategies that help your child feel secure and loved
Why lowering expectations can ease the pressure for both you and your children
The importance of holding boundaries and preparing your toddler before the baby arrives
How communication builds trust, cooperation, and connection during change
Practical ways to manage two children’s needs without overwhelming yourself
Why guilt and shame don’t serve you—and what to focus on instead
How to trust yourself, adapt in real time, and confidently navigate life with two kids

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/
For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 112 Show Notes
And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.
And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!
To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.
Until next time, Thrivers

If you've ever wondered why your child snores, breathes through their mouth, or struggles with crowded teeth, this episode is going to be a game-changer.
Jen sits down with Mel Van Schelven — Oral Health Therapist, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, and founder of The Face Place to unpack the often-overlooked connection between how our kids chew, breathe, and sleep. Mel shares why the mouth is truly the foundation of so much of our children's health, how our increasingly soft, processed diets are robbing kids of the jaw and airway development they need, and what parents can do right now — starting at the dinner table — to set their little ones up for a lifetime of better health.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why the bones of the mouth are literally the bones of the airway — and why oral function and sleep cannot be separated
How our ancestors chewed up to four and a half hours a day compared to our modern average of just half an hour, and what that means for our kids' facial development
The difference between crunchy and chewy foods, and why crackers and pouches aren't cutting it for jaw development
Why "food before one is just for fun" could be doing more harm than we realise when it comes to chewing development and iron intake
What Mel actually sees in clinic — from crowded baby teeth and open bites to mouth breathing and fussy eating — and how it all connects back to oral function
How dummy and thumb sucking habits affect dental development, and the three key factors (intensity, frequency, and duration) that determine how much impact they'll have
Why taking away a dummy or thumb isn't always the right first step, and when it's actually better to leave the habit alone for now
The gentle, age-appropriate approach Mel used with her own daughter to navigate thumb sucking — without shame or pressure
When to seek an assessment and who to see (hint: it's not always your GP or paediatrician)
Why tongue ties and tonsils are the two most confusing topics Mel sees parents struggling with online — and how to cut through the noise
The simple audit you can do of your child's diet today to understand whether they're actually getting the chewing practice their developing mouth needs
Why the dinner table is one of the most powerful tools you have as a parent — for connection, modelling, and oral development

Connect with Mel:
📱 Instagram: @thefaceplace_oht
🌐 Website: thefaceplaceofm.com.au
🎓 Foundations for Growing Faces Masterclass: thefaceplaceofm.com.au/foundations-for-growing-faces-masterclass

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/
For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 111 Show Notes
And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.
And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!
To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.
Until next time, Thrivers