In this episode I am joined by Hayley, mum of 3, who some of you may know from her blog or Instagram page Sparkles and Stretchmarks. This is my first remotely recorded podcast, and some of it is quite glitchy- I am still trying to figure out the technology side of things so please excuse the sound quality. Hayley talks about some of the many things she's felt judged on, as a parent and as a blogger, and how despite her not liking to stand out from the crowd, she's been sent children who need someone to advocate for them and to often choose alternative methods of parenting. She talks about how before becoming a parent she wasn't aware of how consuming becoming a parent was or how much you could lose yourself and how currently going through an autism diagnosis has made her realise lots of things about her childhood and helped to shape her as a parent.Hayley also talks about her biggest challenge as a parent which has been supporting her daughter with her gender identity. How she has to step up and be a part of difficult conversations that she had no knowledge of before. We discuss how there are people out there who aren't free to be themselves and how heartbreaking that is. If anyone listening to this has a child with gender questioning and wants to reach out to Hayley, here are her links:Instagram: Hayley| Family Travel & Mum Life | Devon, UK (@sparklesandstretchmarks) | InstagramBlog: Sparkles and Stretchmarks: UK Mummy & Lifestyle BlogAnother honest conversation about parenting! P.S I'm still fan girling!!!!
